Wiggin LLP

Overview

Wiggin is a full-service law firm specialising in Media, Technology and Intellectual Property with a strong sector focus across film & TV, games, music, betting & gaming and sport. The firm combines deep industry expertise and entrepreneurial product development (notably co-founding Incopro and creating platforms such as Cirkus) with full corporate, tax, finance, litigation, employment and regulatory capability. Wiggin maintains a London office for client-facing activity, a Cheltenham principal/registered office and a Brussels office for EU policy and regulatory engagement; it also operates an international network of specialist foreign counsel and regularly advises US-based clients and investors.

• Headquarters: Cheltenham, Jessop House
• Trainees: 4
• Offices: 3

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

• Media & Entertainment
• Technology & Digital
• Intellectual Property
• Corporate & M&A
• Data Protection & Privacy
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Sports Law
• Tax
• Regulatory & Compliance
• Financial Services & Regulation
• Private Equity & Venture Capital
• Real Estate
• Employment
• Commercial Contracts

Geographic Focus: Primarily UK-focused with a Brussels branch for EU regulatory and policy engagement. The firm serves a substantial international client base (around 50+ countries supported in the past year), works with over 80 international law firms and reports that roughly 40% of its workload comes from non-UK clients. It has particular strength in advising US-based digital media and technology clients and frequently coordinates cross-border work in Europe, North America and specialist jurisdictions for media

Training Contract

Trainees complete a rotation of seats across the firm; trainees may indicate preferences and typically do a commercial seat with content distribution, sports or film & TV alongside seats in intellectual property and corporate. Seat allocation is preference-led where possible; the firm operates a partner-led training model with an assessment day and interview stages for selection. Ad hoc client secondments are offered (many partners have undertaken secondments historically) but not every trainee will be seconded abroad.

• Starting Salary: First year trainee salary: £48,000. Second year trainee salary: £52,000.
• NQ Salary: £83,000
• Trainee Intake: 4
• Qualification Rate: Historically retained 90%+ of qualifying trainees; latest trainee retention rate reported as 100%.
• Academic Requirements: A 2:1 or above in your chosen degree. There is no minimum A-level requirement. Non-law graduates are welcome to apply.
• Application Deadline: 2026-05-22

Seat Options

• Film & TV
• Content Distribution
• Sports
• Intellectual Property
• Corporate & M&A
• Technology
• Tax
• Litigation & Disputes

Sponsorship

Wiggin will pay for SQE and PGDL fees and offers grants: £7,000 grant for the PGDL and an £11,000 grant for the SQE for eligible candidates (from 2027 onwards).

SQE Support

Wiggin will pay for SQE and PGDL fees for trainees and future eligible candidates. From 2027 onwards the firm will pay SQE and PGDL fees and provide grants (see sponsorship).

International Opportunities

International secondments are ad hoc. The firm notes that not all trainees will be seconded abroad; LegalCheek data reports a 0% chance of secondment abroad while Wiggin confirms frequent cross-border work and occasional partner secondments. Trainees can expect international work exposure through cross-border matters rather than guaranteed overseas seats.

Client Secondments

Ad hoc client secondments are available; the firm reports a high proportion of trainees undertake client secondments (LegalCheek data: 67% chance of client secondment). These placements are used to provide insight into the client perspective and are selected on an ad hoc basis.

Mentorship

Training is partner-led with constructive feedback. Trainees report partner accessibility and strong peer support; the firm operates trainee networks, provides skills training sessions during work experience and assessment days and offers a collegiate buddy/support approach from more senior associates and partners.

Apply on the Wiggin LLP website →

Programmes & Schemes

Notable Matters

What Wiggin LLP Looks For

Key Competencies

• Commercial awareness
• Passion for media, technology and IP sectors
• Strong academic record and drafting skills
• Curiosity and adaptability
• Teamworking and peer support
• Resilience and commitment
• Client-focused mindset

Evidence Signals

• Sector-specific work experience (media/tech/games/creative industries)
• Commercial internships or transactions experience
• Pro bono or community engagement (especially with creative/arts organisations)
• Practical examples of drafting and problem-solving
• Participation in relevant industry activities or projects (startups, digital projects)

Benefits & Wellbeing

• First year trainee salary: £48,000
• Second year trainee salary: £52,000
• Newly qualified salary: £83,000
• PGDL grant: £7,000
• SQE grant: £11,000
• 25 days holiday (plus bank holidays)
• Group personal pension
• Permanent health insurance
• Life cover
• Holiday buy scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Competitive employee benefits package
• Access to firm social events (Wigstock festival every two years, The Wiggin Arms in-house pub)
• Active sports and social programmes (football team, ski trips, cycle challenges)
• Pro bono opportunities and volunteering programmes

Wellbeing

Wellbeing is supported via employee networks, awareness events (including mental health awareness), affinity groups and volunteering activities. The firm runs internal networks (LGBTQIA+ group, ethnicity & cultural heritage group, Women of Wiggin) and organises wellbeing and community events.

Awards & Recognition

• Ranked 2nd among UK Top 100 for Client Satisfaction (2026)
• Top ranked (gold tier), UK (multiple years - 2022-2026 listings)
• Law Firm of the Year – Gaming (2025)
• UK Copyright Firm of the Year (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)
• Wiggin Emerging Filmmaker Award recognised in Business Charity Awards – Highly Commended (2024)
• Wiggin named Litigation Team of the Year at The Lawyer Awards (2022)
• Winner: Future of Legal Services Innovation for IR35 Manager (2022)
• Multiple directory Tier 1 rankings across Media/Film & TV, Media finance and Video games (Legal 500 listings)

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Wiggin has signed the Stonewall Diversity Champions programme and the UK Legal Apprenticeships Pledge. The firm publishes staff diversity survey results (2025) and operates structured charity, pro bono and community programmes to increase participation and access into the legal and creative industries.

• Women of Wiggin (female affinity group)
• Pride of Wiggin (LGBT+ network)
• Wigg-inc (ethnicity and cultural heritage people network)
• Stonewall Diversity Champion signatory
• Partnership with the Roundhouse Trust (Roundhouse Film Fund, Wiggin Emerging Filmmaker Award)
• Wiggin Charitable Foundation (impact grants and matched funding)
• UK Legal Apprenticeships Pledge signatory
• Staff diversity survey (Diversity Survey Results 2025 published)

Pro Bono

Wiggin commits up to 5% of fee-earner time to pro bono work (the firm states this represents £1.75 million of specialist legal advice). The firm provides pro bono to charities and creative organisations (for example Ndlovu Youth Choir) and offers pro bono support to the Roundhouse Film Fund and other social-impact initiatives.

Innovation

Wiggin has a strong innovation streak: the firm co-founded Incopro to commercialise algorithms for online brand protection and has developed multiple client-focused spin-offs and products (SVOD platform Cirkus, IR35 Manager). Innovation is embedded in the firm’s client offering and has been recognised in industry awards for technology and IP innovation. Trainees and lawyers engage with digital and regulatory issues (AI, data-driven tech, digital platform regulation) as part of cross-disciplinary technical matters.

• Incopro (co-founded tech business for online IP enforcement and brand protection)
• Cirkus (subscription video on demand platform)
• IR35 Manager (innovation award-winning tool)
• Giraffe
• Cirkus & Kritic
• Flux Digital Policy
• Riagla
• Viewfinder

Quick Application Angles

• Demonstrate sector-specific commercial awareness (media/tech/IP/games) — reference Wiggin’s spin-off products (Incopro, Cirkus) or recent sector deals to show you understand the business context.
• Highlight hands-on drafting and transaction experience and provide concrete examples; Wiggin prizes early responsibility and first-rate drafting skills.
• Mention experience or interest in legal-technology and innovation (Incopro, IR35 Manager) — the firm emphasises tech-led solutions and innovation awards.
• If applicable, reference involvement with creative/charitable initiatives (Roundhouse, Film Fund) or pro bono projects; this aligns with Wiggin’s community and diversity commitments.
• Stress partner-and-team-working skills and an appetite for partner-led training: Wiggin’s culture is collegiate and partner-led with high internal ratings for training and peer support.