Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
Overview
Simpson Thacher is a global, private-equity-focused law firm with a long heritage (founded 1884) and a major London presence built since 1978. The firm emphasises market-leading private equity work — advising sponsors, investors and lenders across the full private capital lifecycle — and cites more than 50 years advising in private equity and 1,100+ deals (2021–2025) totalling $1.8tn. The London office is described as at the forefront of the European private equity market; the firm offers a market-first private equity training contract in London with direct partner access and four six-month seat rotations across the private capital ecosystem.
- Headquarters: London
- Founded: 1884
- Lawyers: 2,000 (across 14 offices)
- Trainees: 10
- Offices: 14
Values & Culture
Practice Areas
- Competition & Antitrust
- Energy & Natural Resources
- Infrastructure & Projects
- Banking & Finance
- Investment Funds
- Regulatory & Compliance
- Dispute Resolution & Litigation
- Corporate & M&A
- Real Estate
- Insolvency & Restructuring
- Tax
- Private Equity & Venture Capital
- Capital Markets
- Financial Services & Regulation
Geographic Focus: Strong London and European private equity practice with a global footprint (14 offices across 9 countries). The firm acts for private equity sponsors, institutional investors and lenders on cross-border, multicurrency transactions and fund work, positioning itself as a go-to adviser for sponsor-led transactions and fund formation across jurisdictions.
Training Contract
Two-year training contract composed of four six-month seat rotations (rotations every six months) that together cover the full private capital lifecycle. All training contract places are awarded via the firm's two-week vacation scheme (performance on the scheme determines training contract offers). Trainees are embedded within practice groups from day one, given substantive responsibility on live matters and receive structured partner-led workshops, one-to-one mentorship and regular feedback. Annual intake begins in October.
- Starting Salary: £65,000
- NQ Salary: £178,000
- Trainee Intake: 10
- Academic Requirements: Minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree (gained or predicted). Minimum A-level requirement AAB (or equivalent). Non-law degrees and non-Russell Group universities are accepted; international students are accepted provided they have the right to work and can be in London for the vacation scheme.
Seat Options
- Competition & Antitrust
- Energy & Natural Resources
- Banking & Finance
- Investment Funds
- Regulatory & Compliance
- Dispute Resolution & Litigation
- Corporate & M&A
- Real Estate
- Insolvency & Restructuring
- Tax
Sponsorship
£20,000 (SQE and PGDip grant)
SQE Support
£20,000 SQE and PGDip grant (the firm provides a £20,000 grant to support SQE/PGDip study).
Mentorship
Each vacation scheme student and trainee is paired with a dedicated mentor before arrival; trainees receive partner-led workshops, one-to-one mentorship and ongoing feedback throughout seat rotations. The firm also operates affinity and inclusion networks to support development and community.
Programmes & Schemes
Two-week vacation scheme embedding students within a practice group to work on live private equity matters, combined with private equity workshops, practice group sessions, skills training, associate panels and social events. Performance on the scheme is the only route to a training contract offer.
- Duration: 2 weeks
- Salary: £1,500
- Deadline: 2026-08-27
Two-week vacation scheme embedding students within a practice group to work on live private equity matters, combined with private equity workshops, practice group sessions, skills training, associate panels and social events. Performance on the scheme is the only route to a training contract offer.
- Duration: 2 weeks
- Salary: £1,500
- Deadline: 2026-09-13
Two-week vacation scheme embedding students within a practice group to work on live private equity matters, combined with private equity workshops, practice group sessions, skills training, associate panels and social events. Performance on the scheme is the only route to a training contract offer.
- Duration: 2 weeks
- Salary: £1,500
- Deadline: 2026-12-20
Two-week vacation scheme embedding students within a practice group to work on live private equity matters, combined with private equity workshops, practice group sessions, skills training, associate panels and social events. Performance on the scheme is the only route to a training contract offer.
- Duration: 2 weeks
- Salary: £1,500
- Deadline: 2026-12-20
Half-day in-person open day in London with partner and associate panels, interactive workshops, practical application advice and networking opportunities.
- Duration: Half day
- Deadline: 2026-07-01
Half-day in-person open day in London with partner and associate panels, interactive workshops, practical application advice and networking opportunities.
- Duration: Half day
- Deadline: 2026-07-26
Half-day in-person open day in London with partner and associate panels, interactive workshops, practical application advice and networking opportunities.
- Duration: Half day
- Deadline: 2026-08-30
Half-day in-person open day in London with partner and associate panels, interactive workshops, practical application advice and networking opportunities.
- Duration: Half day
- Deadline: 2026-09-13
Financial and practical support for vacation scheme participants to remove barriers to access: accommodation arranged and covered for the duration of the scheme, full reimbursement of travel costs, meals provided each day, 50% of vacation scheme salary paid upfront before the scheme begins, a £100 gift card for essential items and a dedicated mentor assigned before arrival.
- Salary: 50% of your vacation scheme salary paid upfront; accommodation and travel covered
Notable Matters
Advised on 1,100+ private equity deals between 2021 and 2025, with aggregate deal value cited at $1.8tn. The figure demonstrates the firm's scale and frequency of involvement in large private capital transactions across funds, buyouts, refinancings and exits.
Private Equity & Venture Capital
What Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP Looks For
Key Competencies
- Intellectual curiosity
- Attention to detail
- Clear written and verbal communication
- Commercial awareness
- Drive and ambition
- Analytical thinking
- Teamwork and resilience
Evidence Signals
- Demonstrable commercial awareness and understanding of private equity
- Examples of analytical problem-solving and clear written work
- Performance on live work or relevant commercial internships
- Engagement with private equity concepts (reading the firm's 'Private equity explained' materials or equivalent research)
- Strong academic record (minimum 2:1 and AAB at A-level, where applicable)
Benefits & Wellbeing
- Trainee salary Year 1: £65,000
- Trainee salary Year 2: £70,000
- Newly qualified (NQ) salary: £178,000
- PGDip/SQE grant: £20,000
- Vacation scheme pay: £1,500 (two-week scheme)
- Private health insurance
- Dental insurance
- Income protection
- Life assurance
- Gym membership
- Equipment stipend
- Season ticket loan
- Fertility support
- Employee assistance programme
- Charitable giving
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Pension
- Free breakfast, lunch and dinner (on-site catering)
- Travel insurance
Wellbeing
On-site catering (breakfast, lunch and dinner), barista coffee and stocked kitchens; employee assistance programme; fertility support; wellbeing and inclusion networks and affinity groups to support mental health and pastoral needs.
Awards & Recognition
- Chambers UK Band 1: Investment Funds: Private Equity (2013–2025)
- 15 practice areas ranked Band 1 or Band 2, Chambers UK
- 38 partners ranked in Chambers UK
- Top ranked, Legal 500 UK: Investment Funds
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
The firm states that it is committed to removing financial barriers to recruitment and ensuring candidates from every background can access opportunities; inclusion efforts span recruitment, mentoring, career development and community supported by firm-wide affinity groups and networks.
- Social mobility initiative
- Affinity groups
- Inclusion networks
- Mentoring and sponsorship for early careers
Pro Bono
London lawyers devote thousands of hours each year to pro bono. Trainees are involved from the beginning and may work on pro bono matters alongside commercial work. The European pro bono strategy focuses on five priority social justice areas: Criminal justice; Gender equality; Immigration and asylum; Housing and homelessness; Climate.
Innovation
Quick Application Angles
- Demonstrate specific private equity knowledge: reference the firm's 'Private equity explained' framework (fund lifecycle, capital deployment, financing structures) and explain precisely why Simpson Thacher's sponsor-focused practice matters to you.
- Remember the vacation scheme is the only route to a training contract: apply for a scheme date you can fully commit to and prepare to show commercial analytical skills and clear communication in interview and during live work on the scheme.
- Highlight examples of drafting, commercial analysis or deal-focused work rather than generic teamwork stories; the firm expects trainees to 'try first' and draft from scratch, so practical examples of written work and attention to detail will stand out.
- If you would benefit from financial support to attend a scheme, reference the firm's social mobility initiative and be ready to explain any access needs—Simpson Thacher provides accommodation, travel reimbursement, meals, 50% of vacation-scheme pay upfront and a £100 gift card to remove barriers.
- Be specific about why Simpson Thacher: cite its market-leading private equity credentials (over 50 years advising in PE and the firm's stated $1.8tn of PE deals 2021–2025) and tie that to your long-term commitment to a sponsor-focused practice.
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