Collyer Bristow LLP is a long-established central London law firm. We provide high quality, individually tailored legal advice, often with a cross-border aspect, to a portfolio of international and domestic clients including commercial businesses, wealthy individuals and families, and ambitious entrepreneurs.

Our clients choose Collyer Bristow because they, like us, appreciate individuality, creativity and collaboration. They recognise that their needs may be unique and more complex, or that in progressing with their legal issue they value a more engaged and personalised service from their lawyers. They recognise that the Collyer Bristow approach is one of building understanding, trust and relationships with clients; we take time to build relationships and to understand the commercial objectives behind every transaction or dispute. We find this allows us to operate more strategically on our clients behalf and to best support the achievement of the outcomes they desire.

Types of work

We provide a wide range of legal services to high net worth individuals and SMEs:

Private wealth

Tax and estate planning: the private client services department includes a strong tax and estate planning team which advises on wills, tax planning and structuring, trusts and charities. It has particular expertise in residence, non-domicile and offshore matters, powers of attorney and Court of Protection work, and trust and probate litigation.

Family: the firm’s leading family team handles the full range of issues including divorce, separation, civil partnership and cohabitation, the preparation of pre and post nuptial agreements and complex disputes involving financial issues or those concerning children.

Media and privacy: the team is a leader in the media and privacy field having been involved in high-profile defamation and privacy claims. It also handles disputes relating to harassment and cyber-stalking.

Residential conveyancing: the residential conveyancing team guides buyers and sellers through the entire conveyancing process ensuring as smooth and tax efficient a transaction as possible. The team advises on new-build, off-plan purchases, buy-to-let investments, leasehold enfranchisement and lease extension, and the full range of landlord and tenant issues.

SMEs

Commercial dispute resolution: the commercial dispute resolutions team has substantial experience advising organisations on issues regarding breach of contract, partnership and shareholder disputes, professional negligence claims, civil fraud and trade disputes. It is known for its strategic and tactical excellence.

Banking and financial disputes: the banking and financial disputes team deals with all aspects of financial mis-selling, with FOREX and LIBOR manipulation and claims arising from the mis-selling of derivatives, including interest rate swaps, as recent areas of focus. Its clients include UK and offshore companies, financial institutions, hedge funds, finance industry professionals, and high net worth individuals.

Real estate: the real estate team acts for property owners, investors, developers, funders, landlords, and tenants dealing with all real estate transactions, from multi-million pound portfolio acquisitions to individual sales, commercial lettings, property management and real estate disputes.

Construction: the construction team advises on building contracts, funding transactions, and development projects and property. It also has extensive experience in court proceedings, arbitration, adjudication, and all forms of alternative dispute resolution.

Intellectual property and data protection: the firm has a strong reputation for intellectual property and has acted in high profile cases which have gone to trial or interlocutory hearings. Its work covers protection of brands, negotiating commercial agreements, resolving disputes concerning patent, design rights, trade mark and copyright infringement. The team is also experienced in advising businesses on data protection and preparing to comply with the GDPR regulations.

Employment: the employment team provides commercial advice to companies in managing their everyday HR issues and dealing with disputes, which can involve Employment Tribunal and High court litigation. The team deals with matters involving unfair dismissal, discrimination, TUPE, breach of contract, whistleblowing, flexible working, equal pay, and business immigration.

Corporate and commercial: the corporate and commercial team acts for UK and international organisations across a wide range of industry sectors. It has expertise in mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and shareholder agreements, company reconstructions, insolvency and corporate recovery. The team also covers a wide range of activities related to art and culture, dealing with commercial agreements, sponsorship agreements, fintech (cryptocurrency), recording and publishing, film financing, and production and distribution agreements. 

Who should apply

We are looking for self-starting graduates with a 2:1 in any discipline, who wish to gain a thorough grounding in a wide range of legal subjects. Alignment to our firm values is vitally important, as is common sense and an ability to understand the clients’ perspective. We encourage trainees to take responsibility for their own files and to participate in managing the client’s work – under close supervision, of course!

Training programme

Trainees will spend six months in each training seat in up to four different departments and will work with a range of people from senior partners to more recently qualified solicitors. Trainees will also, under supervision, have contact with clients and so develop interpersonal skills as well as technical expertise

When and how to apply

Please refer to the Collyer Bristow website.

Trainees will spend six months in each training seat in up to four different departments and will work with a range of people from senior partners to more recently qualified solicitors. Trainees will also, under supervision, have contact with clients and so develop interpersonal skills as well as technical expertise.

Applicants for training contracts to commence in 2025 or 2026 will be accepted from candidates who will be qualifying under the new SQE qualification route. 

• Corporate & commercial
• Dispute resolution
• Real estate
• Tax & estate planning
• Family

• General Commercial
• General Practice
• Corporate & Commercial

• London
• Geneva

• BPP Legal Advice Clinic
• Citizens Advice Bureau
• Legal Advice Centres

• BPP Legal Access Scheme
• WeAreTheCity
• Whizz Kidz