Geldards LLP

Overview

Geldards LLP is a long-established, regional full‑service law firm founded in Wales with a strong presence across the East Midlands and Wales and an office in London. From Cardiff (registered office), Derby, Nottingham and London the firm advises private, public‑sector and charity clients and is particularly well known for its public‑sector/charities, construction/infrastructure, corporate and family law work. The firm emphasises an open, approachable culture, investment in people and use of technology to deliver pragmatic legal advice to clients across the UK, Europe and internationally.

Headquarters: Cardiff, 4 Capital Quarter (Tyndall Street)
Lawyers: 320+
Offices: 4

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

Agriculture & Rural
Banking & Finance
Commercial Contracts
Construction & Engineering
Corporate & M&A
Data Protection & Privacy
Dispute Resolution & Litigation
Education
Employment
Infrastructure & Projects
Insolvency & Restructuring
Intellectual Property
Public Law
Real Estate
Tax
Technology & Digital
Transport & Logistics
Sports Law
Family Law
Charities & Not-for-Profit
Private Equity & Venture Capital

Geographic Focus: Geldards is strongest regionally in Wales and the East Midlands (Cardiff, Derby, Nottingham) while maintaining a London presence and advising clients across the UK, Europe and internationally. The firm acts for a broad mix of public‑sector bodies (including local authorities and Welsh Government clients), national charities, education institutions and private businesses, reflecting a national client base with particular depth in Welsh and East Midlands public‑sector and real‑estate work.

Training Contract

Application Deadline: 2026-01-04

Mentorship

The firm promotes progression through a supportive Learning and Development team. Geldards highlights mentoring and development activity across the business and states it mentors students from under‑represented communities and supports professional development internally.

Apply on the Geldards LLP website →

Notable Matters

Geldards Corporate team: £600m+ deal values (2025) — 45 major deals

In 2025 the Corporate team completed 45 major deals worth in excess of £600m, spanning strategic acquisitions and sales, early‑stage investments, management buy‑outs and Employee Ownership Trust transitions across sectors including healthcare, technology, pharmaceuticals, food & drink and the motor industry. The team acted on the full lifecycle of transactions and produced a Corporate Deal Highlights 2025 summary.

Corporate & M&A

Cirencester Solar Farm — c. £35m transaction (Warrington Borough Council)

Advised Warrington Borough Council in relation to a circa £35 million transaction for the construction of a Solar PV system and electrochemical storage system in Cirencester, providing project and finance advice in the renewable energy sector.

Banking & Finance

Clowes Developments — £100m logistics facilities (Construction & Development)

Advised Clowes Developments on a c. £100 million project to build six logistics facilities totalling more than 1 million sq. ft across the wider East Midlands region, acting on construction and development documentation and related commercial matters.

Construction & Engineering

Nottingham College City Hub — £58.5m development

Advised Nottingham College on its new £58.5 million City Hub project, including construction and project delivery matters for a major education infrastructure scheme.

Infrastructure & Projects

Pride Park Stadium — finance arrangements for the owners of Derby County Football Club

Advised the owners of Pride Park Stadium on finance arrangements, including complex funding and banking elements for a high‑profile sports asset.

Banking & Finance

M4 Corridor around Newport — Welsh Ministers (Compulsory Purchase)

Advised the Welsh Ministers on aspects of the controversial M4 corridor scheme around Newport, providing compulsory purchase and public‑law advice for a major infrastructure project (public inquiry involvement and statutory work).

Public Law

Pendragon PLC — successful appeal against Consumer Protection conviction

Led the successful appeal for Pendragon PLC against its conviction under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, acting on a significant automotive sector regulatory and compliance matter.

Dispute Resolution & Litigation

What Geldards LLP Looks For

Key Competencies

Commercial awareness
Client service and responsiveness
Teamwork and approachability
Attention to detail
Resilience and adaptability
Motivation to learn and develop
Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
Sector interest (public sector/charities, construction, corporate, family where relevant)

Evidence Signals

Relevant work experience or internships in the firm’s key sectors (public sector, charities, construction, automotive, corporate)
Pro bono, volunteering or mentoring experience (e.g., work with charities or community projects)
Demonstrable commercial examples showing business impact or problem solving
Language skills (useful for family/Shariah or Welsh‑language work)
Academic achievement and evidence of teamwork/leadership

Benefits & Wellbeing

25 days annual leave (increases with service)
Supportive agile working policy — opportunity to work up to 2 days remotely
Birthday day off (or nearest working day)
Supportive Learning and Development team
Top‑of‑the‑line equipment (laptop, monitors, software)
Investment in training and professional development
Paying National Living Wage to all staff (firm commitment)
Volunteer and CSR opportunities (fundraising, trustee roles, school reading programmes)

Wellbeing

The firm participates in Mental Health Awareness initiatives and runs diversity and inclusion activity (including Pride and Black History campaigns). CSR programmes include volunteering, community projects and mentoring; the firm emphasises ethical practice and staff support through internal HR and L&D resources.

Awards & Recognition

Legal Team of the Year — Wales Dealmakers Awards 2019 (Corporate team)
Unsung Hero — Women & Diversity in Law Awards 2025 (Ranjit Kaur, Family team)
Associate Solicitor of the Year — Family Law Awards 2024 (Aysha Chouhdary)
Legal 500: multiple top‑tier rankings across practice areas (Firm appears in Legal 500 tiered listings across corporate, disputes, real estate, family and public sector practice areas)
Chambers & Partners: multiple ranked departments and lawyers (listed across corporate, banking & finance, disputes and public sector practice areas)

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Geldards is committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion; it publishes an Employee Diversity Report and a Gender Pay Report, aims to close the gender pay gap and has governance in place to pay at least the National Living Wage. The firm also publishes an Anti‑Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement and a Carbon Reduction Plan.

Signatory to the Law Society’s Diversity and Inclusion charter
Participation in Mental Health Awareness, Black History and Pride campaigns
Shariah Family Law service (specialist offering for Muslim clients)
Welsh Language Champions and Welsh language services (Iaith Gwaith symbol for Welsh speakers)
Working with Young Citizens and targeted mentoring for under‑represented students

Pro Bono

Geldards maintains extensive volunteering and pro bono activity including legal assistance for asylum seekers, mentoring students from under‑represented backgrounds, trustee and governance support for charities, school reading programmes and fundraising for national and regional charities (Barnardos, MIND, Macmillan, Bobath Cymru, Tŷ Hafan and others).

Innovation

The firm states it uses innovative technology and more effective working practices to improve service delivery and client outcomes. Geldards highlights investment in technology for file management and communications and provides 'top‑of‑the‑line' equipment to staff; reviews and client feedback also comment on effective use of technology to manage files, correspondence and deadlines.

Quick Application Angles

Demonstrate regional sector knowledge: reference the firm’s strength in Wales and the East Midlands and, where relevant, cite recent local matters such as the Clowes logistics project or the Nottingham College City Hub to show contextual commercial awareness.
If applying to family or community‑facing roles, highlight cultural and language skills (Welsh, Punjabi, Urdu, Hindi) and engagement with Shariah Family Law/ethnic community outreach — the firm has a specialist Shariah Family Law service and multilingual advisers.
For corporate applications mention the Corporate team’s 2025 performance (45 major deals and £600m+ deal value) and explain how your commercial experience or deal exposure would add value on mid‑market transactions, MBOs or EOT transitions.
Highlight commitment to public‑sector and charity work: Geldards advises hundreds of charities and many local authorities; emphasise any charity governance, trustee or public‑sector experience and any familiarity with Charity Commission or public procurement issues.
Reflect the firm’s people focus: reference examples of mentoring, training or L&D initiatives you have participated in and show how you will contribute to a collaborative, partner‑led environment.