Paul Hastings (Europe) LLP - True Picture

Firm profile
With lawyers serving clients from 21 worldwide offices, we provide a wide range of services across Europe, Asia and the US. We are client-focused professionals with a commercial mindset and a collaborative approach to delivering value in everything we do. We combine business acumen, industry knowledge and deep legal expertise. We think and act creatively and proactively to meet the needs of our clients. As well as being client-centric, we are people-centric. We value each individual and their unique perspective. Paul Hastings is not for the hierarchical or the entitled but for the inclusive, creative and entrepreneurial. We hire smart people from diverse backgrounds who are the right fit for our collegial, client-centric and future-focused culture.

Main areas of work
Our London office focuses on corporate M&A, private equity, leveraged finance and private/credit funds. There are also opportunities to gain experience in other practice specialisms, including real estate finance, securitisation, corporate and structured finance, tax, payment systems, financial services and regulation, fintech, data privacy, employment, litigation and corporate crime. 

What we do
We advise clients on matters that are of the highest value to them. We help them maximise opportunities, create and protect value, and nimbly manage risk in a dynamic, uncertain marketplace. We always play to our strengths. We don’t offer ‘products’ or ‘off-the-shelf’ solutions. Each client is unique and each challenge demands a tailored approach. We can deliver creative solutions because we are leaders in our chosen practices and industry sectors. 

How we do it
We pride ourselves on the strong relationship we develop with our clients. We invest time in understanding their businesses and what it takes to make them even more successful. We encourage and reward entrepreneurial flair, original thought and new ideas. Our people have the confidence, experience and expertise to question and to continually sharpen our thinking and the solutions we offer our clients. We empower our people to deliver those solutions and because of this, our teams can move mountains to provide exceptional client service. 

Training Programme
We offer an extensive and instructive training programme for our trainees, spending six months in four practice areas with opportunities for a client secondments. 

Work placement
We offer a Summer Work Placement programme in July 2025. Each placement is for one week and is paid. Applications should be made via our website, and the deadline to apply is 2 March 2025.  

Other benefits
Standard benefits to include private medical, pension, life insurance, employee assistance programme and active wellbeing plan (monthly allowance for gym/wellbeing activities). 

Open days and first-year opportunities
December 2024 and open to second/third year undergraduates, and graduates. Apply from October 2024.

Diversity, inclusion and wellbeing
At Paul Hastings, we are committed to acting with integrity, valuing knowledge, and embracing diversity. We have a strong global diversity and inclusion program that focuses on recruiting, retention and development, addresses our brand and upholds our commitment to improving wellbeing of our attorneys and staff. We are committed to the professional development and career aspirations of our people. We hire great people and provide development programs to help associates reach their goals, whether a path to partnership, in-house with a client, or other organisations. Our goal is to foster an inclusive work environment where diverse perspectives and ideas are not only embraced, but are considered critical to creating innovative solutions for our clients.

Recent initiatives in the London office include hosting a Wellness week in January to promote health and wellbeing in the workplace; the introduction of our Active Wellbeing Plan benefit (offering a contribution towards employee’s choice of ongoing sport, fitness, health, and wellbeing costs); equalising and enhancing our parental leave benefit, which is now available to both birthing and non-birthing parents; and partnering with SupportLinc to offer a global Employee Assistance Program, offering practical information and counselling to all PH employees, partners, and their families.

Paul Hastings is also a proud signatory of the Mindful Business Charter, which is a set of best practices to reduce avoidable stress. The firm actively encourages all Partners and employees to keep these commitments in mind in order to promote a healthy work environment, allowing employees to perform at their best and deliver optimum client service.