Ropes & Gray LLP - True Picture

Who we are

Ropes & Gray London is one of the largest offices in the Ropes & Gray network, and the hub of the firm’s EMEA network. We are part of a world-leading US-based global law firm and set up in London in 2010. While we are now an established presence in the UK, we’ve retained all the buzz of our start-up years. It makes us a little bit different: it means we have the stature and resources of a major international law firm combined with the pace, inclusivity and career progression of a specialist firm. Our clients like to work with us. We are, of course, always professional, but we are personal, and personable with it.

What we do

Ropes & Gray is one of London’s leading international law firms for private capital clients. We also advise some of the world’s largest companies on their most challenging issues. We act for sophisticated private capital investors and providers giving them all the legal services they need: from fundraising to transactional deal-making and financing, and from antitrust to compliance, data protection, life sciences, restructuring, real estate, financial regulation and tax. We act for leading European, US and Asian clients, and our London office regularly advises clients on global deals as well as transactions across the EMEA market, often working alongside colleagues from other parts of the Ropes & Gray network.

We have our private capital focus, but we don’t restrict ourselves. Our individual practice areas are also successful in their own right, often outside of the private capital market. In fact, they act for some of the most well-known companies in the world, particularly in the life sciences and healthcare, technology and financial services sectors.

For example, our Litigation & Enforcement team, which specialises in financial crime, global regulation, and risk has been involved in some of the most high-profile and complex cross-border regulatory investigations of recent years.

Meanwhile, our Privacy, Data Protection and Cybersecurity team has helped clients deal with the legal aspects of some of the biggest recent data breaches and cyber incidents, and our Antitrust team regularly advises on complex cases in every major European forum. 

How we do it

Ropes & Gray London provides sophisticated clients with personalised and innovative legal solutions. Our clients value our entrepreneurial spirit, our innovative approach, and our emotional intelligence. They like the fact that our solutions are tailored exactly to their problems and may not be the answers they had initially expected. There is no such thing as a typical Ropes & Gray person. But we all have some things in common: we value individualism, we work well as a team, and we are great to work with.

Training Contract

During your training contract, you will complete four six-month seats, one of which will be in Private Equity. We also offer an international seat in our Hong Kong office. Our training contract is designed to help you reach your potential through constant exposure to high calibre work. In each of your four seats, you will share an office with your supervisor, which means you will always have someone to guide you in your day-to-day work. The small number of trainees we take on means we’re genuinely able to offer early responsibility and challenging work.

Trainees who join us receive the best training available. This is reflected in the standard of both the in-house ‘Trainee Training Programme’ and the practical training overseen by a supervisor. 

Vacation scheme

We run two vacation schemes a year; one in spring and one in summer. The two-week paid schemes are a valuable opportunity for you to experience first-hand what it is like to be a trainee at the firm, and to understand the firm’s culture and expertise. During the two-week scheme you will complete practice group and client work at trainee level. You will also be mentored and supported by your trainee ‘buddy’ and will be invited to an evening event with all our trainee cohort. You can also expect to meet lawyers from each practice group, attend workshops, and you will have the opportunity to interact with our employees at social networking events. We only have one application window, which closes on 31 January 2025. 

Diversity, inclusion and wellbeing

Fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment is one of our most important missions. We are working to build cultural awareness and cultural competence by enhancing programming that focuses on understanding bias, discrimination and racism, and on building allyship. We have several local employee networks, including a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion committee, a Black Affinity Network, a LGBTQ+ Network, Women’s Forum and a Parent’s Network. We are proud that we have the highest gender diverse partnerships of any UK City law firm, with 37% of our partners female. Additionally, 47% of our associates and 50% of our trainees in London are female. We are committed to the well-being of our people. We recognise that commercial law firms can be demanding working environments and have introduced our global programme ‘BeWELL@Ropes & Gray’ to support everyone across the firm in maintaining positive health and wellbeing. The programme is split into three pillars; focusing on mental, physical and financial wellbeing. We offer tangible resources, premier education, as well as compassionate support to enhance the wellbeing of our people. 

Salary, benefits & sponsorship

Trainees start on a salary of £60,000, which increases to £65,000 in their second year, and on qualification will increase to £165,000, plus bonus. We offer full sponsorship of the PGDL and SQE 1 and 2 in addition to an annual maintenance grant of £20,000 per year of study. 

How to apply

Online via our website https://www.ropesgrayrecruiting.com/en/UK 

If you require any additional support throughout the recruitment process, please contact the Early Careers team to have a confidential conversation on 020 3201 1500 or at Londontraineerecruitment@ropesgray.com 

University Law Careers Fairs and Presentations 2024

University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, University of Bristol, University of Exeter, University of Warwick, University of Durham, University of Nottingham, University of Manchester, University of Edinburgh and University of York, Queen Mary University of London, University College London, King’s College London, London School of Economics (presentation only)