Fieldfisher

Overview

Fieldfisher is a European full-service law firm with market-leading practices in technology, financial services, energy & natural resources and life sciences. The firm operates a 28-office European network (supported by offices in the US and China) and positions itself around sector-led, commercially pragmatic legal advice combined with legal technology capabilities. Fieldfisher emphasises a people-centred approach—promoting collaboration across its offices to support both large international clients and domestic matters (including leading UK personal injury and medical negligence work).

• Headquarters: London
• Lawyers: 2,200 (network headcount)
• Trainees: 23
• Offices: 28

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

• Technology & Digital
• Financial Services & Regulation
• Energy & Natural Resources
• Healthcare & Life Sciences
• Intellectual Property
• Data Protection & Privacy
• Corporate & M&A
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Employment
• Real Estate
• Tax
• Insolvency & Restructuring
• Public Law
• Competition & Antitrust
• Media & Entertainment
• Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence
• Regulatory & Compliance
• Insurance & Reinsurance
• International Arbitration
• Capital Markets
• Private Equity & Venture Capital
• Investment Funds
• Fraud & Investigations
• ESG & Sustainability

Geographic Focus: A European-centred firm with broader capability through offices in China and the US; Fieldfisher focuses on cross-border work across its 28-office network in 14 countries, with particular strength advising technology-driven and highly regulated industry clients across major European financial, tech and life sciences hubs.

Training Contract

• Starting Salary: Year 1: £48,500; Year 2: £53,500
• NQ Salary: £100,000
• Trainee Intake: 23
• Qualification Rate: 85% (latest trainee retention rate; insider metric).
• Academic Requirements: Minimum degree: 2:1; Minimum A-levels: ABB
• Application Deadline: 19 December 2025

Sponsorship

PGDL / GDL grant: £8,000 (insider metric).

SQE Support

SQE grant: £8,000 (insider metric).

International Opportunities

Chances of secondment abroad: 21% (insider metric). The firm’s international network includes offices in the US and China and 28 offices across Europe, which are the likely destinations for international secondments.

Client Secondments

Chances of client secondment: 21% (insider metric).

Apply on the Fieldfisher website →

Notable Matters

What Fieldfisher Looks For

Key Competencies

• Commercial awareness
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Client service orientation
• Resilience and adaptability
• Strong communication skills
• Sector interest (technology, financial services, energy, life sciences)
• Ambition and intellectual curiosity
• Technical aptitude for technology & data matters

Evidence Signals

• Relevant sector experience (tech, fintech, life sciences, energy)
• International experience or language skills
• Pro bono or community involvement (Just Purpose)
• Commercial internships, secondments or transactional experience
• Mooting or advocacy experience for dispute-focused roles

Benefits & Wellbeing

• Trainee salary Year 1: £48,500
• Trainee salary Year 2: £53,500
• NQ salary: £100,000
• PGDL / GDL grant: £8,000
• SQE grant: £8,000
• Annual leave: 25 days
• No annual target hours (no billable/target hours)
• Weekly yoga sessions (business services wellbeing offering)
• Alumni network (Fieldfisher Connect) with alumni events and communications
• Access to sector-focused legal and professional training

Wellbeing

Weekly yoga sessions are run for business services professionals; the firm highlights an inclusive culture and employee wellbeing as part of its Inclusion and ESG programmes.

Awards & Recognition

• Times Top 20 Law Firm
• Highly commended in the European Financial Times Innovative Lawyers rankings
• Shortlisted in seven categories at Benchmark Europe Awards 2026
• Recognised in WIPR UK Trademarks Rankings 2026 and WIPR Leaders guide

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

• Just Purpose (pro bono and community programme)
• Inclusion (Diversity and Inclusion programme)
• Fieldfisher Connect (alumni network)

Pro Bono

The Just Purpose programme is described as integral to the firm; staff are encouraged to weave pro bono and community activities into their careers and the firm supports a range of charity partners and community initiatives.

Innovation

Fieldfisher promotes an innovation strategy that integrates legal technology into client work where appropriate. The firm operates dedicated alternative/legal technology propositions (Fieldfisher X and Fieldfisher Condor) and states it integrates cutting-edge legal technologies across its network; insider scores show strong legal tech engagement and office facilities ratings.

• Fieldfisher X
• Fieldfisher Condor
• Integration of cutting-edge legal technologies across practices

Quick Application Angles

• Reference the firm’s sector focus: highlight relevant experience in technology, financial services, energy or life sciences and link it to Fieldfisher’s cross-border work across Europe, China and the US.
• Demonstrate commercial awareness by discussing one of Fieldfisher’s recent deals (eg. the Air China Cargo $466m Shenzhen IPO or the €90.4m syndicated financing) and set out clearly what legal issues you would expect to arise and how you would approach them.
• Emphasise collaborative working and accessibility: the firm scores highly for partner approachability and peer support, so give examples of teamwork, mentoring or cross-functional projects where you’ve contributed and learned.
• Mention commitment to ESG and pro bono: reference the firm’s Just Purpose programme or ESG reporting to show alignment with Fieldfisher’s 'People First' and 'Embracing ESG' values.
• If relevant, highlight legal technology experience or comfort with tech tools — Fieldfisher runs dedicated legal-tech propositions (Fieldfisher X / Condor) and rates highly for office and tech engagement.