Taylor Wessing

Overview

Taylor Wessing is a global, full-service law firm serving innovative people and businesses with deep sector specialisms in technology, media & communications, life sciences & healthcare, private wealth, real estate and energy. The firm combines a long heritage (dating back to 1788) with an internationally connected network across Europe, the US and Asia to deliver multi-jurisdictional transactional, regulatory and disputes work. It is classified in supplementary data as a US Firm and operates a strong Europe-focused platform with notable strength in technology, IP and life sciences, and a reputation for sector-led, cross-border advice.

• Headquarters: London
• Founded: 1788
• Trainees: 20
• Offices: 27

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

• Corporate & M&A
• Capital Markets
• Data Protection & Privacy
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Employment
• Intellectual Property
• Real Estate
• Construction & Engineering
• Energy & Natural Resources
• Infrastructure & Projects
• ESG & Sustainability
• Banking & Finance
• Financial Services & Regulation
• Healthcare & Life Sciences
• Private Client & Wealth
• Private Equity & Venture Capital
• Tax
• Competition & Antitrust
• Media & Entertainment
• Technology & Digital
• Transport & Logistics
• Pensions
• Insurance & Reinsurance
• Commercial Contracts
• Regulatory & Compliance
• Fraud & Investigations
• White Collar Crime
• Insolvency & Restructuring
• Environment & Planning
• Public Law

Geographic Focus: European-focused international firm with major hubs across Germany, the Netherlands, France and the UK and additional presence in Central & Eastern Europe, the Middle East and the US (San Francisco/West Coast). The firm pursues cross-border work for technology, life sciences, private wealth, real estate and energy clients and leverages an integrated network of national offices and allied firms to deliver pan-European and multi-jurisdictional mandates.

Training Contract

Two-year training contract (salary published for Year 1 and Year 2). Trainees rotate through multiple seats across the firm's core practice areas; seat allocation and rotation are managed through the firm's graduate recruitment and internal seat-selection processes and are designed to provide sector-focused exposure.)

• Starting Salary: £52,000 (Year 1) / £57,000 (Year 2)
• NQ Salary: £115,000
• Trainee Intake: 20
• Qualification Rate: 82%
• Academic Requirements: Minimum degree: 2:1. Minimum A-level requirement: AAB.
• Application Deadline: 2025-11-28

Seat Options

• Corporate & M&A
• Capital Markets
• Data Protection & Privacy
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Employment
• Intellectual Property
• Real Estate
• Energy & Natural Resources
• Infrastructure & Projects
• ESG & Sustainability
• Private Client & Wealth
• Private Equity & Venture Capital
• Banking & Finance
• Commercial Contracts
• Regulatory & Compliance
• Technology & Digital
• Healthcare & Life Sciences
• Competition & Antitrust
• Transport & Logistics
• Tax

SQE Support

Supplementary data indicates financial SQE support (SQE grant of £17,000).

International Opportunities

The firm promotes international mobility and cross-border experience across its network of European offices and selected hubs in the US, China and the Middle East. Supplementary figures indicate a c.13% chance of a secondment abroad for trainees.

Client Secondments

Supplementary data indicates approximately 38% chance of a client secondment for trainees; the firm also highlights secondee-style experience and close client relationships on its careers pages.

Mentorship

The firm emphasises an open, supportive environment with approachable partners and a strong culture of peer support; careers content references mentoring, buddying and trainee networks alongside line manager and partner supervision for development and pastoral support.

Apply on the Taylor Wessing website →

Programmes & Schemes

Notable Matters

What Taylor Wessing Looks For

Key Competencies

• Commercial awareness
• Sector knowledge (especially technology, life sciences, TMC, real estate, energy)
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Client focus and service-orientation
• Intellectual curiosity and creativity
• Resilience and adaptability
• International mindset and cross-border experience
• Attention to detail and technical excellence
• Interest in legal technology and innovation

Evidence Signals

• Relevant commercial or sector work experience (start-ups, VC, life sciences, tech companies)
• International exposure or language skills (secondments, study/work abroad)
• Demonstrable commercial thinking in applications (deal examples, internships)
• Technical or scientific background for life sciences / patent-focused roles
• Participation in pro bono, mooting or client-facing activities that show client-service skills
• Experience with digital projects, legal tech tools or data privacy/compliance roles

Benefits & Wellbeing

• Trainee salary Year 1: £52,000
• Trainee salary Year 2: £57,000
• NQ salary: £115,000
• PGDL/PGDL grant: £12,500
• SQE grant: £17,000
• Annual leave: 25 days
• No formal annual billable/target hours (no targets)
• Flexible / hybrid working arrangements (including ability to work from home or vary start/finish times)
• Access to high-end technology and agile working processes
• Opportunities for international secondments and client secondments (supplementary percentages published)
• Wellbeing-focused policies and people support emphasised across careers communications

Awards & Recognition

• Managing IP Awards 2026: Trademark Firm of the Year (Germany)
• Managing IP Awards 2026: Copyright & Design Firm of the Year (France, UAE) and Trademark Prosecution Firm of the Year (UK/England)
• Legal 500 Europe, Middle East & Africa 2026 – multiple practice recognitions (including Tier 1 listings across IP, TMT, biotech, private client and others)
• British Legal Awards 2025 – Best Business Support Team; Competition Regulatory Team of the Year; Private Capital Team of the Year; Private Client Team of the Year; Property Team of the Year
• Legal Business Awards 2025 – Private Client Team of the Year; Commercial Litigation Team of the Year; Legal Technology Team of the Year; Marketing Initiative of the Year; Real Estate Team of the Year; Law Firm of the Year

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The firm publicly commits to responsible business, diversity and inclusion through its careers messaging and corporate responsible-business pages; it is a signatory to Legal Charter 1.5 (a high-ambition climate/Net Zero legal-sector initiative).

• Legal Charter 1.5

Innovation

The firm invests in digital tools and sector-specific tech platforms to support clients and internal teams — examples include self-assessment and scoping tools (Data Act Scoping Tool), legislation trackers and interactive products (Patent Map, Global Data Hub). Training and day-to-day work are supported by high-end technology and an innovation agenda recognised by awards for legal tech.

• Data Act Scoping Tool
• Digital Legislation Tracker
• Global Data Hub
• Patent Map
• Interface
• Synapse (life sciences hub)
• ESG Timeline
• MDR Medical Device Checker
• Advertising Medical Devices European Comparison Tool

Quick Application Angles

• Emphasise sector focus and commercial impact: reference the firm’s leading tech and life sciences work (e.g., Helsing financings, Quantum Systems funding) and explain how your commercial thinking would add value.
• Showcase legal-technology interest or experience: the firm scores top grades for legal tech — describe concrete examples of using tech in legal work or projects to improve efficiency.
• Reference responsible-business and ESG credentials: mention Legal Charter 1.5 or the firm’s ESG Timeline and state how you would support sustainability or compliance work in your seat choices.
• Highlight teamwork and accessibility: make clear examples of collaborative projects and experiences working with senior stakeholders — the firm emphasises approachable partners and strong peer support.
• If applying to IP or TMC teams, cite the firm’s recent IP awards (Trademark Firm of the Year Germany, Managing IP accolades) and link your IP/tech experience to cross-border enforcement or prosecution work.