Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Overview

Seyfarth Shaw LLP is a US-headquartered, full-service global law firm known for its focus on innovation in legal service delivery and large-scale labour & employment, employee benefits and commercial litigation capabilities. The firm emphasises process-driven client solutions (SeyfarthLean®), proprietary delivery platforms (SeyfarthLink, Caribou) and an in-house innovation function (Seyfarth Labs / Technology Innovations) that together differentiate its advisory, transactional and litigation work. Seyfarth combines sector-focused practice teams (healthcare, construction, financial services, technology and real estate are repeatedly referenced) with award-winning legal technology and client service models.

Lawyers: 900+
Offices: 18

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

Employment
Pensions
Healthcare & Life Sciences
Immigration
Real Estate
Corporate & M&A
Dispute Resolution & Litigation
Intellectual Property
Construction & Engineering
Competition & Antitrust
Tax
Regulatory & Compliance
Financial Services & Regulation
Environment & Planning
Technology & Digital
Transport & Logistics
Commercial Contracts
White Collar Crime

Geographic Focus: Strong US national platform with a global delivery footprint across North America, Asia Pacific (notably Australia and Hong Kong) and selected international coverage; operates 18 offices and states it works across more than 190 countries, using cross-office teams for multi-jurisdictional matters and an emphasis on the New York–Miami–Latin America corridor.

Training Contract

Programmes & Schemes

Summer Associate Programme

The firm runs a Summer Associate programme for law students; recent firm communications highlight a dedicated AI training curriculum for Summer Associates and integration with the firm’s AI Portal and innovation training. The Summer Associate programme feeds into the associate recruitment pipeline and includes exposure to the firm’s technology-enabled delivery models.

Deadline: TBC

Senior Fellows programme

A Senior Fellows initiative (senior‑level early career / advanced trainee cohort) receives bespoke AI and innovation training; referenced alongside the Summer Associate AI training programme as part of the firm’s legal tech training efforts.

Notable Matters

Representation of Pac-12 before the Ninth Circuit (Dawson v. NCAA/Pac-12) — student-athlete employment litigation

Seyfarth represented the Pac-12 in litigation that reached the Ninth Circuit concerning whether college student‑athletes are employees for purposes of federal and California law. The Ninth Circuit held that student‑athletes were not employees of the NCAA or Pac‑12 and Seyfarth acted for the Pac‑12 at district court and on appeal.

Dispute Resolution & Litigation

United Airlines biometric privacy litigation defence — litigation victory highlighted by FT

Seyfarth secured a notable litigation outcome for United Airlines in a biometric privacy matter that was shortlisted/recognised in an innovation context; the matter was highlighted for demonstrating novel legal arguments in workplace biometric/privacy disputes and contributed to the firm’s recognition in innovation awards.

Data Protection & Privacy

Advising on the formation of Civica Rx (non-profit generic drug company)

Seyfarth provided guidance on the formation/structuring of Civica Rx, a non‑profit generic drug company created by hospitals and charities to address drug shortages; the firm’s work was recognised as establishing new standards in the health‑care and life sciences sector.

Healthcare & Life Sciences

What Seyfarth Shaw LLP Looks For

Key Competencies

Client focus and commercial awareness
Collaboration and teamwork
Adaptability and willingness to adopt technology
Strong communication and presentation skills
Problem-solving and process improvement mindset
Commitment to pro bono and community engagement

Evidence Signals

Demonstrable experience with legal technology or AI projects (vendor tools, automation, data analytics)
Relevant work experience in employment, healthcare, real estate or corporate transactions for practice‑aligned roles
Pro bono involvement or community engagement
Project management or process improvement experience (e.g., legal project management, operational internships)
Published thought leadership or active participation in practice‑area networks

Benefits & Wellbeing

Medical, dental, and vision coverage
Flexible Spending and Healthcare Savings Accounts
401(k) savings and plan with firm contributions for eligible staff and attorneys
Adoption and surrogacy assistance, IVF and fertility preservation
Parental leave, including bonding leave and adoption leave
Short and long-term disability
Paid Time Off
Commuter/Transit benefits
Employee Assistance Program with enhanced behavioural health counselling
Child and Elder Back Up Care
Reimbursement of milk delivery services for nursing mothers on business travel
Fitness club discounts
Firm discount programme
Employee referral programme
Pet insurance
Firm-provided employee life insurance and voluntary additional/dependent life insurance
Accident and Hospital Indemnity insurance
Group Personal Excess Liability insurance

Wellbeing

Employee Assistance Program with enhanced behavioural health counselling; child and elder backup care; wellbeing covered through benefits and leave policies.

Awards & Recognition

Bloomberg Law — Top 5 overall among Large Firms (2026)
Chambers USA — top-tier recognitions (2026)
Legalweek Leaders in Tech Award — Regulatory, Governance & Compliance Technology (2026)
ALM Legalweek Leaders in Tech Law Awards — Lifetime Achievement for J. Stephen Poor (2025); finalists for firm tech training programme (2025)
JD Supra Readers' Choice Awards — Firm & four lawyers recognised (2025)
Best Lawyers / Best Law Firms — Tier 1 national recognitions across multiple practices (2024 listing)
International Legal Technology Association — Distinguished Peer Awards / Transformative Project runner-up for Caribou (2021/2022 recognition)
Financial Times — Recognised in FT Innovative Lawyers list (multiple years; e.g., 2019, ninth consecutive year)

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Firm encourages attorneys to devote at least 3% of their billable hours to pro bono work; membership of pro bono professional networks and published Pro Bono & Philanthropy Reports (e.g., 2021-2023).

The Belonging Project
Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging Practice
Comunidad Model (network of women and minority‑owned law firms)
Seyfarth People and Alumni Network (SPAN)
Pro bono & Philanthropy programme with full-time pro bono staff and committee
APBCo membership (Association of Pro Bono Counsel)

Pro Bono

The firm encourages all attorneys to devote pro bono time; as a best practice it encourages each attorney to devote an amount equal to at least 3% of their billable hours per year to pro bono work. Pro bono matters include asylum and immigration, adoption, guardian ad litem and divorce, veterans' benefits, civil rights, landlord-tenant disputes, estate planning for low-income seniors, and corporate counsel to nonprofits; the firm partners with corporate clients on pro bono projects and publishes periodic Pro Bono & Philanthropy Reports.

Innovation

Innovation and legal technology are central to Seyfarth’s strategy: the firm has developed end-to-end delivery platforms (SeyfarthLink), workflow and case management tools (Caribou), and an internal innovation organisation (Seyfarth Labs / Technology Innovations) that pilots and deploys AI and automation. The firm invests in AI training for students and associates, partners with vendors (Hebbia) to accelerate due diligence, and maintains recognised programmes and leadership roles (Chief Innovation & Strategic Design Officer; Senior Director of Technology Innovations) to scale adoption across practices. Training for lawyers includes firm-wide AI education and role-specific technology onboarding.

SeyfarthLean® client service model
SeyfarthLink (client collaboration platform)
Caribou (advanced immigration management platform, built on Salesforce Experience Cloud)
Seyfarth Labs (innovation and consulting offering)
Hebbia AI partnership (Matrix platform for diligence and deal execution)
AI Portal and AI training programmes for Summer Associates and Senior Fellows
Technology Innovations Office and Legal Project Management Office

Quick Application Angles

Lead with innovation: emphasise specific experience with legal tech, AI pilots or workflow automation and reference SeyfarthLink/Caribou or Hebbia where relevant to demonstrate fit with the firm’s delivery model.
Show commercial impact: for roles in employment, health care or construction, highlight client-facing examples where you improved process, mitigated regulatory risk, or delivered measurable business outcomes.
Demonstrate training and teaching ability: the firm values interactive, customised training (Seyfarth at Work). Cite examples where you’ve designed or delivered training, compliance programmes or interactive workshops.
Evidence pro bono / belonging commitment: reference pro bono projects or diversity initiatives (The Belonging Project, Comunidad Model) to align with the firm’s stated community priorities.
Be cross-disciplinary: cite experience or coursework combining law, data/tech and project management to match the firm’s multi-disciplinary teams and emphasis on project-managed, tech-enabled delivery.