Vinson & Elkins LLP - True Picture

Firm profile

Vinson & Elkins is an international law firm with more than 700 lawyers, across 11 offices worldwide. For more than a century, we have provided outstanding client service across important industries that drive the global economy. Built on a strong culture of collaboration our lawyers are committed to excellence, offering clients decades of legal experience in handling transactions, investments, projects and disputes across the globe.

We opened our London office in 1971, making Vinson & Elkins one of the first U.S. law firms to operate in London. Since then, we have built a dynamic office, undertaking work that has gained the respect of clients around the world. 

Main areas of work

In London our lawyers handle transactional and disputes related work, including construction matters (both front-end and disputes), energy transactions and projects, finance, international arbitration, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and tax. Our client base is incredibly diverse, but includes many of the world’s leading companies spanning major corporates, financial institutions and state-owned entities.
Our London office regularly serves as the coordinating hub for much of the firm’s international and cross-border work and the team has amassed a wealth of experience working on projects for clients in almost every country on the map. We are accustomed to working not only in well-defined markets, but also in less familiar and more challenging environments, under developing local regimes or those with evolving communications and infrastructure. We know how to adapt to local customs, cultures and laws, enabling us to handle matters quickly and effectively.  

Training opportunities

We currently offer four-six training contracts commencing in September each year. Our smaller intake of trainees means that every hire we make is an important investment for the firm, because each team member has a distinct role to play in delivering outstanding client service. It also means that as a Vinson & Elkins lawyer, you’ll work on high-value, complex and globally focused from the outset of your career.

Whilst being based in London, trainees often take secondments in our other offices (particularly our offices in the Middle East and Houston), and travel is a likely part of any training contract with us. Trainees will have the support of an associate mentor to provide an extra, and hands-on, port of call for support and assistance.

Vinson & Elkins looks to recruit from the best candidates, and we believe our training contracts reflect this — both in quality of training and work, as well as in the highly competitive salary and benefits. We believe that by hiring the best lawyers and giving them every opportunity to develop their practice in a supportive environment, they will flourish, and so will our firm. 

Other benefits

Private medical insurance, dental insurance, travel insurance, life insurance, simply health cash plan (which includes wellness benefits), pension, season ticket loan, discounted gym membership, access to private GPs, Employee Assistance Programme and Cycle Scheme.