Interested in a top-notch PE practice, big deals with even bigger numbers, and a global transactional outlook? Well, this US outfit might just be worth your Weil…
Weil, Gotshal & Manges training contract review 2025
The Firm
Once you’ve spent any significant amount of time sniffing around for appropriate training contracts, it can be very easy to get lost in the sauce. Hundreds of firms are offering a muddle of practice areas to sift through, so it can be difficult to know where to look without your head going under. However, for those who have a clear indication of how they want to shape their practice, there are a few firms that stand out – enter Weil, Gotshal & Manges. Though this American doesn’t offer tout ce que tu peux Manges, it does have a certain je ne sais quoi for those who are “pretty set on being transactional lawyers,” particularly in private equity. Weil holds a solid amount of Chambers UK rankings in capital markets, infrastructure, and private equity buyouts (£500 million and above), alongside a top Chambers Global ranking in restructuring/insolvency.
“It doesn’t feel as intimidating as the magic circle!”
Interviewees told us that it was this balance – particularly between private equity and restructuring – that coaxed them in, but a number did stress that they wouldn’t recommend joining “if you want a diverse training contract… you wouldn’t necessarily be able to do a litigation seat.” Nevertheless, “I would encourage people to consider Weil if they want transactional work because it isn’t oversubscribed here – it’s almost the opposite!” In addition to the practice draws, working at Weil isn’t a thankless undertaking; sources detailed that “as a trainee, you’re not always doing the most glamorous work, but you’re always given thanks,” and the smaller size “doesn’t feel as intimidating as the magic circle!” In fact, it makes it “a little more straightforward to take initiative on things.”
The Seats
In the typical fashion, trainees cover four six-month seats across their training contracts, with seats in the corporate and finance department being mandatory. Although we heard that most people also do restructuring, “if you have one seat you’re really keen on doing, you’ll get it.” That said, insiders did caution that Weil “is not the firm you want if you’re looking for variety” though, highlighting the “oversubscription” of litigation as one example of the allocation system’s limitations. “So that’s definitely a downside,” one trainee mentioned, “because litigation only takes one per intake, a lot of people have to do the contentious training program to satisfy SRA requirements.”
Don’t worry too much, though – the firm’s international secondment opportunities provide a chance for a change of pace, including restructuring, finance and corporate stints in New York and antitrust offerings in DC. In the past, the firm’s Paris office has also opened its doors to trainees. “It’s a funny process and not very transparent,” one insider admitted, but what was clear was the expectation that you qualify in the practice you sit abroad for. Trainees must also submit a 500-word business case for why they want to go on secondment, after which they will be sent in their third or fourth seat if there is a business need.
Given the firm’s pedigree in the space, it should come as no surprise that most trainees spend some time in private equity, working with the firm’s offices across Europe. “It’s Weil’s bread and butter,” so trainees work on “big deals, but also portfolio company work, managing incentive programs and facilitating where companies give directors shares so they’re aligned with the progress of the company.” For newbies, this manifests as work in the form of organising deal checklists, drafting ancillary document and “lots of board minutes,” alongside a lot of due diligence and legal research. Those in the seat relayed that there are plenty of opportunities to work not only cross-department but also directly interacting with client on varied matter sizes. And while you often hear that size doesn’t matter (jury’s still out on that one), the group did work with Microsoft last year, advising the conglomerate on getting merger control approval for the gargantuan $70 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
Private equity infrastructure work falls under the firm's private equity and M&A teams. PE infrastructure focuses on deals where the funds and assets are infrastructure focused, but the work here for trainees is ultimately very similar to pure PE. “In general finance, the securities are around shares and finance but here, they’re over assets in infrastructure like airports, fibre optics – that kind of thing,” one interviewee explained, though the work still generally takes the form of organising checklists, prepping ancillary documents like board and shareholder resolutions, and helping with the signing process. Deals here often also come in hefty sizes; last year, the group supported EQT and their lenders in a £494 million facility for Encyclis, a company that provides energy-from-waste services.
With high-profile clients such as Goldman Sachs, it’s no wonder finance is a mandatory seat for trainees, ensuring they get the opportunity to cover both lender and sponsor side work. Weil also took the lead on a case for the bank on the debt financing for private equity firm Bain’s takeover offer for Caverion. From our interviewees we heard that while due diligence is a common task in corporate, “you don’t really do much of it in finance.” Again, newbies run checklists and draft documents, but “you’re also liaising with local counsel, working on a smaller matter – you’re taking initiative replying to emails, looking at drafted documents… there’s a lot of process, organisational work.”
“If you can prove you can take something forward, you can run with it.”
Weil’s intellectual property practice is much smaller than others, so as trainees, “you can get a lot of client exposure” in this seat – “if you can prove you can take something forward, you can run with it.” Here, due diligence is pretty much a given (shocker!) alongside drafting, but it’s not all transactional. “We would get policy from a US office to help with English law provisions for example,” so advisory work is very much a part of the seat, with newbies also getting opportunities to draft policies for companies.
The disputes practice is trainees’ only option for a purely litigious seat. Like those in PE, this group also acted for Microsoft in its acquisition of Activision Blizzard, helping the company in its challenge before the Competition Appeal Tribunal to the CMA’s prohibition of the deal. Weil also acts for banks in a similar capacity; the firm recently helped the investment bank VTB Capital in issuing claims against the Republic of Mozambique to recover sums guaranteed by the Republic involving around $1 billion of principal and interest owed. According to our sources, “the main piece of litigious work involved a sanctioned Russian bank” where newbies were tasked with research and some drafting, but pro bono is also a significant part of this seat. Trainees can work with the US offices on pro bono with research projects such as one regarding the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine, and we were also told about work oriented around the UK’s obligations to disclose research around terrorist material.
Trainee Life
At Weil, “we’re not open plan,” so trainees have their own offices shared with their supervisor. And as for the wider office itself? “The location is great,” insiders beamed, highlighting perks such as “the cake trolley, the subsidized café and the sleep pods…” Of course, the lattermost might raise some eyebrows, but we heard trainees aren’t obligated to be in the office at all times: “We have to be in four days a week, most people work from home on Friday.” The firm also fund the set-up of trainees of trainees’ home offices, but those we spoke with admitted that “the work is just easier to do face-to-face.” Even “working late, some teams prefer for everyone to be in the office because it’s easier if things are moving along quickly!” Working from around 9am to 9pm, sources shared that long hours are to be expected at the firm as “it’s a driven and hardworking business model, so you’re expected to be available whenever at fairly short notice – but that hasn’t really been abused.”
“The cake trolley, the subsidized café and the sleep pods…”
In fact, those we interviewed had very little to criticise about Weil’s working culture, with emphasis being placed on people being “very supportive, friendly and happy to give feedback; people don’t feel like they can’t involve other people in their work.” Another newbie highlighted that because of this, “I’m never unclear when I’m given work to do, and I always have context for what we’re trying to achieve.” Admittedly, we did also hear the culture varies from team to team, with private equity noted by a number of sources for being “the most traditional: more reserved and less sociable…” but finance and antitrust in particular were said to be livelier and “really friendly.”
On the social side, the hours sometimes make it so “there’s never 100% turnout because people get stuck in the office,” but there are still the typical summer and Christmas socials. In addition, trainees also get a budget for socials so “there have always been socials we’ve organised ourselves” which have included pizza making and life-size Monopoly (?!), but we heard the highlight was the firm’s free use of the box at the O2 where we were told trainees went to go see Olivia Rodrigo.
DEI also plays a part in socials with “lots going on with the Women*@Weil network doing events all the time, as well as the BLAST (Black Lawyers Achieving Success Together) group.” Newbies felt reassured by the firm’s support of affinity group events, in particular BLAST where they hold events to “encourage people from Black backgrounds to apply to and stay at the firm – those spaces are very encouraging for a first year.”
Insiders enthused that on the training front, “there’s a lot more than I expected! I thought US firms were more hands-off before joining but in finance, we probably had like, 20 sessions on top of team training every couple of weeks – PE and funds were the same.” The supervision was also praised for supporting progression for the most part, conducting mid and end of seat reviews. “There are still some old school supervisors that like to keep you by their side 24/7,” one interviewee reflected, “but they are generally quite good, and the firm funds lunch to get trainees to know their supervisor better.”
“You want to watch the firm grow over time!”
All this in mind, sources reminded us that though “nobody hides the fact you need to work hard,” the salary more than compensates – “we’re probably being overpaid to be honest!” – so those we spoke with were generally positive about their intentions for staying on. Despite some trainees commenting on “sometimes struggling with the work-life balance and the uncertainty” around hours, there was also an awareness amongst them that staying with the firm long-term is an appealing strategy: “You want to watch the firm grow over time!”Qualification itself tends to be a fairly informal affair, but graduate recruitment does talk to partners to see if there’s space for trainees in particular departments. “We’re encouraged to be transparent so they can gauge numbers,” interviewees explained. We heard that trainees usually know their seats three months before qualifying. The firm did not disclose the number of qualifiers in 2024.
Weil you wait...
Trainees can take on pro bono matters in their downtime – “we’re incorporating charities and Innocence Project cases!”
How to get a Weil training contract
Vacation scheme deadline : 15 December 2024
Applications and interviews
Weil’s Early Careers & Development team organise various skills sessions, workshops, partner-led presentations and insight days throughout the year – check Weil's events calendar for details.
Students interested in a training contract with Weil can apply for a vacation scheme, of which they run two per year. Their vacation schemes are eligible for penultimate year law students, and finalists and graduates of any discipline.
Applications for vacation schemes are made via an online application form. All applications are reviewed by Weil’s Early Careers & Development team and there are no pre-screening filters. The best of the bunch progress to the next stage, where candidates are invited to submit an online pre-recorded video interview.
Those who have impressed are offered a first-round face to face interview with two partners, and asked to complete a case study assessment.. The interview is geared towards finding out more about a candidate's journey, motivations and career aspirations, but you will also be assessed on your commercial awareness.
Early Careers & Development Manager Philippa Wilson tells us successful candidates are the ones who demonstrate “a keen interest in Weil. If you are able to discuss our practice areas and understand our market position it shows you have a genuine interest to work for the firm.” Following the assessment process, successful applicants are then made a vacation scheme offer, where they will be assessed for a training contract.
Vacation schemes
Weil runs two vacation schemes over the spring and summer holidays, each scheme is two-weeks long and participants are paid £750 per week. There are up to places available across the two schemes. Participants spend two weeks in one practice area and you are able to submit preferences in advance. Throughout the scheme you will work alongside associates, carrying out trainee tasks and responsibilities. Participants are required to complete assessments during the scheme, including a group negotiation exercise and a group pitch presentation, and you are invited to attend an interview with two partners.
According to Philippa Wilson, “those who perform really well are the ones who are team players, proactive, show enthusiasm for the work, and really demonstrate their potential throughout the scheme. The vacation scheme is aimed to mirror the work you would undertake during a training contract, therefore it gives participants a real opportunity to gain an insight into the role of a trainee at Weil." Ping-pong tournaments, cooking classes, rooftop drinks and dinner in private dining rooms have featured in previous vacation schemes; it’s a great way to network with people from across the firm.
Supervision and the social life at Weil
Trainees praised the informal modes of support that are available too. “The culture of the firm helps establish this,” said one source. “I learn by practising and that’s universal here – we learn by doing.”
On the note of socialising, “it’s social when you’re in the firm, but there’s no real emphasis on hanging out outside of work. People would much rather go home after long days!” And while it’s “not a party firm,” juniors spoke warmly of team-specific events and an “incredible Christmas party with everyone from the firm.”
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
110 Fetter Lane,
London,
EC4A 1AY
Website www.weil.com
110 Fetter Lane,
London,
EC4A 1AY
Firm profile
Established in 1996, Weil’s London office is the largest of its European offices and the hub of its European practice. The office is a leading player in the UK legal market and is consistently regarded as one of the most successful London offices of a US-based law firm. The firm supports a varied client base of European, US and global private equity houses, corporates and financial institutions on domestic and cross-border matters.
Weil’s strategy is focused on long-term investment in recruiting and retaining exceptional talent at all levels. The firm’s people celebrate diversity and inclusion, and its award-winning pro bono programme is deeply ingrained in the firm’s culture.
Main areas of work
Diversity, equity & inclusion
The training contract
Over the two-year course you will complete four six-month seats, developing expertise and building skills in each area. Being prepared to take on feedback is a must and how you will become an exceptional lawyer.
While you need to tackle one Corporate and one Finance seat as key practice areas, the remaining seats depend on your own preferences and development needs. This is your career, don’t be afraid to seize the opportunities you want.
A career at Weil is challenging, technical and requires trainees to work under pressure. We are looking for bright candidates who can use their initiative and who thrive when challenged and when out of their comfort zone. Successful candidates will need to be commercially-minded with plenty of entrepreneurial flair, as well as the ability to work effectively in a team. We are looking to recruit candidates from all universities and degree disciplines. Our academic requirements are a minimum AAB at A-Level or equivalent and a 2:1 degree (obtained or predicted). We review all application forms holistically, which means if you fall slightly short of our academic requirements but demonstrate great potential, you will still be considered.
Vacation schemes 2025
We take up to 15 people on each of our vacation schemes. That means you’re accountable and visible, but if you’re ready to step up then it means you’ll have a lot of chances to show us what you can do and get real, lived experience in an elite global firm. You’ll attend talks, workshops and social events to build your network and knowledge of Weil. Throughout the two weeks, you’ll be assessed for a training contract on activities including: a group negotiation exercise, a group client pitch presentation, and real trainee tasks allocated to you by your supervisor.
You will be guaranteed an interview for a training contract, which will take place during the second week of the scheme. All places at Weil are competitive but the scheme is your opportunity to show us why you’re ready to take your seat and join us at the highest level.
Participants are paid £750 per week, half of which can be paid in advance two weeks before you join, helping you to book accommodation, travel tickets or buy work clothes.
Our Spring vacation scheme runs from 7th April to 17th April 2025 and our Summer vacation scheme runs from 23rd June to 4th July 2025.
Applications for both schemes open on 16 September 2024 and close on 15 December 2024.
Insight days
During the day you will hear from partners, counsel, associates and trainees about life at Weil, as well as receive a deeper insight into our core practice areas. You will take part in a case study exercise, and learn first-hand from Weil’s Early Careers team about their application and assessment process. As well as this, you’ll also get the chance to network with current trainees and ask any questions about the firm.
Our insights dates run on 23 October 2024 (the deadline to apply is 13 October 2024) and 20 November 2024 (the deadline to apply is 10 November 2024).
Virtual experience programme
Virtual & in person events
Salary, benefits & sponsorship
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.
SQE
Apprenticeships
Alongside learning on the job, you will receive formal training and have protected study time to obtain your law degree as you complete the programme. You will be supported at every stage but we will challenge you to be your best. If you’re ready to step up, this is a unique chance to earn money as you train, forgo student debt and learn to be a lawyer from those who are the very best in their field.
You will spend your first four months in business services to give you an overview of how our firm works, familiarise yourself with working in an office environment and start building your network. You will then rotate through three-to-four fee-earning teams to understand the work we do in-depth and where you might want to specialise.
You will have structured time to study throughout the programme, but after your fourth year you will take eight months out of the day-to-day business so you can focus on your SQE. After completing your SQE,, you will spend six months in three separate teams, and potentially an international secondment. This mirrors our graduate Trainees’ experience. After six years in total, you will qualify as a lawyer at the same level as a graduate Trainee.
Applications close on 19 January 2025 to start in September 2025. For more information click here.
How to apply
If you require any additional support throughout the recruitment process, please contact the Early Careers team to have a confidential conversation on 020 7903 1000 or at early.careers@weil.com.
This Firm's Rankings in
UK Guide, 2024
Ranked Departments
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London (Firms)
- Banking & Finance: Lenders: Big-Ticket (Band 3)
- Banking & Finance: Sponsors (Band 2)
- Corporate/M&A: £800 million and above (Band 5)
- Restructuring/Insolvency (Band 1)
- Tax (Band 4)
-
UK-wide
- Capital Markets: CLOs (Band 2)
- Capital Markets: High-Yield Products (Band 4)
- Capital Markets: Securitisation (Band 4)
- Infrastructure (Band 2)
- Investment Funds: Private Equity (Band 3)
- Investment Funds: Real Estate (Band 4)
- Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above (Band 2)