Winston & Strawn LLP

Overview

Winston & Strawn LLP is an international, full‑service law firm with a broad disputes and transactional platform across North America, Europe, South America and Asia. The firm combines large-scale litigation strength (450+ litigators) with a deep corporate and transactional bench (300+ corporate & transactional attorneys) and specialist groups in IP, finance, restructuring and regulatory work. Winston emphasises client-facing, high-value matters, a strong eDiscovery/technology capability, and a visible pro bono and inclusion programme that feeds into recruiting and training initiatives. The firm is positioned as an international US-headquartered firm with strategic offices across major financial and commercial centres, including a long-established London office.

Headquarters: Chicago
Lawyers: 750+ (300+ corporate & transactional attorneys; 450+ litigators)
Trainees: 2
Offices: 16

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

Corporate & M&A
Capital Markets
Banking & Finance
Private Equity & Venture Capital
Financial Services & Regulation
Insolvency & Restructuring
Intellectual Property
Dispute Resolution & Litigation
Data Protection & Privacy
Competition & Antitrust
Tax
Real Estate
Regulatory & Compliance
Technology & Digital
White Collar Crime

Geographic Focus: Global practice with particular strength across North America and Europe (major offices in Chicago, New York, Washington, London, Paris and Brussels) and targeted presence in Latin America (São Paulo) and technology hubs in California (Silicon Valley, San Francisco). The firm pursues cross-border corporate and finance mandates and large-scale litigation, supporting multinational clients with integrated teams and regional specialists.

Training Contract

Training contracts are London‑based (London office established 2003) with seat rotations across transactional and litigation departments. London vacation and trainee programmes emphasise short rotations and practical exposure; trainees are given real client work from early in the contract. The firm runs structured orientation (Jumpstart) and formal legal skills training (e.g., legal writing, litigation/deal primers), coaching circles, and sponsor relationships for more senior associates.

Starting Salary: Year 1: £56,000; Year 2: £61,000
NQ Salary: £160,000
Trainee Intake: 2
Academic Requirements: Minimum degree: 2:1; Minimum A‑level requirement: No minimum
Application Deadline: 31 January 2026

Seat Options

Corporate & M&A
Capital Markets
Banking & Finance
Private Equity & Venture Capital
Tax
Litigation (Dispute Resolution & Litigation)
International Arbitration
Contentious Regulatory (Regulatory & Compliance)
Competition & Antitrust
Real Estate
Intellectual Property
Employment
Restructuring (Insolvency & Restructuring)

Sponsorship

PGDL/GDL grant: £17,000; SQE grant: £17,000 (figures published by the firm’s supplementary data).

SQE Support

SQE grant: £17,000 (firm provides an SQE grant amount as published)

International Opportunities

0% (Chances of secondment abroad: 0%)

Client Secondments

0% (Chances of client secondments: 0%)

Mentorship

Formal sponsor and mentoring programmes: a Diversity & Inclusion Associate Sponsorship Programme pairs high‑potential fifth/sixth year associates with Executive Committee sponsors; trainees and new associates attend Jumpstart orientation with coaching sessions led by the Director of Coaching and Well‑Being; trainees have access to coaching circles and buddy/peer networks.

Apply on the Winston & Strawn LLP website →

Programmes & Schemes

Summer Vacation Scheme (London)

London Vacation Scheme gives law students hands‑on experience across multiple practice areas through presentations, trainings, work assignments and social events. Students work on corporate and litigation tasks to experience the work given to trainees and are integrated into the office social programme.

Duration: 1–2 weeks (London schemes have run one‑week virtual and two‑week in‑person formats)

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Summer Associate Program (US)

A US summer programme for law students that runs in multiple US offices. Activities include project work, pro bono activities and community events; summers also participate in Winston for Good volunteering. The firm reported 81 US‑based Summer Associates in 2025 and coordinated activities across US and international offices.

Duration: Typically mid‑May to late July (approx. 10–11 weeks)
Places: 81 US; 10 London (2025 cohort numbers reported)

Work Experience Week (London)

One‑week work experience placements for school students (16–18) run in the London office, often in partnership with Access Aspiration/Mayor’s Fund for London. Students are given drafting tasks, judgment reviews and a final presentation on firm life.

Duration: 1 week
Places: Typically small cohorts (examples show two students hosted in a given week)

Insight Day for Aspiring Young Women Lawyers (London)

A one‑day insight programme for young women (e.g., school or sixth‑form groups) combining career guidance, trainee panels, business development talks and Diversity & Inclusion presentations.

Duration: 1 day

Law School Experience (free online course)

A free, self‑paced online course for incoming first‑year law students covering exam techniques, case reading and legal writing. The course takes about six to seven hours to complete and awards a certificate on completion; it is targeted at improving access for first‑generation and diverse students.

Duration: Self‑paced (~6–7 hours)

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Notable Matters

Blockfusion USA / Bit Digital – Mining Services Agreement

Winston represented Blockfusion USA, Inc. in a strategic co‑mining/mining services agreement with Bit Digital involving operation of a 35 MW bitcoin mining system. Counsel work covered negotiation and documentation of the services agreement and supporting commercial terms; the project emphasised low/zero-carbon energy sources for operations.

Technology & Digital

Pro bono education matter securing critical services for a student with special education needs

A Winston pro bono team in Chicago represented a student with autism, ADHD and dyslexia in a dispute with a school district regarding reduction of essential services. The firm retained an expert, prepared a detailed report, negotiated settlement terms requiring transfer to an appropriate private day school and compensation for missed services, resolving the matter prior to hearing.

Public Law

Cross‑border Special Situation M&A / Financial Restructuring (Turnaround Atlas Awards matters)

Winston acted as legal advisor on multiple award‑winning restructuring and special situation M&A matters (including roles advising prepetition and debtor‑in‑possession agents and lenders, sponsors and stalking horse purchasers). These matters were recognised at the Restructuring & Distressed Investing Forum and Turnaround Atlas Awards for cross‑border and manufacturing restructuring deals.

Insolvency & Restructuring

What Winston & Strawn LLP Looks For

Key Competencies

Commercial awareness
Attention to detail
Teamwork and collaboration
Client service orientation
Resilience and adaptability
Interest in technology/legal tech
Commitment to pro bono and community engagement
Leadership potential and initiative ('fire in your belly')

Evidence Signals

Relevant commercial or litigation work experience (vacation schemes, summer associate work)
Pro bono involvement or community outreach
Participation in law school activities (mooting, law review) or specialist IP/tech projects
Completion of skills or prep courses (e.g., law school prep) and demonstrable academic performance (2:1 degree typical)
Demonstrable teamwork in group tasks and examples of making supervisors' lives easier (sponsorship advice)

Benefits & Wellbeing

Trainee salary Year 1: £56,000
Trainee salary Year 2: £61,000
NQ salary: £160,000
PGDL/GDL grant: £17,000
SQE grant: £17,000
Annual leave: 25 days
Access to firm wellbeing initiatives (Wellness Week, WinSTRIDE steps challenge, coaching circles)
Extensive pro bono opportunities and recognised pro bono awards
Large eDiscovery and information services capability (support teams available to fee earners)

Wellbeing

Firm‑wide wellbeing programming including a Year of Mental Health initiatives, Wellness Week, WinSTRIDE cross‑office steps challenge, coaching circles led by the Director of Coaching and Well‑Being, and ad hoc wellness events for networks (e.g., Evening of Wellness for Women).

Awards & Recognition

Palmarès du Droit 2026 — Paris office: Capital Market (Gold), Banking & Finance (Bronze), Life Sciences (Bronze)
WTR 1000 2023 — Trademark team recognised (Bronze: Illinois, New York, California)
Legalweek Leaders in Tech Law Awards 2023 — Finalist (Innovations in Diversity & Inclusion)
The Recorder / California Legal Awards 2023 — Finalist (Innovation in Diversity & Inclusion)
Turnaround Atlas / Restructuring & Distressed Investing Forum — Multiple awards and recognitions (2020)
LawCareers.Net Training & Recruitment Awards — London nominated (2018)
Legal Aid Society Scott C. Solberg Pro Bono Award – Law Firm (Equal Access to Justice Awards Luncheon, 2018)
LTN Awards 2010 — IS Department honoured for Innocence Record pro bono project

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Longstanding membership of industry diversity programmes (e.g., LCLD); firm strategic plan references diversity & inclusion as a high priority and the firm runs targeted sponsorship, coaching and pipeline initiatives (D&I Associate Sponsorship Programme; Law School Experience) to improve retention and progression of diverse lawyers.

Opportunity & Inclusion Office (Chief Opportunity & Inclusion Officer: Sylvia James)
Diversity & Inclusion Associate Sponsorship Program (12‑month sponsorship pairing EC sponsors with high‑potential women, minority and LGBTQ associates)
Women’s Leadership Initiative
First Generation in Law Scholars (partnership with DePaul College of Law and University of Illinois)
Winston’s Law School Experience (free online course to improve access for first‑generation and diverse students)
Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) membership and sponsored Fellows/Pathfinders participation
Winston for Good community and educational outreach programmes
Cristo Rey internship placements (Houston, Dallas, Chicago offices)

Pro Bono

Firm pro bono activity includes individual casework (education IEP wins, wildfire disaster legal assistance, immigration and civil rights matters), large projects (Innocence Record in partnership with the Innocence Project), and institutional partnerships (Legal Aid Society, Disaster Legal Assistance Collaborative). The firm reported 2,300+ hours of CSR volunteering in 2024 and has received pro bono awards and recognition for these efforts.

Innovation

Winston invests in information services and legal technology (large eDiscovery team, IS innovations such as the Innocence Record) and has launched client‑facing delivery models (Winston Legal Solutions). The firm has been recognised for innovation in linking tech and D&I and incorporates technology into litigation and transactional workflows; trainees and junior lawyers can engage with eDiscovery, IS teams and firm innovation projects as part of their development.

Innocence Record (online searchable database in collaboration with the Innocence Project)
Winston Legal Solutions (delivery option for routine legal tasks)
Large eDiscovery & information services capability (26+ professionals)
Winston & Strawn Law School Experience online course
Participation in industry research (Disruptive Technology white paper and surveys)

Quick Application Angles

Highlight commercial experience relevant to cross‑border M&A, finance or private equity — Winston’s London practice is heavily involved in cross‑border deals and trainees are expected to do substantive work early.
Demonstrate interest and experience in legal tech or eDiscovery: the firm has a large eDiscovery team and strong legal‑tech credentials, so cite relevant projects, tools or coursework.
Show commitment to pro bono and access initiatives (e.g., involvement in community outreach, volunteering or pro bono clinics) — Winston emphasises pro bono and runs major projects like the Innocence Record and community programmes.
When interviewing or in assessments, use examples of teamwork and sponsorship‑style relationships (e.g., times you ‘made a supervisor’s life easier’, led with a 'yes', or delivered on a sponsor/mentor objective) — these behaviours are emphasised in the firm's sponsorship and development programmes.
Reference training and development opportunities you value (e.g., real client exposure, writing skills training, Jumpstart orientation) and explain how you would use them to contribute — the firm markets early responsibility for trainees and strong formal training.