For more than 160 years, Winston & Strawn LLP has served as a trusted adviser and advocate for clients across virtually every industry. In that time, the firm has built a law practice with tremendous breadth and global reach. We are proud of the many accolades we have received over the years – a tribute to our lawyers’ creativity, flexibility, depth of experience, and commitment.

Winston’s London office serves high-profile, multinational clients on a distinctly international level. The London office provides high-quality legal services in a diverse range of practice areas including cross-border M&A and finance, private equity and venture capital, real estate finance, financial regulation, tax, litigation, international arbitration, contentious regulatory, privacy and data security, and EU antitrust/competition services across a range of industries including automotive, aviation, electric power and utilities, financial services and banking, food and beverage, health care, insurance, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, professional services, real estate, retail and consumer products, sports, and technology and telecommunications.

Winston has more than 975 attorneys across 14 offices. When it comes to our employees, our goal is to maximise individual potential with professional development opportunities, to emphasise the firm’s culture, and to support our attorneys in contributing positively to the community through a wide range of pro bono projects and corporate social responsibility activities. We see our trainee solicitors as future partners of the firm and support our employees throughout their careers.

We offer a two week-long summer placement (normally in June of each year) during which you will undertake interesting projects, get involved with real client work, have opportunities to learn more about each of our practice areas and get involved with firm life. Our summer placement students are supervised by an associate or partner.

Our 2024 vacation placement student and future trainee gave the following feedback:

"The most enjoyable aspect of the vacation scheme was meeting people across all practices and departments. Everyone was very approachable, so I felt comfortable asking questions about their different experiences and day-to-day life at Winston & Strawn. Having people be so welcoming demystified the legal profession for me and gave me a true insight into life at the firm."

Our trainee solicitors are asked to carry out real legal work from day one, interact directly with clients, and contribute to all aspects of firm life. Trainees have our full attention and support throughout their training contract and sit with a partner or a senior associate for each of the five seats.

Full sponsorship of SQE1 and 2.

Full sponsorship of SQE fees, plus a maintenance grant (not retrospective).

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