Travers Smith LLP
Overview
Travers Smith is a London-based City law firm focused on high-value, complex work across transactions, disputes & investigations, and complex advisory. The firm emphasises partner-led, specialist advice combined with a distinctive culture — notably a room-sharing model that gives trainees and apprentices direct exposure to partners and associates from day one and no chargeable hours targets. Travers Smith combines a UK-focused office base with a global outlook via a curated network of over 150 independent law firms, giving lawyers significant cross-border exposure while retaining close partner involvement.
- Headquarters: London
- Trainees: 35
- Offices: 2
Values & Culture
Practice Areas
- Corporate & M&A
- Commercial Contracts
- Dispute Resolution & Litigation
- Regulatory & Compliance
- Employment
- Pensions
- Tax
- Investment Funds
- Private Equity & Venture Capital
- ESG & Sustainability
- Environment & Planning
- Energy & Natural Resources
- Intellectual Property
- Technology & Digital
- Competition & Antitrust
- Fraud & Investigations
- Real Estate
- Financial Services & Regulation
- Sports Law
- Infrastructure & Projects
- Insolvency & Restructuring
Geographic Focus: London-based with a global outlook: Travers Smith handles cross-border matters through active involvement with a curated network of more than 150 independent law firms worldwide. The firm’s work is UK-centric (with significant London market presence) but regularly includes international transactions, litigation and regulatory matters, delivering cross-border responsibility to junior lawyers while coordinating with local counsel in other jurisdictions.
Training Contract
Two-year training contract comprising four rotations (seats) across different departments. All trainees spend at least six months in Corporate and at least six months in a transactional seat. The firm uses a room-sharing model so trainees sit alongside Associates and Partners; each seat begins with partner-led sessions and ongoing seminars. Training includes firm-specific Essentials for Practice delivered alongside SQE study where applicable.
- Starting Salary: £55,000
- NQ Salary: £130,000
- 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 for this). The firm uses contextual data via the Rare Recruitment Contextual Recruitment System and considers mitigating circumstances.
- Application Deadline: 16 October 2026
Seat Options
- Corporate & M&A
- Investment Funds
- Private Equity & Venture Capital
- Commercial Contracts
- Financial Services & Regulation
- Pensions
- Tax
- Employment
- Dispute Resolution & Litigation
- Intellectual Property
- Technology & Digital
- Real Estate
- ESG & Sustainability
- Incentives & Remuneration
- Investigations
Sponsorship
PGDL/PGDL funding for non-law students: the firm pays all PGDL (GDL) course fees (provider: BPP) and provides a PGDL maintenance grant of £13,500 (paid over three instalments). The firm pays SQE course fees and exam costs and provides a maintenance grant for SQE students of £20,000 (paid over four instalments). Solicitor apprenticeship funding: all course fees for the LLB/SQE covered; apprentices receive a Year 1 salary of £29,000 plus a one-off £3,000 support payment; years 2-6 salary details:
SQE Support
Travers Smith pays all course fees for the SQE (including exam costs) and runs a firm-specific Essentials for Practice (EFP) course (provider: BPP). Law students and non-law students who undertake SQE study with the firm are supported with paid course fees and study arrangements.
International Opportunities
The firm provides significant cross-border work through a curated network of over 150 independent law firms; trainees get international exposure on matters and work alongside local counsel. Formal chances of secondment abroad are reported as very limited (LegalCheek data indicates 0% chance of secondment abroad).
Client Secondments
Client secondments are possible but limited; reported chance of client secondment is around 5%.
Mentorship
Structured mentorship with partner-led seat introductions, a dedicated supervisor in each seat for day-to-day guidance, a buddy system for junior-level support, Early Careers team oversight and HR/learning & development support. Apprentices have a dedicated supervisor and BPP skills coach liaison.
Programmes & Schemes
A two-week in-office scheme designed to give students an authentic taste of City life at Travers Smith, with talks, workshops, a case study, negotiating exercises, department insights, working lunches and evening social events. Close contact with trainees and assessment via written and group tasks feed into the training contract recruitment process.
- Duration: 2 weeks (multiple two-week intakes across June/July)
- Salary: £750 per week (paid for each completed week; eligibility requires completion of all scheme assessments)
- Places: 40
Two direct recruitment routes (Winter and Spring) that allow candidates to apply directly for a training contract without attending a vacation scheme. Processes include online application and cover letter, virtual first-stage interview, written assessment and a Recruitment Day (in-person) comprising written and group assessments, followed by final in-person interviews with the Co-Heads of Early Careers.
A six-year programme combining on-the-job training with a degree-level apprenticeship (LLB Hons) delivered by BPP Law School and SQE preparation. Years 1-4 involve annual rotations (12 months per department) with four days on the job and one protected study day; years 5-6 rotate every six months while studying for the SQE with protected study time. All course fees are covered by the firm and apprentices receive multiple sources of academic and pastoral support (BPP skills coach, workplace supervisor, buddy system and dedicated HR support).
- Duration: 6 years
- Salary: £29,000 + £3,000 one-off support payment (Year 1); Years 2-6: not disclosed
A programme of in-person and virtual events, insight sessions and Recruitment Day events for prospective applicants, plus pre-assessment workshops for solicitor apprenticeship candidates. The Early Careers team also runs targeted events and attends law fairs; the firm promotes engagement via Instagram and TikTok @traverssmithearlycareers.
Notable Matters
Advised Inmarsat in relation to employee and management incentives arrangements as part of its acquisition by Viasat Inc, providing advice on the design and implementation implications for incentive plans arising from the transaction.
Incentives & Remuneration
Led an extensive pro bono research and litigation project for JUSTICE into the treatment of Black, Brown and racialised girls and young women in the criminal justice system, comprising over 3,500 pro bono hours from 70 lawyers, five reports (712 pages), initial FOIA requests to police forces and two First Tier Tribunal (Information Rights) appeals of ICO decisions. The project combined research, drafting challenges, witness statements and hearing preparation.
Pro Bono
Advised trustees on a series of insurance transactions culminating in total buy-ins of £7.5bn, securing member benefits and representing one of the largest pension insurance transactions noted on the firm’s pensions page.
Pensions
Advised Marshall Group on the separation and sale of Slingsby Advanced Composites, including cross-border and defence-related commercial and regulatory considerations.
Corporate & M&A
Acted on aspects of the sale of Greenfield’s stake in Leeds United FC to 49ers Enterprises, covering transactional and commercial issues in a high-profile sports-sector deal.
Sports Law
Advised Adarga (AI software company for defence and national security) on its debt and equity refinancing, addressing funding, commercial and sector-specific regulatory factors.
Finance
What Travers Smith LLP Looks For
Key Competencies
- Commercial awareness
- Academic strength and intellectual rigour
- Clear-headed judgement and practical sense
- Communication and teamwork
- Drive, resilience and curiosity
- Attention to detail
- Client focus and professionalism
- Commitment to pro bono/CSR and ethical practice
Evidence Signals
- Commercial internships or transactional experience
- Pro bono or volunteering work
- Demonstrable teamwork (group tasks, societies, competitions)
- Strong academic results (AAB at A-level and 2:1 degree or equivalent)
- Contextualised achievement via Rare CRS or mitigating circumstances
- Interest in ESG/sustainability or technology where relevant to practice area
Benefits & Wellbeing
- Trainee salaries: £55,000 (Year 1) and £60,000 (Year 2)
- NQ salary: £130,000 (basic) plus discretionary bonus
- PGDL/PGDL fees paid for non-law students (provider: BPP)
- PGDL maintenance grant: £13,500 (paid over three instalments)
- SQE course and exam fees paid; SQE maintenance grant: £20,000 (paid over four instalments)
- Fully subsidised, award-winning firm café (Braithwaites)
- Paid vacation scheme stipend (£750 per week)
- Apprentice Year 1 salary £29,000 plus £3,000 one-off support payment
- Flexible, market-leading benefits package that can be shaped around personal priorities
- Partner-led training, mentoring and a buddy system
- Generous pro bono and CSR opportunities and recognition
- No chargeable hour targets
Wellbeing
Firm emphasises wellbeing and pastoral support, with dedicated HR support for apprentices, structured mentoring and buddy schemes, visible allyship and professional networks, and firm-wide initiatives to support mental health and inclusive working. The firm also runs a support and adjustments programme for candidates and employees with disabilities and is accredited under the Government's Disability Confident scheme.
Awards & Recognition
- UK Pro Bono Initiative - Legal 500 ESG Awards 2025
- Pro Bono Initiative of the Year - The Lawyer Awards 2023
- CSR Innovation of the Year - Law.com Legal Innovation Awards 2023
- Best AI Product - LegalCogX Awards (shortlisted/winner references across 2021-2022)
- Pensions Law Firm of the Year - Pensions Age Awards 2025
- Impact in Responsible Business - Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Europe Awards 2022
- Firm of the Year 2022 - Legal Cheek Awards
- Most Popular Law Firm – Recognised Excellence - AllAboutLaw (2023)
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Accredited under the Government's Disability Confident employer regime (Level 3). Uses Rare Recruitment Contextual Recruitment System (CRS) for contextual data in applications. Public commitment to diversity, inclusion and social mobility through networks, partnerships and outreach programmes.
- Six professional networks (firm-wide allyship networks)
- Pro bono partnerships: JUSTICE, Justice & Care, Domestic Abuse Response Alliance, Refugees at Home, Colours Caribbean
- Charity & CSR partnerships: Little Village, London Wildlife Trust (2025-2027 major charity partner)
- Social mobility partnerships: Foundervine, STRIVE
- Green Tech Legal Collaborative (member)
- The LLP faculty (LGBTQ+ initiative with other leading firms)
Pro Bono
Dedicated Pro Bono Department led by Sam Cottman (Head of Pro Bono) and Priya Bansal (Senior Associate). Key pro bono focus areas: Climate, environment and sustainability; Diversity, inclusion and social mobility; Vulnerable groups; Rule of Law. The firm reported that pro bono hours have quadrupled over the past four years and that it provided advice on 100 pro bono matters during 2025; the JUSTICE project comprised over 3,500 pro bono hours from 70 lawyers.
Innovation
Travers Smith invests in cross-disciplinary knowledge hubs (ESG Toolkit, ESG Academy) and in legal technology and product innovation (AI product recognition). The firm weaves innovation into client services (for example ESG toolkits and litigation mapping) and expects trainees to engage with live knowledge outputs and technology-enabled matter delivery; insider data also rates the firm highly for legal tech adoption.
- ESG Toolkit (practical tools and resources)
- ESG Academy (free online training programme for clients)
- ESG timeline and interactive ESG litigation heat map
- Frontline defence series (sector podcast/video series)
- Participation in the Green Tech Legal Collaborative
- Work on AI-related products (recognised in LegalCogX/innovation awards)
Quick Application Angles
- Highlight the firm’s room-sharing culture and early responsibility: explain how you’ll make the most of close partner access and rapid hands-on learning.
- Demonstrate commercial awareness and link it to a recent Travers Smith matter or sector insight (e.g., ESG, pensions de-risking or private capital work) to show you’ve researched the firm’s work.
- Emphasise commitment to pro bono or social mobility (mention JUSTICE or the firm’s climate/pro bono pillars) — Travers Smith values candidates who want to contribute beyond fee-earning work.
- Reference their SQE/PGDL support and contextual recruitment approach (Rare CRS) if relevant to your background; use this to frame why the firm’s training and support model suits you.
- Mention the firm’s strong legal tech and innovation credentials (top internal ratings for legal tech) and, where relevant, give examples of how you’ve used tech or data in academic or work settings.
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