I applied to Taylor Wessing for two key reasons. 

Firstly, its sector focus: I had loved trusts law at university, and so was particularly interested in the private wealth sphere as I knew it would provide scope to become involved in trusts in a practical setting. Equally, I was also keen to work in a firm with a technological focus, as I am interested in areas where the law is playing catch-up to the evolving world. Taylor Wessing excels in both of these very different areas, and so I thought the firm was a perfect fit to explore these interests.

Secondly, I had heard on the grapevine that Taylor Wessing has an excellent collegiate culture, and my experience has borne that out! The people are very welcoming and typically happy to take time to explain matters.

I am now a second-seat trainee, and I have sat in the Private Client team and the Disputes and Investigations team. My experience in Private Client certainly provided me with a lot of hands-on experience with trusts structures, often involving complicated multinational elements, along with other tricky advisory pieces considering tax and other areas. I found the heavy research and advisory element of the team to be particularly rewarding, and the private wealth sector provided plenty of unique challenges that would be less common elsewhere. The Disputes and Investigations team has taught me a great deal regarding the process of litigation and some of the key strategic elements that litigators must bear in mind both prior to proceedings commencing and once they are underway. My work in the Disputes team has involved a lot of organisational and case management tasks, such as being on top of deadlines and arranging bundles, as well as the odd research piece.

Things can happen quickly, and you learn quickly as a result. Soak things up and get involved. Be resilient and trust the process. Make yourself a valuable part of the team.

One of the main things that attracted me to Taylor Wessing was their strong position as a technology firm, because it shows how forward-facing they are as a company. During my training contract, I sat within the commercial technology and data team, which is a multi-jurisdictional seat that allowed me to see how closely we work with other countries to get to the bottom of the problems we’re trying to solve. I worked on quite a few cross-national data privacy projects. I also sat in real estate planning and environment, disputes and investigations and corporate finance, where I subsequently qualified into. Having such varied seats as a trainee meant I was able to see the different roles that solicitors can play within a firm – this was crucial to my development. 

I think what makes a good lawyer is someone that has a measured approach to challenges and pressures, and a friendly attitude towards team members and clients. You have to be smart and have a strong work ethic, but have a spirit of fun too. I think everyone at Taylor Wessing displays those characteristics.

You have to hit the ground running from the first week you enter the building. Trainees are given real responsibilities, and on occasion you can be the only trainee on a project or matter. This is a steep learning curve but it allows you to grow and learn very quickly.

Working on the Tulip skyscraper appeal has been one of the best projects I’ve been part of. It showed me law does not exist in a vacuum. Commercial and political considerations play a key role in any project strategy, particularly ones that are of this scale. On a more personal level, I learnt the importance of managing my time effectively, and what it really means to roll up your sleeves and throw yourself into new opportunities. I’m excited to continue my journey in the world of real estate planning.

I would describe the working culture at Taylor Wessing as supportive, ambitious and kind. Everyone is encouraged to be themselves. People have an appreciation of the importance of work life balance, and you are empowered to take control of your career at an early stage of your traineeship and qualification. It’s also fun. Everyone is a team player and there is never a shortage of social events. From the events run by the Trainee Solicitor Council, the weekly drinks and the famous Friday morning all-you-can-eat breakfast. We are more than colleagues. We’re each other’s support network and friends

Taylor Wessing works with forward-thinking clients engaged in the industries of tomorrow, and that’s what stood out to me initially and convinced me to join. I loved the fact that the firm looks for opportunities in new markets that are opening up across the world – providing clients with an excellent, industry-leading service. What’s more, because Taylor Wessing practises in areas of law which include Intellectual Property and Private Client, I thought it would be a really exciting place to be with a range of opportunities – and I was right.

Over  two years and four seats, I had the opportunity to take on high levels of responsibility,  was exposed to top-quality work and some of the best minds in the industry, and worked alongside a team of lawyers who are open, friendly and incredibly supportive. From helping negotiate documents for a huge construction project in central London to advising a start-up ‘fintech’ firm on UK financial regulation, my time here has exceeded all my expectations.

Having studied Law at university, I had an interest in lots of departments when I started my training contract. But after completing my third seat in Private Client, this was the area I decided to qualify into. In Private Client, you work with individuals and families helping them on a huge variety of matters – from personal tax advice to drafting wills. You often have to think beyond the legal solution and consider the practical issues and interests of individuals and their families. Since qualifying, I have found the work hugely rewarding and enjoyed the chance to specialise.  I have been able to develop my skills as a solicitor in a supportive environment, whilst being offered plenty of client contact and responsibility.

What attracted me to Taylor Wessing was its size and reputation in the areas of private wealth work – and IP really stood out when I first applied. I was also interested in the new corporate crime team, which was being set up just as I applied.

I was impressed by Taylor Wessing’s vision for the future. They’ve got a clear idea about where they’re going and how they’re going to get there.

I began my Vacation Scheme with Taylor Wessing as soon as I could. I studied Law and Australian Law at The University of Nottingham and in my penultimate year I even got to go there – it was an amazing experience. Once I returned, I didn’t let jet lag get in the way of my law career and I started the scheme after just two days back in the UK.

Those two weeks gave me a real insight into the firm and immediately convinced me to train here. I was impressed by Taylor Wessing’s vision for the future. They’ve got a clear idea about where they’re going and how they’re going to get there – keeping their people in mind as they continue to develop them. This forward-thinking really resonated with me, plus, I genuinely enjoyed my time here. Everyone was incredibly supportive and encouraging, so I thought that’s a firm I want to be a part of, that’s where I want to train.

My first seat was Restructuring and Corporate Recovery, where I experienced contentious work. Over the course of the six months I had the opportunity to work on a variety of exciting deals and had great exposure during each case – I love the level of involvement. A highlight was working on a deal that involved pension fraud, where I played an active role from start to finish. I worked on pre-court processes, thought about strategy and even got to go to court for the winding up hearing. Not only was it an amazing chance to see my work come to something but also it was a positive result for us. It was an amazing moment and started my contract off with a bang.

I’d always enjoyed the academic aspect of the law – but I was curious to see how it applied in practice. So in the second year of my law degree, I took part in Taylor Wessing’s two-week vacation scheme. This really gave me a great insight into the practical aspects of law, and firmed up my decision to follow it as a career. 

I was initially attracted to the firm because of its dynamic clientele, and its ability to identify and tap into new markets. Whenever I speak to people about Taylor Wessing, there’s always a buzz and a sense of excitement about the firm. 

And then there’s the small trainee intake. It means we’re a closely-knit team, and good friends who support each other. It also means that we are seen as individuals rather than a face in the crowd. 

The first seat of my training contract was in Banking and Finance. It was a transactional seat and fairly fast paced, which meant that most matters I was working on tend to be completed within four to six weeks. This kept things refreshing, and I had plenty of opportunities to work with a broad spread of clients. 

I’m currently in Patents for my second seat. It’s very different, as I’m mainly involved in contentious work in the form of patent litigations. This has exposed me to a different side of law, and I’ve gained so many valuable insights. 

Personally, I think Taylor Wessing stands out among the sea of city law firms because of its culture –which is friendly and down-to-earth, but also very ambitious.