Paul Hastings LLP
Overview
Founded in 1951, Paul Hastings is a large global law firm built around elite, market-leading transactional and litigation teams across 17 core practice areas. The firm emphasises a firm-first, collaborative culture and is particularly strong in finance, private equity/funds, capital markets, technology transactions and complex corporate litigation. Its platform is highly international – with a major US footprint complemented by strategic offices across Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East – and the firm positions itself as adviser to the world’s leading investment banks, asset managers and corporations.
- Headquarters: New York, 200 Park Avenue
- Founded: 1951
- Lawyers: 1,500+
- Trainees: 12
- Offices: 24
Values & Culture
Practice Areas
- Banking & Finance
- Capital Markets
- Corporate & M&A
- Private Equity & Venture Capital
- Investment Funds
- Financial Services & Regulation
- Technology & Digital
- Intellectual Property
- Dispute Resolution & Litigation
- Competition & Antitrust
- Real Estate
- ESG & Sustainability
- Energy & Natural Resources
- Tax
- Insolvency & Restructuring
- Regulatory & Compliance
- Media & Entertainment
Geographic Focus: Paul Hastings is heavily US‑centred (major US offices including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and others) with an expanding international platform across Europe (London, Brussels, Frankfurt, Paris), Asia (Tokyo, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Beijing, Seoul), the Middle East (Abu Dhabi) and Latin America (São Paulo). The firm targets cross‑border finance, private funds, technology transactions and large‑ticket M&A and leverages local teams in global matters.
Training Contract
Paul Hastings runs a structured training and development programme administered by a central Talent Development team. Training includes formal classroom and CLE offerings, PH DNA (introductory programme for first‑year associates), department and practice group academies, mid‑level retreats, and ongoing 1:1 career coaching with the Director of Attorney Careers. The site does not publish a seat rotation timetable on public pages, but the firm emphasises cross‑practice exposure and early substantive responsibility across transactional and litigation matters.
- Starting Salary: Year 1: £60,000; Year 2: £68,000
- NQ Salary: £167,000
- Trainee Intake: 12
- Qualification Rate: 90%
- Academic Requirements: Minimum degree requirement: 2:1; Minimum A‑level requirement: No minimum
- Application Deadline: 2026-06-30
Seat Options
- Corporate & M&A
- Banking & Finance
- Capital Markets
- Investment Funds
- Private Equity & Venture Capital
- Technology & Digital
- Intellectual Property
- Dispute Resolution & Litigation
- Employment
- Real Estate
- Tax
- Regulatory & Compliance
- ESG & Sustainability
- Financial Services & Regulation
Sponsorship
PGDL/PGDL grant: £20,000 (reported). The firm publishes a maintenance/grant offering for qualifying candidates (see published figures: £20,000 PGDL grant; £20,000 SQE grant).
SQE Support
SQE grant: £20,000 (reported); details indicate financial support for qualifying exams but the firm pages emphasise broad study and CLE support via Talent Development.
International Opportunities
LegalCheek trainee data reports a 0% chance of an overseas secondment for trainees; the firm nevertheless has an extensive international office network and may provide cross‑office opportunities in line with business needs.
Client Secondments
Approximately 23% (LegalCheek figure) of trainees undertake client secondments.
Mentorship
Structured mentoring and coaching delivered through the Talent Development team and the Director of Attorney Careers; 1:1 coaching, first‑year coaching cohorts, departmental mentors and ongoing performance management. The site highlights connecting with firm management and regular informal office visits for associates.
Programmes & Schemes
The Summer Associate Program forms a central part of the firm's early‑careers pipeline in the U.S.; summer associates work across projects with different lawyers across practices, observe and assist at hearings, depositions and meetings and receive structured feedback and coaching.
A fellowship established in 2013 for select first‑ or second‑year law students who demonstrate a commitment to community, opportunity and inclusion; the fellowship supports early career development and links recipients into the firm’s training and recruiting pipeline.
A dedicated route for former judicial clerks to join the firm post‑clerkship, offering substantive early responsibility in the firm’s litigation, investigations and disputes practices coupled with tailored professional development.
Targeted recruiting pages and programmes for USA, London, Japan and Hong Kong recruiting; supports lateral and junior hiring across the firm's global offices and links into the firm’s summer and graduate programmes.
Notable Matters
Paul Hastings advised UniFirst Corporation on the definitive agreement to be acquired by Cintas Corporation for $5.5 billion, leading deal counsel on the M&A transaction and related securities, tax and employment matters.
Corporate & M&A
Paul Hastings acted for Tri Pointe Homes on its $4.5 billion strategic combination with Sumitomo Forestry, advising on the cross‑border M&A structure, regulatory and employment elements and transactional documentation.
Corporate & M&A
Representing Goldman Sachs and Citi on committed financing to support the consortium led by BlackRock Global Infrastructure Partners and EQT in the acquisition of AES Corporation, advising on financing documentation and capital markets elements for a multibank syndicated financing package.
Banking & Finance
Paul Hastings advised Groq on a non‑exclusive licensing agreement with Nvidia covering Groq's inference technology, leading a multi‑disciplinary team across technology transactions, IP and commercial agreements.
Technology & Digital
Advised Alpha Wave Global in the acquisition of a 50.1% stake by Abu Dhabi International Holding Company’s Judan Financial (part of a strategic investment into an AI‑enabled global financial services platform), coordinating cross‑border regulatory, fund and tax workstreams.
Investment Funds
Advised a majority of the lead consortium members investing in the TikTok USDS joint venture, providing cross‑practice counsel across M&A, IP, regulatory, antitrust and financing issues.
Corporate & M&A
What Paul Hastings LLP Looks For
Key Competencies
- Commercial awareness
- Intellectual rigour and technical excellence
- Teamwork and collaborative instinct
- Client focus and practical judgement
- Resilience and adaptability
- Original thinking and entrepreneurial drive
- Strong communication and drafting skills
- Interest in international and cross‑border work
Evidence Signals
- Relevant internships or vacation scheme experience
- Transactional or litigation experience (including secondments or paralegal work)
- Pro bono involvement
- Clerkships or judicial experience for litigation roles
- Demonstrable commercial awareness (deals, market commentary)
- Language skills and international exposure for cross‑border practices
- Technical or technology project experience for Technology Transactions or fintech roles
Benefits & Wellbeing
- Comprehensive Health Benefits
- Retirement Plan
- Family Planning and Parental Support
- Holistic Well‑Being Support
- Professional Development, Coaching and Mentorship
- Back‑Up Childcare and Elder Care
- Generous Paid Time Off Program
- Employee Discounts
- Year 1 trainee salary: £60,000
- Year 2 trainee salary: £68,000
- NQ salary: £167,000
- PGDL grant: £20,000
- SQE grant: £20,000
- Annual target hours: 2,000 (reported)
- Annual leave: 25 days (reported)
Wellbeing
Holistic well‑being programmes, employee assistance resources, family support offerings including back‑up childcare and elder care, and professional development coaching delivered by the Talent Development team.
Awards & Recognition
- Chambers USA — Shortlisted for Law Firm of the Year (Intellectual Property, Labor & Employment and Real Estate) — 2026
- CLO Law Firm of the Year — European Securitisation Awards — 2026
- White Collar Law Firm of the Year — Chambers France Awards — 2026
- Named Law Firm of the Year for Americas Transactions — 2026
- Multiple practice and individual recognitions in Legal 500 EMEA — 2026
- Top rankings/Band 1 recognitions across multiple finance and compliance practices (Chambers, The Legal 500) — various years
- Ranked among The American Lawyer’s A‑List (13 years in a row)
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Paul Hastings publishes a comprehensive equal employment opportunity statement and commits to reasonable accommodation for applicants and employees with disabilities; the firm regularly runs programmes related to community, opportunity and inclusion and hosts affinity and competency events (no formal numerical targets published on public pages).
- Paul Hastings Fellowship
- Firmwide programs to increase cultural competencies and inclusion
- Targeted pro bono matters and Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives
- Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Women in the Boardroom (firm study/publication)
Innovation
Paul Hastings invests in specialist legal technology and a dedicated Technology Transactions practice to support clients in AI, tokenization, data licensing and other digital transformations. The firm markets cross‑practice innovation through its Practice Innovation and Knowledge teams and showcases sector thought leadership (AI, fintech and tokenization) via regular client alerts and trackers; trainees are exposed to technology‑driven deals (AI, tokenization) and interdisciplinary projects across the global footprint.
- Technology Transactions practice and global Technology Transactions platform
- Practice Innovation and Knowledge team
- PHast Track insights series
- Derivatives Download and Crypto Policy Tracker thought‑leadership hubs
- Recognition in Financial Times’ Innovative Lawyers Report
Quick Application Angles
- Emphasise cross‑border finance and funds experience — the firm has recently advised on major fund and finance matters (example: committed financing for the AES acquisition and multiple fund formation/investment mandates).
- Highlight training and development outcomes — insider ratings give the firm an A for training quality and trainees benefit from structured programmes (PH DNA, departmental academies) and a 90% trainee retention rate; reference how you would use that environment to develop quickly.
- If applying to Technology Transactions or AI‑related teams, call out direct experience with AI, data licensing or tokenization — the firm is actively advising on high‑profile technology deals (e.g., Groq–Nvidia licensing) and has a dedicated Technology Transactions platform.
- Demonstrate commercial awareness of private equity and fund markets — Paul Hastings has been expanding its private equity and funds platform in London and globally, and recent lateral hires and deals show this is a strategic growth area.
- Mention commitment to pro bono and inclusion — the Paul Hastings Fellowship and firmwide inclusion programmes are visible features of the careers pages and will resonate with recruiters.
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