Hausfeld
Overview
Hausfeld is a claimant-focused litigation firm with a global platform across the US and continental Europe and a major presence in London. The firm is known for pioneering collective and competition/antitrust actions, high‑value data breach and product liability work, and strategic public interest and human rights litigation. It differentiates itself by offering flexible fee structures, use of litigation funding where appropriate, and a culture that emphasises social justice, cross-border teamwork and novel legal strategies.
- Headquarters: London
- Lawyers: 170+
- Offices: 12
Values & Culture
Practice Areas
- Competition & Antitrust
- Dispute Resolution & Litigation
- Data Protection & Privacy
- Environment & Planning
- Public Law
- International Arbitration
- Financial Services & Regulation
- Technology & Digital
- Insurance & Reinsurance
- Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence
- Regulatory & Compliance
Geographic Focus: Primary markets are the UK, continental Europe and the United States; the firm operates an integrated cross‑jurisdictional litigation platform with 12 offices across Europe and the US and routinely runs global, multi‑office teams on competition, tech/data breach, environmental and human rights matters.
Training Contract
Mentorship
The firm operates a robust mentorship programme for associates across the firm; careers content and the DEI pages highlight formal mentorship arrangements and partner involvement in development. Trainees and junior lawyers are supported through buddying, partner supervision and structured mentoring.
Programmes & Schemes
The London office hires interns from King's College Springboard Scheme during summer; the programme is designed to give students from underrepresented backgrounds early exposure to careers across the firm and to support social mobility.
A US programme that provides employment for exceptional first‑year law students who have demonstrated a commitment to advancing DEI; includes a spot in the firm’s Washington, D.C. summer associate programme and a scholarship towards the 2L year.
A London‑based social inclusion work experience programme led by a firm colleague, designed to engage inner‑city students early by offering insight into careers across the firm and supporting social mobility.
- Duration: For 2026, the Summer Work Experience Programme will run from Monday 29 June 2026 to Friday 3 July 2026.
- Deadline: 5 June 2026
Notable Matters
Hausfeld served as Co‑Lead Counsel for a class of plaintiffs in MDL litigation arising from a 2021 T‑Mobile data breach, securing a $350 million settlement and an agreement for T‑Mobile to increase data security spending by $150 million over two years. The role demonstrates the firm's leading position in large‑scale data breach class litigation.
Data Protection & Privacy
Hausfeld served on the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in the Equifax litigation, a major global consumer data breach matter resolved in a settlement valued at more than $1.5 billion, showcasing experience in high‑value, complex consumer privacy litigation.
Data Protection & Privacy
Hausfeld acted as Co‑Lead Class Counsel in Marriott customer data security litigation, where courts certified a class and bellwether process was used; the matter evidences the firm's leadership in transnational data breach litigation and collective redress procedures.
Data Protection & Privacy
Hausfeld was one of the court‑appointed firms in the Target data breach litigation that produced a pioneering $60 million settlement for financial institutions and required extensive remedial data security measures by the defendant.
Data Protection & Privacy
Hausfeld acts for claimants in multiple automotive cartel damages claims across the US, UK, Germany, Netherlands, France, Belgium and Sweden — part of the firm's extensive cartel and competition damages portfolio.
Competition & Antitrust
Hausfeld acted on high‑profile collective litigation against Apple (Kent v Apple), work that led to industry recognition and shortlisting at The Lawyer Awards; the matter illustrates the firm's capability in large‑scale collective actions and claimant litigation against major technology companies.
Competition & Antitrust
Acting for thousands of Zambian residents affected by alleged pollution from mining operations, Hausfeld conducted complex cross‑border environmental litigation and mass tort claims, reflecting the firm's work on large environmental and product liability matters.
Environment & Planning
Hausfeld played a strategic leadership role in Qatar Airways' multi‑billion dollar dispute with Airbus relating to its £50 and £21neo fleets, identified as a top‑tier commercial dispute and demonstrating the firm's capacity on very large commercial and aviation matters.
Dispute Resolution & Litigation
What Hausfeld Looks For
Key Competencies
- Commercial awareness
- Tenacity and resilience
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Intellectual rigour and analytical ability
- Practical, pragmatic problem solving
- Commitment to social justice / public interest
- Effective communication and client service
- Interest in multi‑jurisdictional litigation and collective actions
Evidence Signals
- Relevant litigation experience or internships (commercial, competition, data or public law)
- Pro bono involvement or community engagement
- Demonstrable commercial awareness and interest in claimant litigation
- International experience or language skills
- Participation in schemes such as King's College Springboard, Rare/Vantage, or diversity fellowships
Benefits & Wellbeing
- Progressive workplace practices and wellbeing initiatives introduced in Summer 2023
- Robust firm‑wide mentorship programme for associates
- International, multi‑office litigation experience and opportunities to work on cross‑border teams
- Opportunities to work on high‑profile public interest and pro bono matters (QMLAC, RCJ Advice Centre, LawWorks Unpaid Wages Project)
- Access to litigation funding experience and flexible fee structures on funded matters
- Language diversity across the firm (15 languages spoken) and multi‑jurisdictional training exposure
- Community volunteering (e.g., monthly Soup Kitchen initiative at 55 Whitfield Street)
Wellbeing
Wellbeing initiatives and policies implemented across the firm (Summer 2023 reforms).
Awards & Recognition
- GCR 100, 2026 — distinguished as the only elite plaintiff firm for both Europe and the US
- The Times Best Law Firms, 2026 — mentioned for Commercial & Financial Disputes (UK)
- The Pro Bono Recognition List, 2026 — 13 Hausfeld lawyers recognised
- The Lawyer Awards, 2026 — shortlisted for Team of the Year: Litigation (Kent v Apple) and Disputes Boutique of the Year
- Lexology Index Awards, 2025 — two awards (Antitrust)
- International Legal Finance Association award, 2025 — ‘Most effective collective action’ (Kent v Apple)
- Concurrences Antitrust Writing Awards, 2025 — multiple wins for Hausfeld articles
- Who's Who Legal Awards, 2023 — Competition Plaintiff Firm of the Year
- FT Innovative Lawyers Europe, 2021 — Innovation in Sustainability & ESG award
- Lawdragon recognitions (2024–2026) — multiple partners listed among leading global litigators
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Equal Opportunity employer; committed to building a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment; active DEI governance under firm DEI Partners and global committees.
- Global DEI Committee
- DEI Partners: Reena A. Gambhir and Lucy Pert
- Working groups: Racial Justice, LGBTQ+, Women's Alliance, Social Inclusion, Disability Rights
- Mansfield Rule Certification Plus (US) — recertified for 2023–2024
- 1L Diversity Fellowship Program (US)
- King's College Springboard Scheme internships (London)
- Use of Rare's Vantage contextual recruitment platform (UK)
- Leadership Council for Legal Diversity Pathfinders Program participation
- Member of the Law Firm Anti-Racism Alliance
- Regional Community Service Working Groups
Pro Bono
Pro bono is central to Hausfeld's culture. The firm had 13 lawyers recognised in the 2026 Pro Bono Recognition List for at least 25 hours of pro bono work in England & Wales; core initiatives include Queen Mary Legal Advice Centre mentoring, Royal Courts of Justice Advice Centre volunteering, LawWorks Unpaid Wages Project, and other long‑standing partnerships (Mid‑Atlantic Innocence Project, Equal Justice Initiative, NAACP LDF). The firm launched a Soup Kitchen volunteering initiative in January 2026.
Innovation
Hausfeld positions itself as an innovator in claimant litigation through novel funding structures, flexible fees, and pioneering litigation strategies (notably in competition and data‑breach collective actions). The firm publishes thought leadership (Competition Bulletin) and leverages cross‑office technical expertise, but no named internal legal‑tech platform or tool is published on firm pages.
- Use of litigation funding and flexible fee structures to enable claimant work
- Regular contributions to leading legal journals and specialist publications (Competition Bulletin)
Quick Application Angles
- Lead with claimant litigation experience and commercial awareness — reference the firm’s leading cartel, collective and data‑breach work (e.g., Google/Google Shopping, Equifax, Marriott, T‑Mobile) and explain concretely how your experience would add value on multi‑jurisdictional teams.
- Demonstrate a commitment to public‑interest or pro bono work — Hausfeld emphasises social justice (Vedanta/Konkola, climate litigation, period poverty) and recognises pro bono contributions; cite relevant volunteering or pro bono experience.
- If applying to Competition/Tech teams, show familiarity with collective redress mechanics and remedies (foregone consumer surplus, DMA/DSA links) and reference recent firm outputs (Competition Bulletin, Competition Cast) to show sector awareness.
- Emphasise teamwork and willingness to take early responsibility — cite examples where you delivered results under supervision, as the firm values giving junior lawyers measurable responsibility from day one.
- Reference DEI and contextual recruitment routes where relevant (King’s Springboard, Rare Vantage) if applicable to your background and highlight any mentoring, outreach or diversity work you have undertaken.
Apply to Hausfeld with Confidence
Use YourLegalLadder's AI-powered TC Application Copilot to decode Hausfeld's questions and generate firm-specific, evidence-backed outlines.
Start Your Application Free