Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

Overview

Faegre Drinker is a full-service US law firm that handles complex transactions, litigation and regulatory work for multinational businesses. The firm combines deep national coverage across the United States with international offices (London and Shanghai) and sector-focused teams in areas such as health care, life sciences, technology, finance and energy. Faegre Drinker emphasises client-focused innovation (including enterprise AI deployments), a high-performance culture recognised across major legal rankings, and a strong commitment to pro bono and wellbeing programmes that distinguish its workplace culture.

• Founded: 1849
• Lawyers: 1,200+
• Offices: 20+

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

• Corporate & M&A
• Capital Markets
• Employment
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Environment & Planning
• Intellectual Property
• Healthcare & Life Sciences
• Pensions
• Real Estate
• Insolvency & Restructuring
• Banking & Finance
• Insurance & Reinsurance
• Investment Funds
• Technology & Digital
• Data Protection & Privacy
• Competition & Antitrust
• Regulatory & Compliance
• Private Equity & Venture Capital
• Tax
• White Collar Crime
• Construction & Engineering
• Energy & Natural Resources

Geographic Focus: Primarily focused on serving US-based and multinational clients from a broad national platform of US offices, with dedicated international presence in London and Shanghai to support cross-border transactions and regulatory matters. The firm deploys cross-office teams for sector work (healthcare, technology, life sciences, financial services) and handles matters across the US and internationally.

Training Contract

UK training follows a seat-based solicitor training contract model across six principal practice areas. Trainees work in each practice area assisting multiple partners or solicitors (not assigned to a single supervisor), with one partner in each seat holding overall responsibility for training in that seat. Trainees receive regular feedback and reviews every three months. The firm emphasises on-the-job training, departmental briefings and occasional in-house lectures alongside departmental mentoring.

• Starting Salary: £50,000 (Year 1)
• Academic Requirements: Require a 2:1 degree or better; the firm uses REALrating (a contextual recruitment tool) as part of its application process.
• Application Deadline: 2027-02-28

Seat Options

• Corporate
• Finance and Restructuring
• Business Litigation
• Commercial
• Employment
• Investment Management

Sponsorship

We fund course fees for successful applicants for approved LPC and SQE courses.

SQE Support

The firm funds course fees for approved LPC and SQE courses for successful applicants (explicitly stated support for LPC/SQE course fees).

Mentorship

Mentoring and sponsoring relationships are emphasised: a mentor is assigned during each new associate's first year and mentorship continues throughout tenure. For UK trainees, one partner in each seat has overall responsibility; trainees assist multiple partners and benefit from formal advisor programs that pair senior lawyers with associates.

Apply on the Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP website →

Programmes & Schemes

Notable Matters

What Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP Looks For

Key Competencies

• Strong academic record (2:1 degree or better)
• Commercial awareness
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Entrepreneurial mindset / commercial instincts
• Client service orientation
• Resilience and adaptability
• Good communication skills and professionalism
• Interest in pro bono and community service

Evidence Signals

• Substantive vacation or summer associate experience with large firms or in-house teams
• Pro bono involvement and community service
• Relevant sector experience (healthcare, technology, finance, life sciences)
• Demonstrable commercial awareness (transactional or advisory experience)
• Participation in innovation/AI projects or technology-focused legal work
• Strong academic results (2:1 or above) and contextual information via REALrating

Benefits & Wellbeing

• Trainee salary: £50,000 (Year 1); increased in Year 2
• Medical insurance with firm cost-sharing
• Dental insurance
• Vision plans
• FSAs and HSAs for eligible participants
• Firm-provided HSA contribution for eligible participants
• Retirement benefits and debt consolidation/refinancing support (in applicable locations)
• Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance provided by the firm
• Voluntary supplemental and dependent life insurance
• Business travel accident insurance provided by the firm
• Short and long-term disability benefits and insurance provided by the firm
• Pre-tax parking/transit plan (eligible participants)
• Generous paid parental leave programmes (including adoptive parents)
• Paid disability for birth mothers
• Backup care benefits for children and adults (in applicable locations)
• Adoption assistance (where available)
• Tuition reimbursement (where available)
• Gym membership discounts and onsite fitness classes (in applicable locations)
• Paid time to participate in firm-sponsored community service
• Paid holidays and generous paid time off programs
• Support for LPC/SQE course fees for successful applicants

Wellbeing

Comprehensive wellbeing support including an employee assistance programme (EAP), a licensed clinical social worker to streamline access to mental wellness education and confidential support, Personify Health digital wellness platform, wellbeing partnerships and programmes, and firmwide investment in normalising conversations about physical and mental health. The firm is an inaugural signatory to the ABA Well-Being Pledge and a winner of The American Lawyer’s Corporate Culture & Wellbeing award.

Awards & Recognition

• Chambers USA — 98 practice area rankings, 2026 (23 Band 1 designations)
• Chambers Global Guide 2026 — multiple practice rankings
• BTI Consulting — BTI Litigation Outlook 2026 (Powerhouse & Litigation Leader designations)
• U.S. News & World Report "Best Law Firms" — multiple national rankings (2023–2026)
• World Trademark Review 1000 — IP team standouts, 2026
• The American Lawyer Industry Awards — Winner: Corporate Culture & Wellbeing (2024)
• Public Interest Law Initiative Pro Bono Recognition Roster — named firm (2024, 2025)
• ABA Pro Bono Publico Award (2019)
• Numerous regional and practice-specific awards and recognitions (Law360, Legal 500 listings)

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Firm is a charter signatory to the Pro Bono Institute’s Pro Bono Challenge and an inaugural signatory to the American Bar Association’s Well-Being Pledge. The firm uses REALrating to provide contextual recruitment insights and invests in mentoring, sponsorship and benchmarking to support women and other underrepresented groups.

• Faegre Drinker Women
• REALrating contextual recruitment tool (used in applications)
• Chief Engagement and Diversity Officer role
• Alumni community engagement programmes
• Firmwide pro bono programmes and partnerships
• Employee networks and community-focused sponsorships (various local initiatives)

Pro Bono

Since 2015 the firm has devoted more than 230,000 hours to pro bono work; the firm reports providing nearly 65,000 hours of pro bono service in the most recent year referenced. Faegre Drinker partners with local legal aid organisations, has won multiple pro bono awards (including the ABA Pro Bono Publico Award) and maintains firmwide pro bono programmes focused on civil rights, immigration, housing, veterans’ benefits and death-row representation.

Innovation

Faegre Drinker has invested in enterprise AI tools (Harvey and Microsoft Copilot), integrated firmwide AI training and strengthened governance and ethics training to support responsible use. The firm’s Legal Design Lab delivers hands-on innovation and AI training (including client-invited full-day sessions). Technology and innovation work is led by a Chief Technology & Innovation Officer and is positioned to improve workflow efficiency, contract analysis, due diligence and litigation support.

• Harvey (enterprise-wide deployment)
• Microsoft Copilot (rolled out to lawyers, consulting professionals and staff)
• Firmwide mandatory AI training program (practical, role-based)
• Legal Design Lab (Scottsdale) and interactive "Lightning Labs"
• Expanded innovation leadership including Chief Technology & Innovation Officer

Quick Application Angles

• Reference the firm’s investment in AI and innovation (Harvey and Microsoft Copilot) in your application — describe concrete ways you’ve used tech or data to improve a legal or research process.
• If applying in London, highlight commercial work or experience relevant to the firm’s six principal practice areas (Corporate, Finance & Restructuring, Business Litigation, Commercial, Employment, Investment Management) and stress your commercial awareness.
• Demonstrate commitment to pro bono or community work — the firm emphasises sizeable pro bono hours and public-interest work; cite relevant examples you contributed to.
• Use REALrating context where relevant: if your background benefits from contextual data, make sure to complete the firm’s application form thoroughly and explain contextual factors that shaped your achievements.
• For practice-specific applications (healthcare, digital health, ERISA/benefits), mention recent Faegre Drinker matters or insights (e.g., digital health/regulatory experience) to show sector alignment and immediate value-add.