Travers Smith LLP
Overview
Travers Smith is a London-based City law firm advising ambitious organisations on complex, high-stakes matters across transactions, disputes & investigations, and complex advisory work. The firm is distinctive for its room-sharing structure (trainees and solicitor apprentices share rooms with associates and partners), an emphasis on early responsibility without chargeable hour targets, and a strong pro bono/CSR and ESG focus. Travers Smith combines a partner-led approach with deep sector specialisms (private capital, pensions, financial services, ESG, technology) and works through a network of 150+ independent overseas firms to provide genuine cross-border exposure.
- Headquarters: London
- Trainees: 35
- Offices: 2
Values & Culture
Practice Areas
- Corporate & M&A
- Commercial Contracts
- Dispute Resolution & Litigation
- Financial Services & Regulation
- Investment Funds
- Private Equity & Venture Capital
- Pensions
- Tax
- Employment
- Intellectual Property
- ESG & Sustainability
- Real Estate
- Competition & Antitrust
- Fraud & Investigations
- Technology & Digital
- Sports Law
- Regulatory & Compliance
Geographic Focus: London-based with a global outlook. The firm works closely with a curated network of over 150 independent overseas law firms to deliver cross-border work, giving lawyers early international exposure through collaborative matters rather than a large international office network.
Training Contract
Two-year training contract comprising four rotating seats across different departments. All trainees spend at least six months in Corporate and at least six months in a transactional seat. Training is partner-led at the start of every seat, supplemented by ongoing seminars tied to live matters, formal EFP (Essentials to Practice) training, and learning-by-osmosis via the room-sharing model (trainees and solicitor apprentices share rooms with associates and partners). There are no firm-wide chargeable hour targets.
- Starting Salary: £55,000
- NQ Salary: £130,000 (basic) and discretionary bonus
- Trainee Intake: 35
- Qualification Rate: 75%
- Academic Requirements: Minimum academic criteria: AAB at A‑level (or equivalent) and a 2:1 undergraduate degree (or on track). The firm operates contextual recruitment and invites contextual information via the Rare Recruitment Contextual Recruitment System (CRS).
- Application Deadline: 2025-11-07
Sponsorship
PGDL/ GDL fees paid in full for non-law students; PGDL grant: £13,500. SQE course and exam fees covered for all candidates; SQE maintenance grant: £20,000 (law students and non-law students on the SQE route). Apprenticeship course fees for the LLB (BPP) are covered by the firm.
SQE Support
For law students: the firm funds the firm-specific Essentials to Practice course (EFP) delivered by BPP (September–August), pays all SQE course fees and exam costs and provides a maintenance grant of £20,000 (paid over four instalments). For non-law students: the firm pays full PGDL/GDL course fees (BPP) and a maintenance grant of £13,500 (paid over three instalments); non-law students also have £
International Opportunities
International exposure is central to the firm’s work through a curated network of 150+ independent overseas law firms; the firm emphasises cross-border involvement on matters rather than a formal programme of regular overseas office secondments.
Client Secondments
Client secondments occur but are limited; trainee/client secondment likelihood is low (client secondments c. 5% of trainees).
Mentorship
Dedicated supervisor for day-to-day guidance, partner-led seat sessions, formal buddy system for apprentices/trainees, HR and Learning & Development support, and partner/associate accessibility through room-sharing. Apprentices receive an on‑course skills coach from BPP and workplace supervisor meetings that link study and practice.
Programmes & Schemes
Two‑week summer vacation schemes designed to give students an authentic taste of City life: talks, workshops, a case study, a negotiating exercise, department insights, close contact with trainees, working lunches and informal evening events. The scheme feeds into the firm's recruitment pipeline and can lead to a Training Contract.
- Duration: 2 weeks
- Salary: £750 per week (paid for each completed week; eligible only after completing scheme assessments)
A six‑year programme combining on‑the‑job legal training with an LLB (Hons) and SQE preparation via BPP. Years 1–4 rotate annually between departments (four days per week on the job and one day protected study time); years 5–6 rotate every six months while studying for SQE with protected study time. Includes dedicated workplace supervisors, a BPP skills coach, academic and pastoral support, and HR and L&D resources.
- Duration: 6 years
- Salary: £29,000 in Year 1 plus a £3,000 one‑off support payment; Years 2–6: not disclosed
Direct Training Contract application routes and Recruitment Days: structured processes involving a first-stage virtual interview, written assessment(s), a one‑day in‑office Recruitment Day (written and group assessments) and final in‑person interviews with co‑heads of Early Careers. The Winter and Spring Direct processes run on set application windows each year rather than rolling entry.
Firm-run events (virtual and in-person) to meet the Early Careers team, learn about the firm culture and recruitment process, and attend pre‑assessment workshops for apprentice/recruitment day candidates.
Notable Matters
Advised the Trustee of the British Steel Pension Scheme on a series of insurance transactions resulting in all scheme liabilities being insured with Legal & General; transactions totalled £7.5bn, making it one of the largest pension buy-in programmes of its kind.
Pensions
Acted for the Nortel Networks UK Pensions Trust Ltd on a £2.4bn PPF-plus buyout with Legal & General (with a subsequent further buyout bringing total transactions to over £2.5bn).
Pensions
Advised DP World on the transfer of six UK grocery sites (transaction announcement and advisory role published on the firm's site).
Real Estate
Advised Peel Group in relation to its cash offer for Harworth Group plc (public M&A advisory work referenced on the firm's site).
Corporate & M&A
Advised Greenfield (the investment vehicle of Andrea Radrizzani) on the sale of their stake in Leeds United FC to 49ers Enterprises (sports M&A and commercial advisory work highlighted under the Sports practice).
Sports Law
Led an extensive pro bono research and litigation project for JUSTICE examining the treatment of Black, Brown and racialised girls and young women in the criminal justice system. The project comprised over 3,500 pro bono hours from 70 Travers Smith lawyers, produced five reports (712 pages), and included preparing FOIA requests and pursuing two appeals to the First‑Tier Tribunal (Information Rights).
Pro Bono
Advised Inmarsat on employee and management incentive arrangements in the context of its acquisition by Viasat Inc (cross-border transactional and incentives work noted under Defence/related practice highlights).
Incentives & Remuneration
What Travers Smith LLP Looks For
Key Competencies
- Academic strength (minimum 2:1 and AAB at A‑level expected)
- Commercial awareness
- Clear‑headed judgement and practical sense
- Communication and teamwork
- Determination, curiosity and resilience
- Ability to take responsibility early and work with senior lawyers
- Commitment to pro bono, CSR and inclusive values
Evidence Signals
- Strong academic record (2:1 and AAB at A‑level or contextual equivalent via CRS)
- Commercial and transactional work experience or exposure to client environments
- Pro bono, volunteering or charitable engagement
- Participation in firm events, Vacation Scheme or recruitment days
- Demonstrable interest in ESG, private capital, pensions or financial services where relevant
Benefits & Wellbeing
- First year trainee salary: £55,000
- Second year trainee salary: £60,000
- NQ salary: £130,000 (basic) + discretionary bonus
- PGDL/GDL fees paid (non‑law students) and PGDL maintenance grant: £13,500
- SQE course and exam fees covered; SQE maintenance grant: £20,000
- Vacation scheme pay: £750 per week (subject to completing assessments)
- No firm-wide chargeable hour targets
- Award-winning, fully subsidised firm café (Braithwaites)
- Flexible, market-leading benefits package (marketed as customisable to employees' needs)
- Extensive pro bono and CSR opportunities and volunteer programmes
- Dedicated Learning & Development and HR support
- Apprenticeship fees for the LLB (BPP) covered
Wellbeing
Firm emphasises wellbeing and provides HR and pastoral support, L&D resources, and a culture of allyship; dedicated support for apprentices and trainees via skills coaches and workplace supervisors.
Awards & Recognition
- UK Pro Bono Initiative – Legal 500 ESG Awards 2025
- Pro Bono Initiative of the Year – The Lawyer Awards 2023
- Pro Bono Company of the Year – Better Society Awards 2022
- Impact on Society – Pensions Management Institute Pinnacle Awards 2022
- Innovation in Responsible Business – Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Europe Awards 2022
- Firm of the Year 2022 – Legal Cheek Awards
- Most Innovative Law Firms in Europe – FT Innovative Lawyers Report (2021)
- Best Vacation Scheme and Most Sustainable Recruitment Campaign – AllAboutLaw Awards 2022
- Best AI Product – LegalCogX Awards 2022
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
The firm uses contextual recruitment data (via the Rare Recruitment CRS) in selection, maintains long‑term charity and pro bono partnerships, and promotes social mobility and inclusion through dedicated outreach, paid work experience and apprenticeship programmes.
- Six professional networks (firm-wide; names not listed on pages provided)
- Partnership with JUSTICE (racial justice research project)
- GiveOut and Just Like Us (longstanding relationships)
- Foundervine (social mobility and start-up support)
- STRIVE (diversity & social mobility graduate development programme)
- Colours Caribbean (LGBTQ+ rights work)
- Domestic Abuse Response Alliance
- Refugees at Home
- Green Tech Legal Collaborative (member)
- Travers Smith Foundation (small charity donations)
- Use of Rare Recruitment Contextual Recruitment System (CRS) for contextual candidate data
Pro Bono
Pro bono hours have quadrupled over the past four years; 100 pro bono matters provided advice in 2025; the JUSTICE racial justice project involved c.3,500 pro bono hours from 70 lawyers and produced five reports (712 pages). The firm’s Pro Bono practice has won multiple industry awards (17 awards referenced) and 65 lawyers were recognised in the 2025 Pro Bono Recognition List.
Innovation
Travers Smith invests in knowledge and tech-enabled services (ESG Toolkit, ESG Academy) and has been recognised for innovation in responsible business and legal technology. Innovation activity is cross-disciplinary and linked to client-facing toolkits and thought leadership; trainees engage with live matters that incorporate ESG, data and technology issues and the firm has received awards for AI and innovation.
- ESG Toolkit (practical tools and resources)
- ESG Academy 2025 (free online training programme for clients)
- ESG timeline (regulatory timeline and horizon scanning)
- Participation in Green Tech Legal Collaborative
- Legal/AI product recognition (Best AI Product – LegalCogX Awards)
Quick Application Angles
- Highlight your fit with the room‑sharing, partner‑led culture: give examples showing you thrive with early responsibility and learning directly from senior colleagues.
- Demonstrate commercial awareness tied to the firm’s strengths (private capital, pensions, ESG and asset management) — reference a recent firm matter such as pension de‑risking work or an alternative funds briefing rather than generic market commentary.
- Show commitment to pro bono and social mobility: cite relevant volunteering or outreach experience (the firm runs large, award‑winning pro bono projects and values demonstrated social impact).
- Use the firm’s contextual recruitment approach: if relevant, submit contextual information via the CRS and explain how background and resilience have shaped your achievement.
- Mention interest in ESG and sustainability initiatives (ESG Toolkit / ESG Academy) if applying to funds, finance, real estate or corporate seats — Travers Smith positions ESG at the centre of transactional and advisory work.
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