Ashurst Perkins Coie

Overview

Ashurst Perkins Coie is a newly combined global law firm positioned to advise clients across high‑growth, technology‑led sectors. The firm presents deep sector strengths in technology, energy & infrastructure, and financial services and combines a large international footprint with specialised NewLaw and risk advisory capabilities. Its client work spans complex cross‑border M&A, capital markets, technology transactions, regulatory and litigation matters; the firm emphasises innovation (including AI and digital offerings) and global collaboration as differentiators.

• Headquarters: London
• Lawyers: 3,500+ client-facing practitioners
• Trainees: 38
• Offices: 52
• Revenue: 1 billion+

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

• Technology & Digital
• Corporate & M&A
• Capital Markets
• Competition & Antitrust
• Private Equity & Venture Capital
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Energy & Natural Resources
• Infrastructure & Projects
• Financial Services & Regulation
• Intellectual Property
• Data Protection & Privacy
• Regulatory & Compliance
• Real Estate
• Public Law
• Tax

Geographic Focus: A globally integrated platform with particular depth across the United States, UK/EMEA and APAC. The firm advises clients from major innovation hubs (Silicon Valley, Seattle, London, Sydney, Tokyo, Singapore, Hong Kong) and positions itself to support cross-border transactions, regulatory matters and technology-driven work across jurisdictions.

Training Contract

The firm operates a multi‑seat training contract model with rotations across practice areas; trainees describe three-seat rotations (examples in corporate/transactions, regulatory and global loans) and frequent client contact. Training is supported by formal, award‑winning learning programmes and on‑the‑job supervision. The firm offers flexibility with routes such as Direct TC and alternative qualification pathways (e.g., Legal Business Analyst route with SQE study). International and client secondments are part of the programme offering.

• Starting Salary: Year 1: 57,000
• NQ Salary: £140,000
• Trainee Intake: 38
• Qualification Rate: 84%
• Academic Requirements: Minimum degree: 2:1. Minimum A-level requirement: No minimum.

Seat Options

• Corporate & M&A
• Financial Services & Regulation
• Banking & Finance
• Competition & Antitrust

Sponsorship

PGDL/Conversion grant of 12,000 (PGDL/PLD grant listed)

SQE Support

SQE financial support and study support is offered: Legal Business Analyst pathway explicitly supports SQE study and the supplementary data lists an SQE grant of 20,000

International Opportunities

The firm offers international secondments; case studies reference secondments to Tokyo and other overseas offices. LegalCheek data indicates a circa 33% chance of secondment abroad for trainees.

Client Secondments

The firm provides client secondment opportunities; LegalCheek indicates approximately a 14% chance of a client secondment for trainees. Secondments can be to in-house client roles and pro bono partner organisations.

Mentorship

Trainees receive formal mentorship and buddy support alongside seat supervisors; the Applicant Resource Hub describes mentoring, coaching and manager support plus trainee networks and social cohorts. Departments run regular departmental training and partner/supervisor coaching.

Apply on the Ashurst Perkins Coie website →

Programmes & Schemes

Notable Matters

What Ashurst Perkins Coie Looks For

Key Competencies

• Teamwork and collaboration
• Commercial awareness
• Adaptability and resilience
• Commitment to learning and innovation
• Analytical and problem-solving skills
• Client service and communication
• Interest in technology and digital solutions

Evidence Signals

• Commercial work experience or internships (transactional, regulatory or commercial advisory)
• Experience with legal tech, coding, data or project management
• International experience or language skills (for cross-border work and secondments)
• Leadership roles in extracurriculars or social mobility initiatives
• Pro bono or community engagement

Benefits & Wellbeing

• Year 1 trainee salary: 57,000
• Year 2 trainee salary: 62,000
• NQ salary: 40,000
• PGDL/Conversion grant: 12,000
• SQE grant: 20,000
• Learning & development: award-winning L&D, access to LinkedIn Learning, formal programmes and on-the-job training
• Study support and tuition reimbursement (as approved by manager)
• Flexible and hybrid working (including ergonomic home support)
• Employee Assistance Programme (confidential counselling)
• Healthcare/corporate health plans and free vaccinations (varies by location)
• Gym membership (discounted or subsidised depending on location)
• Headspace app access
• Parental leave: 26 weeks (irrespective of gender identity and caring role)
• Additional leave purchase (up to specified limits by location)
• Referral bonuses (location dependent; up to A$10,000 in Australia)
• Corporate discounts and insurance offerings (income protection, life assurance, pension)
• Social and wellbeing activities, volunteer programmes and pro bono opportunities
• No annual billable/target hours (LegalCheek data: No targets)

Wellbeing

EAP (fully subsidised counselling), Headspace access, AIA Vitality (where offered), Champion Health programmes, subsidised gym memberships, social activities and mental health support.

Awards & Recognition

• Innovation in Strategic Direction - FT Innovative Lawyers Awards Asia-Pacific 2026 (Ashurst)
• Most Innovative Law Firm in APAC - FT Innovative Lawyers Awards (multiple years mentioned)
• Band 1 rankings in Chambers & Partners (multiple practices)
• Vault Top 100 (US) - repeated listings
• Fortune '100 Best Companies to Work For' (US) 2003-2026

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The firm states a long-term strategic commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, Belonging and Opportunity, building on the pre-existing programmes of both Ashurst and Perkins Coie; it partners with bar associations and external organisations and has implemented a Modern Slavery Action Plan (launched 2019 for APAC and EMEA).

• Social Mobility Executive Committee
• Citizenship and Displacement pro bono programme
• Racial Justice Fellowship (US)
• Public Interest Law Fellowships (Australia)
• Office-level volunteering and community programmes
• Global Inclusion, Diversity & Opportunity networks

Pro Bono

A longstanding pro bono practice representing hundreds of clients annually. Programmes include Racial Justice Fellowship (6 months for first- and second-year associates in the US), five 24-month Public Interest Law Fellowships in Australia, and short- and long-term pro bono secondments (up to 6 months). The firm emphasises systemic-impact pro bono and community partnership work.

Innovation

Ashurst Perkins Coie positions innovation and legal tech at the centre of its strategy: a dedicated NewLaw division (Advance) combines lawyers, analysts, project managers and technologists to deliver AI-enabled and process-driven legal services. The firm has been recognised by FT Innovative Lawyers for strategic AI work; trainees and analysts are exposed to automation, generative AI, eDiscovery tools and digital product development as part of formal training and on-the-job experience. Insider grades indicate top-tier legal-tech strength (A*).

• Advance (NewLaw division)
• Digital & AI team
• eDiscovery centre
• AI commercial advisory group
• Venture Intelligence
• Innovation & legal-technology enabled training (AI-enabled training for LBAs)
• Emerging Talent Hub (virtual internships via Forage)

Quick Application Angles

• Emphasise tech and AI interest: the firm has an AI commercial advisory group and a strong Digital & AI / Advance capability—cite specific AI/tech deal experience (e.g., Google/DeepMind work) and how you would add value.
• Show cross-border capability: reference eagerness for international secondments (the firm cites Tokyo secondments in case studies) and give examples of international teamwork or language skills.
• Demonstrate commercial awareness with a recent Ashurst Perkins Coie deal: discuss client implications from a recent transaction (for example, the British Business Bank investment in Quantum Motion or the Pure Data Centre financing) and practical legal issues it raises.
• Highlight legal‑tech fluency: the firm scores A* for legal tech—describe direct experience using legal‑tech tools, scripting/automation, or involvement in process improvement projects.
• Mention commitment to social impact and pro bono: reference the firm's Racial Justice Fellowship/Public Interest Fellowships or Citizenship & Displacement pro bono work if relevant to your background.