Goodwin - True Picture

Firm profile

We are in the business of building authentic, long-term relationships with our clients, who are some of the world’s most successful and innovative investors, entrepreneurs and disruptors in the life sciences, private equity, real estate, technology and financial industries, and where they converge. Our immersive understanding of these industries – combined with our expertise across high-stakes litigation and dispute resolution, world-class regulatory compliance and advisory services, and complex transactions – sets us apart.

Main areas of work

Financial Industry: Our Financial Industry practice provides clients with a full-service platform across transactional, compliance, regulatory, enforcement and litigation matters. Our lawyers offer extensive experience in the investment management, banking, insurance, fintech, consumer finance, commodities, broker-dealer and investment bank sectors.

Life Sciences: Our Life Sciences practice serves clients who work collaboratively to improve patients’ lives with market-leading innovations and technology. We advise companies throughout the corporate lifecycle, from pure startups to commercial-stage biopharmaceuticals, as well as the investors, banks and other entities that support those companies.

Private Equity: Our Private Equity practice focuses on middle-market private equity. We advise founders, buyers, sellers, investors, boards and special committees in matters across the corporate lifecycle. Our private equity work includes buyouts, growth equity deals and growth company representations in the technology, healthcare, financial and business services, and consumer and manufacturing sectors.

Real Estate: Our Real Estate practice places a distinct emphasis on the capital markets, working on transactions that involve equity and debt financings, joint ventures, portfolio and REIT M&A, cross-border transactions, hospitality and leisure, and large-scale development work.

Technology: Our Technology practice supports companies seeking to secure funding, protect their intellectual property and navigate a challenging regulatory environment. We also help our technology clients differentiate their products in the marketplace and scale their businesses accordingly.

Training opportunities

Goodwin’s London office recruits 14 trainees each year and offers a variety of training in our core practice areas including tech and life sciences, private equity, private investment funds, litigation, antitrust and real estate. Our size and continued growth allow us to offer our trainees and associates increased responsibility and meaningful client contact from the outset. We work in small teams, which gives our lawyers the opportunity to work directly with, and be mentored by, senior colleagues, and to develop a network that will be an invaluable part of their future career development. Goodwin trainees will complete four 6-month seats. 

Vacation scheme

We run both a Spring and a Summer Vacation Scheme, which provide real insight into what it is like to train and work at Goodwin while giving you the opportunity to get to know us and your colleagues better. You will witness first-hand the work we do for our clients by shadowing partners and associates, attending client meetings, and participating in negotiations and departmental meetings.
Students will witness first-hand the work we do for our clients by shadowing associates, attending client and business unit meetings, and attending information sessions focussed on the work of each practice area in the London office.

You will leave our programme with valuable mentors and a large professional and social network. All vacation scheme participants are automatically considered for a place on our trainee solicitor programme.

Spring Scheme: 15 - 19 April 2024
Summer Scheme: 17 - 21 June 2024

To apply please visit https://www.goodwinlaw.com/en/careers-pages/early-careers-in-the-united-kingdom

Other benefits

First year salary: £52,000
Second year salary: £57,000

• Law school sponsorship for PGDL and LLM SQE 1 & 2 course, with a maintenance grant of £15,000 per year of full time study
• Private medical insurance for you and your eligible dependents
• Personal travel insurance
• Dental insurance for you and your eligible dependents
• Group term life insurance – income protection up to 75% of base salary
• Season ticket loan
• Pension contribution of 6% of your basic salary
• Tuition/certificate/license reimbursement
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Digital health and wellbeing service
• Mental health counselor
• Family planning services and reimbursement policies
• Family care support programme
• Eye test and glasses reimbursement
• Cycle to Work (with onsite lockers and shower facilities)
• Virtual GP
• Gym and wellness subsidies, including free Headspace membership
• Discounts and special offers with select retailers