Tees Law
Overview
Tees is a major regional law and independent financial services firm operating across Cambridgeshire, Essex and Hertfordshire. The firm combines multi-disciplinary legal teams with in-house independent financial advisers to provide joined-up legal and wealth planning services to individuals, families and owner-managed businesses. Tees has deep local roots (over 100 years) and a broad regional footprint, operating from five offices and employing over 400 legal and wealth advisers. The firm is a consistently top-ranked Legal 500 practice with multiple Tier 1 teams, particularly strong in private client, real estate, commercial litigation and personal injury/clinical negligence.
- Headquarters: Bishop’s Stortford, Tees House (95 London Road)
- Lawyers: 400+ (legal and wealth advisers)
- Offices: 5
Values & Culture
Practice Areas
- Agriculture & Rural
- Real Estate
- Corporate & M&A
- Dispute Resolution & Litigation
- Employment
- Family Law
- Private Client & Wealth
- Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence
- Tax
- Financial Services & Regulation
- Commercial Contracts
- Regulatory & Compliance
- Insurance & Reinsurance
- Pensions
Geographic Focus: Regional focus across the East of England and the South East (Cambridgeshire, Essex and Hertfordshire) with offices in Bishop’s Stortford, Cambridge, Chelmsford, North Herts (Royston area) and Saffron Walden. Tees positions itself as a major regional firm serving owner-managed and family businesses, local landowners and private clients across England and Wales.
Training Contract
The training contract typically consists of four six-month seats (four seats lasting six months each) across Tees’ legal departments and can be taken across any of the firm's five offices. Tees uses its vacation scheme as the primary pipeline for recruiting the majority of its trainees; successful vacation scheme candidates are invited to interview and, if offered, join one of the twice-yearly training intakes (start dates: 1 April and 1 October in the advertised cycle). Trainees are supervised by a Partner or Senior Associate, meet regularly with supervisors and are supported by a Training Principal.
- Academic Requirements: 2:1 or above at degree level (or on track to achieve these grades). Applicants include penultimate and final year law students, final year non-law students and graduates; students/graduates of the LPC, GDL or SQE are eligible. Right to work in the UK is essential and the firm cannot offer sponsorship. A driving licence and access to a vehicle is preferred to ensure accessibility to the firm's five
- Application Deadline: 2026-04-30
Seat Options
- Private Client & Wealth
- Real Estate
- Corporate & M&A
- Dispute Resolution & Litigation
- Family Law
- Employment
- Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence
- Agriculture & Rural
- Tax
- Commercial Contracts
- Regulatory & Compliance
Mentorship
Trainees work in supportive teams supervised by a Partner or Senior Associate and have regular meetings with their supervisors. The firm names a Training Principal (Helen Midgley) who oversees trainee development. Trainees have opportunities to speak with current trainee solicitors about life at Tees and are supported through marketing, networking, training and social events.
Programmes & Schemes
A one-week placement aimed at assessing strengths, potential and commercial awareness. Participants undertake group exercises and individual tasks (including preparing and delivering a short presentation) and have opportunities to speak with current trainees. The vacation scheme is the primary route into the majority of Tees’ training contracts; shortlisted vacation-scheme participants are invited to interview.
- Duration: 1 week
- Deadline: 2026-04-30
A two-year in-house programme launched in 2022 to develop the next generation of financial advisers at Tees Financial. The Academy provides structured training, mentorship and practical experience with the aim of producing qualified Wealth Advisers. Graduates are integrated into the Tees Financial team and benefit from competitive compensation, career progression opportunities and workplace support.
- Duration: 2 years
Notable Matters
Tees advised a landowner on the unconditional sale of a house and land in Wickford for residential development, with a deal value reported as £4.5 million. The Real Estate team handled the transactional and title aspects supporting the landowner client through the sale.
Real Estate
Tees acted for long-standing client Moralis Group Limited on the disposal of G.B.N Services Limited to Reuse Holdings Limited (part of the Sortera Group). The transaction included corporate and substantial commercial property elements across multiple sites and required multi-departmental support from the Corporate and Real Estate teams.
Corporate & M&A
Tees advised the shareholders of Universal Services on the sale of their shares to Millgate Group Limited. The team led negotiation and drafting of the Share Purchase Agreement, detailed Disclosure Letter and ancillary documentation, and pulled in commercial property, employment and pensions advice as required. The combined turnover of the buyer group post-transaction was reported at over £13 million (2024 figure for combined entities).
Corporate & M&A
Tees advised nine landowners on the sale of the Straits Mill site, a major 162-acre disposal to national housebuilders Barratt and David Wilson Homes. The Real Estate and Corporate teams coordinated complex title, option and conditional sale documentation for a multi-party, strategic development transaction.
Real Estate
Tees represented a client in concluding a complex post-divorce financial settlement where shareholdings, future share vesting and potential tax liabilities were at issue. The firm provided a multi-disciplinary solution including family, tax and corporate advice and implemented a detailed scheme in the consent order and Deed of Indemnity to address future tax risk. The matter’s settlement value was reported as c. £20 million.
Family Law
Tees acted for Woodland Group (an independent logistics company) on the legal aspects of relocating its Chelmsford head office, advising on lease and commercial property matters and coordinating with the client’s project stakeholders to enable a timely relocation to refurbished premises in Chelmsford town centre.
Real Estate
What Tees Law Looks For
Key Competencies
- Commercial awareness
- Personable and client-focused manner
- Ambition and self-motivation
- Strong communication and presentation skills
- Teamworking and collaboration
- Resilience and adaptability
- Evidence of commitment to a career at Tees (e.g. through vacation scheme or relevant work experience)
Evidence Signals
- Strong commercial or client-facing work experience (internships, paralegal roles or client advisory experience)
- Examples of teamwork and group project work (relevant for vacation-scheme group exercises)
- Clear examples of commercial awareness and understanding of regional markets (Cambridgeshire/Essex/Hertfordshire)
- Sector-specific experience for specialist teams (agriculture, real estate, wealth/financial services)
- Presentation experience and ability to perform in assessment-centre style tasks
Benefits & Wellbeing
- Competitive compensation (general statements used in recruitment material)
- Supportive and inclusive working environment
- Opportunities for career advancement within Tees and Tees Financial
- Access to experienced Partners and multi-disciplinary teams
- Office conveniences: easy parking at Bishop’s Stortford, public parking near Cambridge office and on-site parking at Chelmsford
Wellbeing
The firm highlights wellbeing as part of responsible business practice. Tees was awarded Responsible Employer of the Year at the East Prop Awards 2025 in recognition of wellbeing, ethical business and community work.
Awards & Recognition
- Legal 500 — Ranked in multiple practice areas and named Top-Tier in several disciplines (multiple Top-Tier/Tier 1 listings across 2024-2026)
- Tees maintains six Tier 1 teams in Legal 500 rankings (announced Oct 2024 for the 2025 list)
- Tees excels with seven Tier 1 teams in Legal 500 rankings (announced Oct 2025 for the 2026 list)
- East Prop Awards — Responsible Employer of the Year (2025)
- NFU national panel member (one of only 16 law firms on the NFU national panel)
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and lived experiences.
- Tees Better Future Fund (community grants programme)
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (careers brochure and programme materials)
Pro Bono
Tees Better Future Fund: established May 2022 to provide community grants (typically up to £5,000) to projects supporting learning and education and/or promoting good health and well-being across Cambridgeshire, Essex and Hertfordshire. The Fund has supported local charities such as Petals and Action for Family Carers and awards grants to grassroots community projects.
Innovation
Quick Application Angles
- Emphasise regional and sector knowledge — reference Tees’ strong presence across Cambridgeshire, Essex and Hertfordshire and specific sector work (e.g. Agriculture & Rural and developer/land sales) to show fit with the firm’s client base.
- Demonstrate commercial awareness with concrete examples — discuss a recent regional development, farm diversification or residential development transaction (such as the £4.5m Wickford sale or major strategic site sales) and the legal issues it raises.
- Highlight cross‑disciplinary interest — mention an interest in combined legal and financial advice (Tees’ integrated legal + wealth model and the Tees Wealth Academy) to show alignment with the firm’s multi-disciplinary approach.
- Prepare for assessment-centre tasks — the vacation scheme includes group exercises and short presentations; practise clear, timed presentations and structured group-working examples that show commercial judgement and teamwork.
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