Jenner & Block LLP
Overview
Jenner & Block is a US-headquartered, full-service litigation and investigations powerhouse with an international presence anchored by a London office. Founded in Chicago in 1914, the firm is best known for high-stakes litigation (including Supreme Court work), major investigations and monitorships, and market-leading pro bono impact. The firm emphasises a hierarchy-free culture, intensive on-the-job training and lifecycle career development, and an unusually large and strategically deployed pro bono practice that feeds associate development and public-service impact.
- Headquarters: Chicago, 353 N. Clark Street
- Founded: 1914
- Lawyers: more than 500
- Offices: 7
Values & Culture
Practice Areas
- Competition & Antitrust
- Dispute Resolution & Litigation
- Insolvency & Restructuring
- Fraud & Investigations
- Intellectual Property
- Corporate & M&A
- Data Protection & Privacy
- Employment
- Banking & Finance
- Capital Markets
- Pensions
- Real Estate
- Tax
- International Arbitration
- Media & Entertainment
- Energy & Natural Resources
- Financial Services & Regulation
- Technology & Digital
- Retail & Consumer
- Sports Law
- White Collar Crime
- Public Law
- Regulatory & Compliance
- Investment Funds
- Professional Negligence
- Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence
- Private Equity & Venture Capital
- Private Client & Wealth
- ESG & Sustainability
- Healthcare & Life Sciences
- Infrastructure & Projects
- Education
- Human Rights
- Immigration
Geographic Focus: Jenner & Block operates principally across the United States with a strategic international office in London and targeted regional market capabilities (Japan practice, India, Middle East). The firm represents clients before US federal and state courts (including the US Supreme Court), federal agencies, and in multi-jurisdictional matters; it also handles cross-border transactions, investigations, and litigation, and maintains a Japan practice hub and client-facing advisory work for international
Training Contract
Mentorship
The firm operates a structured mentorship programme: mentors provide development-focused feedback, a judgement-free zone for questions and career conversations, and support through the post-clerk transition. Mentors gather and deliver feedback from practice teams and help associates plan career development.
Programmes & Schemes
A substantive summer associate programme providing hands-on assignments across practices (litigation, investigations, transactional work and pro bono). Summer Associates draft briefs, prepare for depositions/trials, and participate in skills workshops (deposition and trial skills, corporate bootcamps), networking and social events.
Notable Matters
Acting for the Las Vegas Review-Journal and its owners in a closely watched antitrust lawsuit concerning the enforceability of a Joint Operating Arrangement under the 1970 Newspaper Preservation Act; matter involves high-profile local media rivals and longstanding statutory issues.
Competition & Antitrust
Secured the dismissal of a copyright infringement lawsuit relating to the film Gone Girl on behalf of Twentieth Century Fox, author Gillian Flynn, director David Fincher, and producers — a high-profile entertainment defence victory.
Intellectual Property
Conducted a high-profile independent investigation into the fatal shooting that occurred during production of the film Rust, including inquiries into how live ammunition was present and how a live round was loaded into a revolver on set.
Dispute Resolution & Litigation
Represented a consortium of broadcast television companies (including Fox Television Stations, PBS, Univision, and WNET) in copyright litigation against Aereo, Inc.; the US Supreme Court ruled in the clients’ favour, establishing important precedent for broadcasters and copyright owners.
Intellectual Property
Won a $940 million jury verdict for Epic Systems in a substantial corporate espionage/trade secrets case — one of the largest trade secrets verdicts in US history.
Dispute Resolution & Litigation
Advised Albertsons Companies in its announced $25 billion merger with Kroger and related $2.4 billion asset sale; the transactions involved complex regulatory and transactional issues (transactions later terminated following regulatory ruling).
Corporate & M&A
Advised Shift Technologies, Inc. in its approximately $700 million SPAC-based go-public transaction, advising on transactional and securities matters.
Capital Markets
Secured jury verdicts and appellate victories for client Hetronic against former foreign distributors under the Lanham Act, producing a compensatory and punitive damages award (approximately $102M compensatory and $12M punitive in the matter as stated).
Dispute Resolution & Litigation
What Jenner & Block LLP Looks For
Key Competencies
- Excellent advocacy and writing skills
- Strong research and analytical ability
- Trial and appellate aptitude (advocacy/briefing)
- Commercial awareness
- Commitment to pro bono/public service
- Teamwork and collegiality
- Resilience and adaptability
- Interest in public policy and investigations
- Business development potential for experienced hires
Evidence Signals
- Judicial clerkships or significant litigation experience (approximately 40% of litigation lawyers are former clerks)
- Substantive pro bono experience or demonstrated public-interest commitment
- Mooting, trial advocacy, or appellate experience
- Transactional internships or relevant sector experience for corporate roles
- Publications, presentations, or demonstrated business-development activity
Benefits & Wellbeing
- Lifecycle career development and comprehensive professional development programmes
- Structured mentorship and partner-led on-the-job training
- Business development and marketing support for experienced lawyers
- Life coaching
- On-site health and wellness screenings and services
- Generous parental leave
- Back-up childcare
- Reduced Hours programme (moderates billable hours requirement while preserving promotion eligibility)
- Access to pro bono practice and firm-supported pro bono partnerships
- Firm-wide affinity groups and inclusion programming
Wellbeing
Life coaching, on-site health and wellness screenings and services, and other wellbeing supports are provided; the firm also highlights programmes designed to help lawyers manage personal demands alongside work.
Awards & Recognition
- The American Lawyer — #1 Pro Bono internationally (2022, 2023) and multiple top US Pro Bono rankings
- Chambers Diversity & Inclusion — Outstanding Firm for Pro Bono, 2021
- Law360 — 2021 Regional Powerhouse
- Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation — North America Pro Bono Firm of Year, 2017
- National Law Journal — ESG and Community Impact Leader, multiple years
- The American Lawyer — Ranked #3 in A-List, 2026
- The American Lawyer — Recognised leader in Pro Bono, 2026
- Lawdragon — multiple partners recognised in 2026/2027 lists
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Five-year $250 million commitment to provide free legal assistance announced in 2021 (firm reports it exceeded $400 million in free legal assistance by the end of 2025). Firm requires every lawyer to perform at least 50 hours of pro bono work a year (stated in experienced lawyers FAQs).
- Equal Time (annual inclusion and engagement report)
- Affinity groups (firm-run networks open to all lawyers)
- Five-year $250 million public pro bono commitment announced in 2021 (public-service investment)
- Pro bono partnership programmes with corporate clients and NGOs
- Participation in external diversity and community programmes
Pro Bono
Pro bono is central to firm strategy; the firm announced a five-year $250 million commitment in 2021 and by the end of 2025 reported more than $400 million in free legal assistance. The firm mandates at least 50 hours of pro bono work per lawyer per year, operates large-scale impact litigation and individual client representation across civil rights, criminal justice, immigration and community-focused work, and publishes an annual pro bono report, 'The Heart of the Matter.'
Innovation
The firm organises cross-cutting task forces to address emerging legal and policy issues (including an AI Task Force). Innovation is structured around specialist working groups and issue task forces that combine legal, policy and procedural expertise; the site lists issue-focused task forces and emphasises integrating novel issues (AI, ESG, reproductive health) into capability development and client counsel. Specific proprietary legal‑tech platforms or tools are not listed on the available pages.
- AI Task Force
- Organizational Values and Strategy Task Force
- Issues and task-force approach to emerging legal topics (Post-Chevron Task Force, Reproductive Health Task Force, Tariff Task Force)
Quick Application Angles
- Lead with pro bono: highlight substantive pro bono matters you worked on (depositions, appeals, asylum, criminal defence) and connect them to Jenner’s strong pro bono culture and mandatory 50-hour expectation.
- If you have litigation or appellate experience (judicial clerkship, trial advocacy, moot success), emphasise it—Jenner routinely hires former clerks and litigators and showcases numerous Supreme Court and appellate matters.
- Reference specific Jenner matters and practices relevant to your application (e.g., Aereo/Supreme Court copyright work, the Rust investigation, large trade-secrets or antitrust matters) to show you understand the firm’s high-profile litigation focus.
- If you have Japan/Asia experience or clients, note that Jenner runs a recognised Japan practice and publishes region-specific newsletters and webinars — this can differentiate candidates for Los Angeles/London or cross-border roles.
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