Watson Farley & Williams

In their own words

An international law firm combining local knowledge with sector expertise to advise on complex transactions and disputes, while giving its people opportunities to make a tangible impact.

Snapshot

Firm type

International

UK offices

London

International offices

Athens, Singapore, Paris, Dubai, Tokyo, Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Munich, Hamburg, Bangkok, Hanoi, Hong Kong, Madrid, Milan, Rome, New York, Sydney, Seoul

Training contract places

Vacation scheme places

First-year salary

£51,000

Second-year salary

£56,000

Newly qualified salary

£107,000

Trainee retention

88%

SQE support

Full SQE 1, SQE2 and PGDL funding

Visa sponsorship

Yes

International secondment

Yes

Client secondment

Yes

Guaranteed secondment

Yes

Recruitment route

Vacation scheme and direct training contract

Rolling recruitment?

Seat structure

6 four-month seats

Can trainees repeat a seat?

Sometimes, depending on the circumstances

Can trainees express seat preferences?

Yes, preferences are considered

Non-law applicants

Actively welcomed

Career-changer applicants

Actively welcomed

Remote working

Standard hybrid working only

Holiday allowance

25 days, excluding bank holidays

Minimum academic requirements

ABB at A-level or equivalent, and on track for or achieved a 2:1 or above at university

Typical start time

9:00-9:30am

Typical finish time

6:00-7:00pm

Wellbeing support

Includes Employee Assistance Programme, mental health first aiders, targeted sessions run by an internal culture team

Maintenance grant

£20,000 for the SQE; £10,000 for the PGDL

PGDL funding

Fully funded

Retrospective SQE and PGDL funding

None

Diversity networks and partnerships

Includes BAN, WCAN, Causeway, and Responsible Business team runs a 3-day placement with Causeway Education each year followed by mentoring

% female partners

28.3%

% BAME partners

% female trainees

56%

% BAME trainees

37.5%

% LGBTQ+ trainees

20%

% state school educated trainees

35%

% first-generation university trainees

60%

Before you apply

Before you apply, ask yourself:

WFW trainees complete mandatory seats in Assets & Structured Finance and Dispute Resolution alongside four other rotations. Would that combination of structured and flexible seat choices appeal to you?

Office attendance typically varies between two and three days per week depending on your team. Would you be comfortable with your hybrid-working pattern changing between seats?

Every trainee completes an international secondment. Would you value the opportunity to spend part of your training contract working in another WFW office?

Deep dive

Explore this firm in detail

What makes it different

Your focus is our focus.

What this could mean for you

When you're building your six-seat rotation, you can express preferences when shaping your six-seat rotation, alongside a guaranteed international secondment that gives every trainee experience within WFW’s global network.

We know you want to be involved in high-quality work for high-quality clients, so we make sure you have every opportunity to do so from the outset.

What this could mean for you

From your first seat, you're drafting documents like facility agreements and security packages, attending client and lender negotiations, and liaising directly with overseas counsel. You could take on meaningful responsibility from an early stage, contributing to transaction documents, client discussions and cross-border matters as your experience develops.

As a trainee - or any new member of the firm, we make sure that we get to know you - guaranteeing that you have everything you need to grow as a WFW lawyer.

What this could mean for you

Your training contract starts with a full induction and a dedicated buddy from the firm's existing trainees, and each seat comes with its own practical training from your practice group, plus regular performance reflection meetings with a dedicated supervisor. You’ll have structured support from the outset, including a trainee buddy, seat-specific training, a dedicated supervisor and regular opportunities for feedback.

Practice area strengths

Asset and structured finance

At WFW, the Assets & Structured Finance (ASF) group sits at the heart of the firm's transport and asset-finance heritage. The team advises on the financing, leasing, acquisition, refinancing and restructuring of high-value assets, particularly in the aviation, maritime, rail and wider transport sectors. As a trainee in ASF, you are likely to experience a mix of transactional, financing and sector-focused work. Typical responsibilities may include: conducting due diligence on vessels, aircraft and financing structures; reviewing and drafting transaction documents, such as facility agreements, security documents and leasing arrangements; managing signing and completion processes and preparing closing bibles; coordinating with overseas counsel and clients on multi-jurisdictional transactions; undertaking legal research on financing, regulatory and commercial issues; attending client calls and transaction negotiations alongside associates and partners. Because many matters involve parties in different jurisdictions, trainees often gain exposure to international transactions and work closely with colleagues across WFW's global office network.

Projects

WFW's Projects practice focuses on the development, financing, construction, acquisition and operation of major infrastructure and energy projects. The team advises sponsors, developers, lenders, investors and public sector bodies across sectors including renewable energy, conventional power, digital infrastructure, ports, airports, roads, social infrastructure and energy transition projects. A significant proportion of the work has an international element, reflecting WFW's strong presence in the energy and infrastructure markets globally. As a trainee in Projects, you are likely to be involved in transactions from the early development stage through to financial close and operation. Typical responsibilities may include: conducting due diligence on projects, permits, land rights and project agreements; reviewing and drafting key project documents, such as construction contracts, operation and maintenance agreements, concession agreements and financing documents; assisting with project finance transactions and coordinating conditions precedent; preparing ancillary documents, board resolutions and completion deliverables; carrying out legal and regulatory research on energy, infrastructure and financing issues; liaising with clients, lenders, technical advisers and overseas counsel on cross-border matters. Because projects often involve multiple stakeholders, trainees quickly gain exposure to both the legal and commercial drivers behind large-scale investments.

Commercial litigation

WFW’s Commercial Litigation practice handles complex disputes across the firm’s core sectors of transport, energy and infrastructure. The team advises on matters spanning renewable energy, oil and gas, maritime and aviation, with many disputes involving cross-border issues. Its work ranges from offshore wind, solar and battery storage disputes to wider commercial and construction matters, giving trainees exposure to a varied mix of sector-focused contentious work.

All practice areas

EnergyInfrastructureTransportCapital marketsConstructionCorporate / M&ADispute resolutionEmploymentFinancePrivate equityPublic lawReal estateRegulatory and complianceCompetitionRestructuring and insolvencyTax

Who it may suit

Before you apply, ask yourself:

WFW trainees complete mandatory seats in Assets & Structured Finance and Dispute Resolution alongside four other rotations. Would that combination of structured and flexible seat choices appeal to you?
Office attendance typically varies between two and three days per week depending on your team. Would you be comfortable with your hybrid-working pattern changing between seats?
Every trainee completes an international secondment. Would you value the opportunity to spend part of your training contract working in another WFW office?

This firm may suit candidates who…

Want to develop sector expertise in areas including shipping, energy, infrastructure and transport.
Want international experience built into their training, with every trainee completing an overseas secondment.
Are drawn to a specialist, sector-focused international firm with a relatively small annual trainee intake.
Value structured support through a dedicated buddy, seat inductions and regular meetings with supervisors.

Things to consider

Two of the six seats – Assets & Structured Finance and Dispute Resolution – are mandatory, with the remaining rotations providing opportunities to explore other practice areas.
WFW has a particularly strong sector focus across shipping, energy, transport and infrastructure, which shapes much of its client work and training experience.
Office attendance typically ranges from two to three days per week depending on the team, within the firm's standard hybrid-working model.

Work-life reality

Work-life balance varies by team, seat and transaction cycle. This section is designed to help you understand the pattern, not reduce the experience to a score.

Support

This includes EAP, mental health first aiders and targeted wellbeing sessions run by an internal culture team.

Flexibility

No formal flexible working policy or working-abroad option beyond the standard hybrid working policy.

Holiday allowance

25 days, excluding bank holidays.

Office attendance

2-3 days in the office per week, depending on teams.

Application process

Application form

(2 - 3 hours)

Video interview

(1 - 2 hours)

What happens

This is a pre-recorded video interview.

Assessment centre

(5 - 6 hours)

What happens

This includes a group discussion assessment and a two-part written assessment.

Partner interview

(1 - 1.5 hours)

Insights

Commercial Awareness Compass Episode #66

Power surge in the high stakes world of battery project finance

Read on the compass