Travers Smith LLP

Type of practice: leading City firm, predominantly company/commercial work. Recent work: advising Metro Bank on its historic launch, the first new high street bank in 100 years; Pinewood studios (the James Bond and Harry Potter film studios) on its recent planning application to create permanent streetscapes from cities such as New York and Venice; Shepherd Neame, the UK’s oldest brewer, on the outsourcing of the UK brewing of Asahi Super Dry lager and Kingfisher lager; Force India, the Formula 1 team, on its technical partnership with McLaren/Mercedes Benz; and ongoing advice to Virgin Media, Channel 4, Gaucho, Pret a Manager and STA travel.

Travers Smith is an entrepreneurial and innovative medium sized City firm. It has a reputation for being understated, quietly proud of its achievements and committed to providing excellent service to its clients. The work we undertake is exciting, intellectually demanding and top quality, involving blue-chip clients and big numbers. The atmosphere within the firm is goodhumoured, social and supportive, providing the best of both worlds.

A high proportion of the firm’s work has an international dimension – to service this, we have an office in Paris and have developed close working relationships with other independent law firms around the world who share our high standards.

Principal areas of work

The main areas of our practice are corporate law (including takeovers and mergers, private equity and funds), commercial law (which includes commercial contracts, intellectual property and technology), litigation, corporate recovery/insolvency, financial services and markets, EU/competition, tax, employment, pensions, banking and real estate.

Training

Travers Smith has earned a phenomenal reputation in relation to its size. This means that our trainees gain great experience right from the outset. The firm has a comprehensive training programme which ensures that trainees experience a broad range of work. All trainee solicitors sit in rooms with partners and associates, receive individual and extensive training from experienced lawyers and enjoy client contact and the responsibility that goes with it from the beginning of their training contract.

Pro bono

We offer a range of pro bono opportunities within individual departments and on a firmwide basis. We also carry out commercial work for a number of UK charities.

Work/life social balance

On the social front, the firm fields teams in rugby sevens, five-a-side and 11-a-side football, mixed hockey, softball, cricket, squash and golf against clients and other law firms.

Because of our size, most people know each other well and a group of trainees can usually be found in a local bar most evenings.

Skills and attitudes sought

We look for people who combine academic excellence with common sense; who are articulate; wh o think on their feet; who are determined and self-motivated; and who take their work but not themselves seriously. Applications are welcome from law and non-law undergraduates and graduates.