Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP - True Picture

Firm profile
Orrick is a global law firm focused on serving the Technology & Innovation, Energy & Infrastructure, Finance and Life Sciences & Healthtech sectors. Founded more than 150 years ago in San Francisco, Orrick today has offices in 25+ markets worldwide. Financial Times named Orrick among the top 10 most innovative law firms globally for the past 20 years. American Lawyer named Orrick as a finalist for the 2023 and 2025 IP Litigation Department of the Year.

Types of work undertaken

Technology & Innovation: Our global tech platform helps clients to thrive in this fast-paced and dynamic landscape. Orrick has ranked Top 5 for venture capital globally for the past 8 years, and No.1 in Europe for the past 9 years (Pitchbook 2024). We have advised on $36B+ in venture financings and 70+ M&A transactions for AI companies and investors in the past 20 months. Additionally, we have been named 5-time Technology Practice Group of the Year (Law360 2024).

Energy & Infrastructure: We advise investors, developers and sponsors on all aspects of alternative energy projects and help drive innovations in battery storage, carbon capture and hydrogen fuel cell technology. We hold a Band 1 practice and individual rankings within Power, Infrastructure, Energy Transition, Renewables, and Oil & Gas Regulatory & Litigation (Chambers 2025). We are the No.1 firm for Power Purchase Agreements and No.2 Energy Transition firm globally (Inspiratia 2024).

Finance: For over a century, Orrick has acted for global banks, funds and leading financial institutions at the forefront of innovation in the private and public sectors. Harnessing the talents of our diverse finance, restructuring, securitization, real estate, M&A, capital markets and tax lawyers, we partner with our clients to develop strategies for bespoke challenges and opportunities in today’s fast-paced financial markets. Our Finance Teams have earned Fintech and Banking & Finance Practice Groups of the year (Law360 2022).

Life Sciences & HealthTech: We serve 12 of the 20 largest biopharma companies in the U.S. and dozens of fast-growing public companies. Cutting-edge therapeutics, digital health and healthcare innovation are being developed at a record pace. Global leaders and disruptors alike are contributing to this transformation, and Orrick is helping them to protect their innovations, invest and scale.

Pro Bono: Orrick’s pro bono program is led by two full-time pro bono lawyers, Rene Kathawala in the U.S. and Amy Grunske internationally, who maximise the impact for our clients, communities, and team. They help our lawyers find projects which personally interest and inspire them and lead numerous initiatives with in-house client teams and legal aid partners. We ranked among the top 6 in the U.S. for the breadth of our commitment and top 5 for pro bono impact internationally on the AmLaw 2025 Pro Bono Scorecard (7 years running), and our lawyers devoted more than 67,500 hours of pro bono service in 2024.

Main areas of work
Antitrust & competition, banking & finance, capital markets, cyber, privacy & data innovation, employment, energy & infrastructure, financial & securities litigation, international arbitration, m&a and private equity, restructuring, structured finance, tax & incentives, technology companies group and technology transactions.

Training opportunities
If you set your standards high and have a strong work ethic then Orrick could be the firm for you. We are looking for bright, talented graduates of any discipline who are looking for a firm offering a broad based training contract. Applicants should have, or be on track to achieve, a 2.1 degree. Orrick is a firm for those looking for a high level of responsibility from day one. We value team players and aim to give individuals the opportunity to flourish in an inclusive and supportive work environment, encouraging interaction across our international offices. We support learning through a focus on training and a structured mentoring programme that will provide trainees with the right foundation for building their legal career. A genuine open-door policy means trainees work closely with partners and associates. Our two-year training programme, made up of six four-month seats and regular appraisals, ensures consistent feedback and ongoing support. Our dedicated Training Principal, Peter Sugden, oversees the supervision of our trainees.

Other benefits

Yes, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes: 25 days of holiday per year, pension scheme, private medical and dental insurance, income protection, life assurance, employee assistance programmes, health and wellness contribution, private GP service, family and fertility support, eye tests, cycle to work scheme, and season ticket loans. 

Vacation scheme

Our two-week Vacation Scheme gives candidates the opportunity to work alongside trainees, Associates and Partners providing sector-focused advice to clients. Applicants will spend one week with a Business Unit/Practice Group before rotating for the second week so they can experience two areas of law. All Vacation Scheme students are interviewed for a Training Contract during the scheme.

University law careers fairs 2025

Bristol, Cambridge, Durham, Exeter, King’s College London, LSE, Oxford, UCL and Warwick.