Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP - True Picture

Firm profile

Gibson Dunn is one of the top law firms in the world with a London practice established over 40 years ago. We work on a fully integrated basis with our other offices around the world, offering full service capabilities on a wide range of business issues to listed companies, large private companies, investment banks, private equity firms, start-up ventures and many other organisations with international operations and ambitions.

Main areas of work

The London office handles all aspects of corporate work, including public and private M&A, private equity, finance, capital markets, financial regulatory, tax, commercial real estate, energy, funds and restructuring and insolvency. The office also has an extensive dispute resolution practice, handling commercial litigation, regulatory investigations, international arbitration and employment and competition law disputes.

The Hong Kong office provides an extensive range of U.S., Hong Kong and English legal advise to global and Asia-based clients. Major practice groups in Hong Kong include: capital markets, competition, compliance and investigations, energy and infrastructure, finance, funds, litigation and dispute resolution, M&A, Privacy cybersecurity and consumer protection, private equity, financial regulatory, strategic sourcing and commercial transactions and technology.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher’s Dubai office is located in the financial center of one of the fastest-growing regions in the world. Our Dubai office is dedicated to servicing the needs of clients in the Middle East and Africa as well as those from the United States, Europe and Asia doing business in the region. Our clients include sovereigns, sovereign wealth funds, financial sponsors and family offices.Gibson Dunn has represented many of the largest companies and financial institutions doing business in the Middle East for more than 40 years. Our Dubai office opened in 2007 to serve our existing client base, solidifying our presence in the region. As a Gibson Dunn trainee, you will work alongside some of the most talented lawyers in the Middle East, Europe, the U.S. and Asia. Based in the UAE, trainees frequently work on international transactions and cases with our colleagues and clients overseas. The firm is also able to offer trainee secondments to overseas firm offices, as well as with clients.

Training opportunities

We welcome applications from exceptional individuals, those who are capable of taking the initiative, who have strong interpersonal and organisational skills and can rise to the challenge of working directly with partners within small, focused teams and having client contact early in their careers.

Trainees rotate around four six-month seats with opportunity to spend time in corporate, finance, dispute resolution, employment, tax, competition, energy, real estate and funds. Some trainees will have opportunity to partake in secondments to an overseas office of the firm, and with a client. Trainees share a room with a partner or senior associate, and work with them on their matters, whilst also having the opportunity to work with the other lawyers in the firm.

Gibson Dunn is proud to have a strong, sustained commitment to pro bono work, and our trainees are encouraged to participate in this tradition and work on local and international pro bono activities.

London Vacation scheme

• 24 June 2023 – 12 July 2024
• Pay: £750 per week

Hong Kong Summer Internship
• 5 June – 23 June 2024

Dubai Vacation Scheme

• June 2024 dates tbc (this could take place in London or Dubai)

Deadline: 16 January 2023

Our summer vacation scheme is intended for both law students and students of other disciplines in their penultimate and final year of study, recent graduates (in any discipline), and those already taking a GDL or LPC course or also the PCLL course for the Hong Kong Internship. Gibson Dunn strongly encourages candidates interested in a training contract to apply for a place on our summer vacation scheme, rather than directly for a training contract. To date, the majority of our trainees have been recruited from our summer vacation scheme. Early application is advised as places will be allocated on a rolling basis.

Other benefits

Full range of benefits including private medical insurance, corporate rates at a gym/fitness chain, life assurance, income protection insurance, travel insurance, pension, employee assistance programme and emergency back-up care. You will also benefit from individual annual book, client development and professional development allowances, attendance at US firm retreats and extensive Professional Development, Diversity and Pro Bono programmes.

Open days and first-year opportunities

• General London Open Day – 7th December 2023 Applications are welcome from those who are eligible to apply for our summer vacation scheme.
• First Year London Insight Day – 25th April 2024 Applications are welcome from students of any discipline in their first year of undergraduate study.