Withers LLP

Overview

Withers is an international, full-service law firm built around private capital and advising successful individuals, families, family offices and their businesses. Founded in 1896, the firm combines a long private-client heritage with broad transactional, regulatory and dispute capabilities across corporate, tax, trusts, real estate, banking and technology matters. Withers positions itself as partner-led, collaborative and global in reach — emphasising tailored solutions for high‑net‑worth clients, family offices and founders across Europe, North America and Asia.

• Headquarters: London
• Founded: 1896
• Lawyers: 650+
• Partners: 220+
• Trainees: 13
• Offices: 16

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

• Private Client & Wealth
• Charities & Not-for-Profit
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Family Law
• Banking & Finance
• Real Estate
• Tax
• Intellectual Property
• Corporate & M&A
• International Arbitration
• Technology & Digital
• ESG & Sustainability
• Energy & Natural Resources
• Media & Entertainment
• Sports Law
• Regulatory & Compliance
• Investment Funds
• Employment

Geographic Focus: Withers is organised as a genuinely international firm with offices concentrated in the UK, continental Europe, North America and Asia (notably London, Milan/Padua, Geneva, New York, multiple US offices, Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo). The firm focuses on cross‑border private client, family office and private capital work and frequently coordinates multi‑jurisdictional advice for wealthy individuals, families and their businesses, combining local regulatory/tax know‑how with global dispute and

Training Contract

The firm runs a small, partner‑led training intake that emphasises hands‑on work and rotational experience across practice areas. Trainees are given substantive responsibility and international exposure is promoted through the global network.

• Starting Salary: Year 1: £47,000; Year 2: £52,000
• NQ Salary: £95,000
• Trainee Intake: 13
• Qualification Rate: 64%
• Academic Requirements: Minimum degree: 2:1. Minimum A‑level requirement: AAB (supplementary data). The firm welcomes candidates from all degree disciplines and states it is an equal opportunities employer.
• Application Deadline: 27 February 2026

Sponsorship

PGDL/PGDL grant: £8,000. SQE grant: £10,000 (figures from supplementary data).

SQE Support

SQE grant: £10,000 (supplementary data).

International Opportunities

LegalCheek data shows a 0% chance of secondment abroad for trainees. The firm's website emphasises international exposure and coordination across offices but does not give a published secondment quota or destinations for trainees.

Client Secondments

0% of trainees (as reported in available supplementary data) undertake client secondments.

Apply on the Withers LLP website →

Programmes & Schemes

Notable Matters

What Withers LLP Looks For

Key Competencies

• Commercial awareness
• Client focus and discretion (sensitivity to high‑net‑worth client needs)
• International outlook and cross‑border experience
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Attention to detail and technical excellence
• Adaptability and resilience
• Strong communication skills

Evidence Signals

• International or multi‑jurisdictional experience (work, study or language skills)
• Commercial work experience or internships with private capital, family offices or fintech/tech clients
• Pro bono and voluntary legal experience
• Demonstrable commercial awareness (e.g., commentary on recent deals or sector developments)
• Relevant sector exposure (technology, crypto, family office/private client work, philanthropy)

Benefits & Wellbeing

• Trainee salary Year 1: £47,000
• Trainee salary Year 2: £52,000
• NQ salary: £95,000
• PGDL grant: £8,000
• SQE grant: £10,000
• Annual leave: 25 days
• Annual target hours: 1,400
• Flexible working culture (firm emphasises flexibility and people‑first approach)
• Reimbursement of reasonable travel expenses for Open Day attendees
• Lunch provided at recruiting open days

Wellbeing

Withers emphasises humour, balance and supporting people; the firm highlights a collaborative culture and encourages participation in pro bono and responsibility initiatives.

Awards & Recognition

• Charity Team of the Year — STEP Awards 2021 (team award mentioned)
• Top‑tier rankings for Charities & Philanthropy practice by leading directories (Legal 500 and Chambers) — 2021/2022, 2023/2024 (recognition mentioned on site)
• Featured in top 100 employers (The Sunday Times) for five consecutive years (stated on open day page)
• Law.com International recognition in diversity rankings and Law Firm of the Year 2021 (referenced on careers page)

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Withers commits to attracting and retaining staff regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, disability, age or socio‑economic background; to enhance diversity in recruitment shortlists and promotion processes; to reduce UK gender and ethnicity pay gaps; and to follow processes required for Mansfield certification in the UK and US. The Italian offices have been awarded UNI/PdR 125:2022 accreditation.

• Global DEI networks including LGBTQ+, women, working families, neurodiversity, disability and religion
• Global diversity statistics and reporting (regular updates and regionally specific reports)
• UNI/PdR 125:2022 certification for Italian offices (gender equality recognition)
• Commitment to Mansfield processes in UK and US recruitment and promotion practices
• Global DEI training programme goals (aiming for 90% participation in DEI training sessions)

Pro Bono

Withers operates a global pro bono programme spanning offices and practice areas. The firm encourages lawyers to contribute time to at least one pro bono project each year, has supported more than 50 partner organisations (charities, public interest organisations, law schools, foundations, local governments) and has worked on matters including human rights, environment, gender justice, racial equity and access to justice. Notable partnerships include collaboration with the Clooney Foundation for Justice.

Innovation

Withers invests in sector‑focused technology capability through a dedicated technology and digital commerce offering (Withers Tech). The firm advises on privacy, cybersecurity, AI, blockchain and digital commerce and publishes sector insights and podcasts. Technology work is integrated across corporate, IP, data privacy and regulatory teams and used in client advice rather than being framed as named internal legal‑tech product offerings on the available pages.

• Withers Tech (firm technology and digital commerce capability)
• Withers talks: cryptocurrency podcast (knowledge‑sharing and sector insight)
• Data, privacy and cybersecurity practice group (including a US head of Data Innovation, Privacy and Cybersecurity)

Quick Application Angles

• Highlight international, private‑client or family‑office experience — Withers markets itself as the go‑to adviser for families, family offices and private capital across Europe, North America and Asia.
• Reference the firm's crypto and digital assets capability (for example the Tokocrypto token launch experience) if applying to technology, fintech or crypto teams to demonstrate sector relevance.
• If applying to charities, philanthropy or not‑for‑profit teams, cite the team's top‑tier directory recognition and STEP award history to show sector interest and alignment.
• Emphasise collaborative, partner‑led working and give examples of times you’ve worked in small teams with senior stakeholders — Withers stresses partner accessibility and hands‑on responsibility for juniors.
• Mention language skills or international study/work experience — the firm is highly global and values cross‑border capability when supporting international families and transactions.