The Legal 500 Future Lawyers verdict on Covington & Burling

Trainees were attracted to Covington for its “unique culture,” “smaller intake,” and “excellent reputation in regulated industries”, all of which contribute to a training experience with “high-responsibility work” and strong development opportunities. Trainees described the people as “generally incredibly hard-working and kind,” and several mentioned the “friendly culture” and “home-grown talent being promoted.” Others highlighted the “excellent reputation for practice groups that were important to me,” and praised the “reasonable work-life balance for a US law firm.” On training, there’s an expectation of independence: “Training is informal”; some pointed out that “other firms’ trainees get a little more handholding,” whilst they had to “rely on informal sources of support.” But for many, that was a plus: “There are high levels of responsibility and streamlined teams,” said one, adding that “there is much more exposure to high quality work and learning from partners through osmosis.” Best moments included “hosting an event on Women and Neurodivergence,” “meeting Amal Clooney at a firm event,” and “successfully managing the closing of a deal.” There were also shout-outs for “working alongside partners and senior lawyers on a regular basis,” and “numerous conversations with partners outside of working hours who seem genuinely invested in my development.” International and client secondments were particularly well regarded: “Going to our Dubai office reaffirmed that Covington’s culture is across the board,” said one trainee, while another reflected, “I learnt a lot that couldn’t have been learnt in private practice.” But there are pain points. “Hours are very unpredictable,” said one trainee, while another admitted to pulling “an all-nighter on a BD task, on my birthday.” Others mentioned “remuneration,” “a lack of transparency in communications,” and “sometimes you do feel a little unsupported.” Several noted that the firm’s pace of change can feel sluggish: “Particularly US-wise — for example, lack of qualification leave, trainee compensation, etc.” Hybrid working has recently shifted to four days a week in-office, a change that hasn’t been universally welcomed. “It is now changing to four days a week in the office. Not happy.” Others echoed this, with comments like “most people would have preferred Monday to stay hybrid” and “it’s unclear why we are moving back.” Still, a few were more resigned: “Market average” so “nothing to complain about.” Pro bono gets glowing reviews across the board. Trainees described the offering as “exceptional,” “excellent,” and “very good.” The firm is “very committed to allowing its trainees and associates to do pro bono of their choosing,” and all pro bono hours “count towards billable targets.” The variety of work and level of encouragement make here are “a real draw to the firm.”

Reflections on the transition from a trainee to a newly qualified solicitor - A journey of challenges and milestones Alessandro Angelico, Associate

Departments to date: Dispute Resolution

University: BPP Law School (Holborn) The Paris Institute of Political Studies

Degree: Economic Major and LLB

A training contract is definitely a highlight in a solicitor’s career. This is the time when you constantly meet new people, learn and develop new skills. One day you are in court listening to a KC explain the subtleties of competition law, the day after you are drafting a construction contract for a solar power plant in Oman. One week you are sharing the office with a partner who is head of her practice, the week after you are in the Brussels office sharing with another trainee. After two years of swapping seats every six months, when faced with the prospect of becoming an associate, it may seem daunting to reset your mental biannual clock and realise that, for the foreseeable future, you will sit in one department only, you will specialise in your sector of choice, and you will share an office with someone else for more than six months (what if they don’t share your same air-conditioning preferences or do not like the smell of coffee?).

In short, becoming an associate is a bit like graduating, or moving out of your parents’ home; while intimidating at first, it is an extremely fulfilling step. The age of innocence is over, and it is now time to leave a mark at your firm and in your field. While a training contract is about, well, training and learning, once you become an associate you will start to train others and have an impact on people. You will begin to manage other lawyers, as well as workstreams. Partners will take you more seriously and you will start to advise clients and influence their strategic decision-making. However, with great power comes great responsibility. Remember that time that you messed up as a trainee, and the associate took the blame? Well, you are now that associate. This is the beauty of progressing in your career; you will be challenged more, you will be the one briefing clients on matters, you will be the one speaking at conferences, and with more challenges come more rewards as well. I am tremendously excited about my new position as an associate in the dispute resolution practice and I hope I will see you around at Covington, for a vacation scheme or an insight day.

A day in the life of a Trainee

9.00am: My first task every morning is to grab a coffee, check my emails
and update my to-do list. Working at an international firm means I receive emails at any time of the day and night from colleagues, clients and local counsel from all over the world.

9.15am: After dealing with the urgent emails, I turn to my first task of the
day. We are working with a client who closed a multibillion-dollar acquisition in the media sector a few years ago. Despite clearing competition regulations in dozens of jurisdictions, a few are still outstanding. I spend time reviewing board minutes to source evidence to help support our argument.

10.00am: European competition law is currently in a state of flux. The EU is
legislating on everything from digital markets to foreign subsidies and the energy market infrastructure. This is an exciting period to be a competition lawyer as clients turn to us to make sense of the evolving antitrust landscape.

On this occasion, an of counsel asks me to check the status of a proposed EU regulation that will allow certain state subsidies into the renewable energy sector. I research the current political discussions, the proposed amendments from member states, and the potential impact on the client. I then help to draft an article on the proposed EU regulation that will be used as part of an upcoming client development trip to Dubai and New York.

11.00am: Each Tuesday, we have a weekly competition team meeting. Every intern, trainee, associate and partner takes to the floor to discuss what they are working on. It is interesting to learn what the wider team are focusing on and discuss opportunities to gain exposure into areas I may be interested in working on later in my seat.

12.00pm: After the meeting, I grab some lunch with the other trainees and associates; we eat together in the communal kitchen in the Brussels office and it is always a pleasure to catch up with colleagues on everything from work to holiday plans.

1.00pm: I prepare questions ahead of a call with a pro bono client. We are applying for a visa on their behalf, as they are currently in hiding from the Taliban, following time as a public servant in Afghanistan.

2.00pm: I dial in for a call relating to our Afghani client, alongside colleagues from our London and Brussels offices, an interpreter based in New York and our client. We receive clarity on our questions, which will help us complete the visa applications.

3.00pm: I turn to a document review task ahead of a client call later today. As part of a competition class action against our client, I check original documents in French and Italian that were produced during the regulatory investigations. As a fluent French and Italian speaker, this is a great opportunity to take responsibility as the team will rely on the translations I prepare.

4.00pm: We have an internal meeting with partners and associates working on the matter, ahead of the client call. I discuss the findings from the document review, and suggest whether I believe these documents should be disclosed to the other side based on the court order’s language. As the trainee on the call, I also take minutes of the meeting to keep an accurate record of our discussions.

5.00pm: I dial in for the client call. Among other agenda items, we discuss the disclosure of the French and Italian documents, and I am available to answer any questions the client may have on these.

6.00pm: Every quarter, the social committee organises an evening of regional food and drink for all the lawyers and staff in the office. This month we have a South American theme and the trainees have prepared a pub quiz. It is always nice to see colleagues from other departments; we chat while having some drinks and looking at the Brussels skyline.

About the firm

Introductory paragraph about the firm: In an increasingly regulated world, we have an exceptional ability to help clients navigate their most complex business problems, deals and disputes. From our 14 international offices we practise as one firm, holding closely to core values that start with a deep commitment to our clients and the quality of our work.

What sets us apart is our ability to combine the tremendous strength in our litigation, investigations and corporate practices with deep knowledge of policy and policymakers, and one of the world’s leading regulatory practices.

Our trainees tell us that they were attracted to Covington because we provide the responsibility and opportunity of a close-knit office, combined with the resources and prestige of a leading international firm. Above all, though, we recognise the importance of a great firm culture. At Covington you will find a firm with values of collegiality, high standards of lawyering, respect for others, a dedication to public service and a commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion. We have some of the best lawyers in the world because we understand that excellence in legal practice involves effective teamwork, clear and shared values, and generosity to colleagues and clients, as well as preeminent legal skills.

List of clients: Our clients include technology giants Microsoft and Meta, and we represent leaders in life sciences including AstraZeneca and Oxford Biomedica. We have advised pharmaceutical manufacturers in relation to the manufacture and supply of Covid-19 vaccines, acted for ACWA Power on the world’s most ambitious regenerative tourism project in Saudi Arabia, and we engage in cutting-edge pro bono matters, such as representing Ukraine against the Russian Federation at the ICJ.

List of deals/cases in which the firm has been recently involved

London office managing partner: James Halstead

Management committee chair: Doug Gibson

Other offices: Boston, Los Angeles, New York, Palo Alto, San Francisco, Washington, Brussels, Frankfurt, Dubai, Johannesburg, Beijing, Seoul, Shanghai.

Who we are:  From our offices in Beijing, Boston, Brussels, Dubai, Frankfurt, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, New York, Palo Alto, San Francisco, Seoul, Shanghai and Washington, we practise as one firm, holding closely to core values that start with a deep commitment to our clients and the quality of our work on their behalf, and that include an emphasis on teamwork among our lawyers and other professionals and a belief in the obligation of lawyers to make legal services available to all who need them.

What we do: Covington has an unusual combination of strengths in regulatory policy combined with high-end litigation and corporate practices. This breadth of capabilities offers unique opportunities to trainees to become involved in multi-dimensional matters across several practice areas.

What we’re looking for : There is no set mould for a Covington trainee; our trainees are enthusiastic about the law, hardworking and keen to be part of our collaborative culture.

The candidates we choose are sharp, articulate and quick thinking. They have confidence and composure, but also honesty and humour. We look for candidates to be on track for a 2(1) degree with a strong academic record.

We also like to see: energy and enthusiasm; team spirit; a range of interests outside the law (extra-curricular activities, voluntary or paid work); independent thought; communication and influencing skills; commercial awareness; resolve and judgement; a creative approach to problem solving; and resilience under pressure.

What you’ll do: As a trainee at Covington you will have early responsibility and exposure. Working within small teams and playing a significant role in complex substantive work, our trainees work closely with senior lawyers and partners, and have a chance to make a real impact.

During your two years as a trainee solicitor you will spend time in a variety of practice areas (seats).

To ensure you get the best experience from your time our professional development team will work closely with you to design a training programme which best suits your preferences (and the business needs).

As a trainee you will also have the chance to apply for an international or client secondment, which is an excellent opportunity to develop an understanding of the global nature of our work and to experience working in a different cultural environment.

Perks : Private medical insurance, fertility benefits, dental insurance, employee assistance programme, mental wellbeing platform, eye tests, flu vaccine, group income protection and life assurance schemes, season ticket loan.

Sponsorship

SQE grant up to £20,000.

Seat options

Trainees complete four six-month seats during the course of their traineeship, which consists of two core seats and two elective seats. Client secondments are available, alongside secondments to our Brussels or Dubai offices. Our principal practice and industry groups are corporate, dispute resolution, financial services, life sciences, and technology regulatory. Core seats – corporate; dispute resolution. Electives – life sciences regulatory; life sciences transactional; employment; technology regulatory; project development and finance. Secondments – Brussels; Dubai; pro bono; and client.

Tips from the recruiter

1. Do your research: Research firms to understand their culture, values, and practice areas. Tailor your application to reflect why you are a good fit.
2. Develop commercial awareness: Stay informed about current events, particularly those affecting the legal industry.
3. Stay resilient: Rejection is a part of the process. Stay positive, learn from each experience, and keep improving your applications and interview techniques. Maintain a growth mindset.

Diversity and Inclusion