Latham & Watkins LLP

Overview

Latham & Watkins is a global, full-service law firm that advises businesses and institutions across the world’s largest markets. The firm combines elite transactional, regulatory and litigation capabilities with industry-specific teams (technology, financial services, energy, life sciences, private equity and more) and operates from a broad international platform of offices. The firm emphasises cross-office teamwork, large-scale deal execution (notably in capital markets, M&A, private equity and financial regulatory matters) and market-leading work on technology and AI-related regulatory issues, as demonstrated by its dedicated AI and data practice resources.

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

• Banking & Finance
• Capital Markets
• Corporate & M&A
• Private Equity & Venture Capital
• Investment Funds
• Competition & Antitrust
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Financial Services & Regulation
• Technology & Digital
• Data Protection & Privacy
• Tax
• Intellectual Property
• Healthcare & Life Sciences
• Energy & Natural Resources
• Infrastructure & Projects
• ESG & Sustainability
• Real Estate
• Insolvency & Restructuring
• Insurance & Reinsurance
• White Collar Crime
• Employment
• Regulatory & Compliance
• Media & Entertainment
• Private Client & Wealth
• Pensions

Geographic Focus: Global practice with principal depth in the United States, major European hubs (London, Brussels, Frankfurt, Paris, Milan, Madrid), Asia (Beijing, Hong Kong, Seoul, Singapore, Tokyo) and the Middle East (Dubai, Riyadh). The firm operates as an integrated international platform servicing cross-border M&A, capital markets, regulatory, litigation and emerging technology matters, combining local desks with global teams for industry-specific work (technology, life sciences, financial institutions, T&

Training Contract

The firm's public career and lawyer‑development pages describe a structured, academy-led development path for junior lawyers (Summer Academy and multiple Latham Academies) with formal mentorship and recurring TACE skills programmes.

• Starting Salary: £60,000
• NQ Salary: £173,077
• Trainee Intake: 32
• Academic Requirements: Minimum degree requirement: 2:1. Minimum A‑level requirement: AAB. (figures from supplementary recruitment data)
• Application Deadline: 7 December 2025

Sponsorship

PGDL/GDL grant: £20,000. SQE grant: £20,000. (figures taken from supplementary information provided on training funding).

International Opportunities

Legal insider data indicates a ~17% chance of a secondment abroad for trainees. The firm operates many international offices across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the US that could act as secondment destinations.

Client Secondments

Legal insider data indicates a ~14% chance of client secondment for trainees.

Mentorship

Every new and lateral lawyer is assigned a formal mentor on joining; practice and affinity groups provide further formal and informal mentoring. The firm emphasises 360‑degree feedback, supervisor reviews and peer mentoring; associates and trainees are encouraged to participate in pro bono and knowledge management for substantive experience.

Programmes & Schemes

Notable Matters

What Latham & Watkins LLP Looks For

Key Competencies

• Commercial awareness
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Attention to detail
• Resilience and stamina
• Excellent writing and advocacy skills
• Curiosity about technology and regulatory developments (AI/FinTech/Crypto)
• Client service orientation
• Global mindset and cross‑border adaptability

Evidence Signals

• Pro bono experience and impact litigation involvement
• Relevant internships or work experience in finance, technology, or in‑house legal teams
• Demonstrable commercial awareness (e.g., commentary on recent M&A or capital markets developments)
• Participation in mooting, negotiation or advocacy competitions
• International experience or language skills for cross‑border roles
• Experience with legal tech, data or AI projects

Benefits & Wellbeing

• First‑year trainee salary: £60,000
• Second‑year trainee salary: £65,000
• NQ salary: £173,077
• PGDL/PGDL grant: £20,000
• SQE grant: £20,000
• LiveWell Latham global wellbeing programme (CareConnect confidential 24/7 counselling and coaching)
• On‑site health centres in Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C. (run by Johns Hopkins Medicine) with advanced practice providers, physical therapists and mental‑wellbeing coaches
• Extensive ergonomics support (150+ trained in‑house ergonomics specialists providing workstation assessments)
• Stress management and resilience training (SMART), mindfulness/meditation app subscriptions, and resilience/performance coaching series
• Financial well‑being coaching and family‑building/caregiving resources
• Robust pro bono programme with billable/bonus‑eligible credit for approved pro bono work (no cap on hours for approved projects)
• Access to substantial internal training academies and on‑demand skills curricula

Wellbeing

LiveWell Latham: confidential 24/7 CareConnect counselling and coaching, SMART stress management and resiliency training, on‑site health centres in LA/NY/DC, regional dedicated mental health counsellors, ergonomics programme, mindfulness and meditation resources, family building and caregiving support, annual Spring Challenge wellbeing competition.

Awards & Recognition

• Chambers USA: 98 Band 1 practice and industry rankings; 108 Band 1 lawyer rankings (Chambers USA 2026) — firm recognised across transactional, disputes and regulatory categories
• Financial Times: Most Innovative Law Firm in North America 2025
• The American Lawyer: A‑List 2026 (24 consecutive years on A‑List)
• Law360: Practice Group of the Year (multiple categories) 2025
• Bloomberg/LSEG/Mergermarket/Law.com: Advised on more billion‑dollar year‑end deals than any other law firm in 2024
• Lawcareers.net: 'Best Trainer – US law firm in the City' (London office) — LawCareers.Net Training & Recruitment Awards (2014)

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The firm commits to a reduction in absolute Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 (2019 baseline) and absolute Scope 3 emissions by 30% by 2030, validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). The firm also reports 20 offices with LEED/BREEAM or equivalent green building certification and that 11 offices are powered by 100% renewable energy.

• Global affinity groups, networks and coalitions (3,700+ members)
• CareConnect counselling and coaching with specialised counselors for populations including veterans, parents and LGBTQ+ colleagues
• Robert M. Dell Prize (Paris office recognition) and cross‑office pro bono teams
• Programs to support survivors, asylum seekers, incarcerated mothers and veteran representation
• Participation in Lawyers for a Sustainable Economy and Legal Sustainability Alliance

Pro Bono

1,000+ pro bono matters opened in 2025; 90+% of lawyers participate in pro bono work; the Paris office has donated 110,000+ pro bono hours since 2001 and many offices average 60+ pro bono hours per lawyer in sustained programmes. The firm runs signature initiatives (e.g., defending rights of students with disabilities, veterans’ representation) and cross‑office collaborations with in‑house legal teams and affinity groups.

Innovation

The firm invests in structured innovation and knowledge resources focused on technology, AI and digital assets. Programmes include the AI Academy for associates, a dedicated LathamTECH offering, public resource hubs (AI Resource Hub, Crypto Policy Tracker) and practical tools/apps (Global Merger Regimes App, OID Threshold Calculator). Trainees and associates are exposed to legal‑tech and AI training as part of internal academies and the firm emphasises applying technology and proprietary data to service delivery.

• AI Academy
• LathamTECH
• AI Resource Hub
• Crypto Policy Tracker Hub
• Decentralization Matrix (in partnership with a16z Crypto)
• Book of Jargon® series
• Global Merger Regimes® App
• Latham OID Threshold Calculator™
• LathamDrive resources

Quick Application Angles

• Show commercial understanding of the firm’s recent AI and data‑centre work (e.g., NVIDIA, CoreWeave) and reference the AI Academy or AI Resource Hub when discussing interest in technology/regulation.
• Highlight private capital and capital markets experience or interest (SPAC/de‑SPAC and sponsor financings are core strengths) and link any commercial internships to deal outcomes.
• Demonstrate commitment to public service and pro bono (mentioning relevant pro bono matters such as defending disability rights or veterans work will resonate).
• Reference the firm’s training focus and academies—explain how you would take advantage of Latham’s Summer/First‑Year Academies and TACE programmes to develop market‑facing skills.
• Acknowledge the firm’s international platform (Europe/Asia/US) and give concrete examples of cross‑border work or language skills that would add value to global transactions.