SJ Berwin LLP

About SJ Berwin

SJ Berwin is an international corporate law firm. Clients range from major multinational business corporations and financial institutions to high net-worth individuals. As a result, the firm has established a strong reputation in corporate finance.

With offices in London, Berlin, Brussels, Dubai, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Madrid, Milan, Munich, Paris and Shanghai the firm has over 340 fee-earners and 170 partners. SJ Berwin was created and continues to thrive as a leading-edge legal services business, focusing on the European and international marketplace. Our clients are sophisticated buyers of legal services, principally entrepreneurial companies and financial institutions, whom we advise on a comprehensive range of services including: corporate/M&A, commercial, communications, media and technology, energy and natural resources, employment and pensions, EU and competition, finance, financial markets, intellectual property, investment funds, litigation and dispute resolution, pharmaceuticals and life sciences, private equity, real estate, reconstruction and insolvency, retail and tax.

The training environment

The two-year training contract is divided into four six-month seats. Trainees will spend two seats (which may include a seat abroad) within the following areas: finance, mergers & acquisitions, equity capital markets, private equity, venture capital and investment funds. Trainees are given early responsibility and are supported throughout the training contract. All trainees are assigned to a supervising partner and have regular informal update meetings to assess their progress.

How to apply

We welcome applications from all disciplines and all universities. Candidates must have a strong academic record, be on track for or have achieved at least a 2.1 or equivalent in their undergraduate degree, and have demonstrated strong team and leadership potential. All applications must be made using the firm’s online form. The same form can be used to indicate your interest in an open day, a vacation scheme and/or a training contract.

Open days: We hold a number of open days in December and January. These are informal information events designed to give students an insight into the work, people and culture of the firm. Applications must be submitted as soon as possible as places become filled very quickly.

Vacation schemes 2012: We run a one week Easter scheme and two summer schemes of two weeks. The closing date for applications is 31 January 2012.

Training contracts 2014: The closing date is 31 July 2012.