Mayer Brown

The Legal 500 Future Lawyers verdict on Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown’s ‘strong construction practice’, ‘expertise in finance transactions’ and ‘opportunity to get involved in cross-border matters’ set the international firm apart. Trainees enjoy being part of a small cohort, which earns them ‘more recognition’ and ‘better exposure to high-profile matters’ from the get-go.

Training is another major attraction: insiders praise Mayer Brown’s firm’s ‘early and genuine dedication to training’ and say that seniors ‘always have time for, and are committed to, the development of trainees’. Respondents describe an ‘inclusive and social’ environment . ‘Everyone is very friendly’; people are ‘approachable, willing to help’ and generally allow trainees to ‘make of your seat what you want to’.

The work can be demanding but rewarding. One junior’s highlight was seeing an adjudication through from the client’s first contact to a successful outcome. Others enjoyed ‘learning from experts in their field’ and experiencing ‘partner interaction’ in a ‘non-hierarchical’ setting where senior lawyers ‘treat you like an equal’.

That same responsibility can bring pressure: challenges include ‘doing tasks that you are unsure of’, ‘long working hours’ and some departmental ‘face-culture’. Still, even during a stressful bundle deadline, one trainee found their supervisor ‘extremely supportive, calm, and did not pressure me’.

Suggested improvements are practical rather than fundamental: trainees would welcome a ‘better benefits package’, a dedicated ‘work-from-home budget’ to support hybrid working, and greater consistency in how supervisors are selected and matched with trainees.

For trainees eager to take on serious matters within supportive, specialist teams, Mayer Brown offers early responsibility, expert guidance and the chance to build confidence fast.

Day in the life Harry Palmer, First Year Trainee

Departments to date: Corporate & Securities, Banking and Finance

University: University of Sheffield University of Law

Degree: Law (LLB); LPC MSc (Law, Business and Management)

9.00am: Mayer Brown has a hybrid working policy allowing people to work from home up to two days a week. The Banking and Finance team also has an anchor day on Wednesdays where everyone is expected to be in the office, but this varies depending on the department. I try to come into the office as much as possible, typically 4-5 days a week, but having the option to WFH can be helpful if working late the night before.  

I typically check my emails on my phone in the morning, flagging anything that needs my attention when I arrive at the office which is usually around 9am but can be earlier or later depending on how busy I expect the day to be. When I arrive at the office, I pick up some breakfast and a coffee from the Hub café, the firm’s subsidised café and canteen.  

9.45am – 1.00pm: Two days are rarely alike working in a law firm. The people, deals and tasks you work with and on can and often do change day to day. The benefit of the seat covering the whole of the Banking and Finance department is that you can work on deals that concern a range of practices, whether that be real estate finance, emerging markets, securitisation, leveraged finance, debt capital markets, trade finance etc, the seat is really what you make of it. If you have a particular interest in the work of a Banking and Finance sub-group, you can go and express an interest in it to a team member and more often than not they’ll ensure that you’re included in a currently ongoing or upcoming deal. 

Although days are always varied, there’s a range of tasks that trainees frequently engage in. This includes creating and updating conditions precedent checklists throughout the course of a deal, liaising with local counsels to obtain fee quotes and address local law issues, drafting documents such as NDAs, power of attorneys, director and shareholder resolutions, notices of security, amongst others, attending team calls and calls with opposing counsel. 

Outside of fee earning work, the firm encourages trainees to get involved in both internal and external committees and events. For example, I represent my cohort in the firm’s Trainee and Apprentice Committee which meets once a month to discuss any updates and address any issues or questions raised by the trainees and solicitor apprentices. We’re also given a large budget to plan social events which provides a great opportunity to socialise with other trainees and apprentices. I will also be attending the University of Manchester in November to talk to university students about the firm. 

1.00pm: I typically get lunch at the Hub with other trainees. The Hub offers a great range of healthy and filling meat and vegetarian options which changes from week to week. The Hub has plenty of seating space but on busy days I’ll eat at my desk. On quieter days, me and the other trainees head for lunch outside the office. Its location on Bishopsgate means that it only a few minutes’ walk from Spitalfields Market and Clifton Food Market, both of which offer a great range of options. 

2.00pm – 6:30pm: After getting back from lunch, I check through any emails that may have come through. Unless there is anything urgent, I’ll continue working on whatever I was working on before lunch. Prioritisation is an important skill as a trainee and beyond. You will almost always have to balance multiple tasks and demands from different fee earners, often on similar timeframes, and learning how to effectively prioritise them and communicate any delays is vital to providing the high-level service clients expect of Mayer Brown. 

6.30pm/7.30pm: I usually leave the office around 6:30-7:30pm depending on how busy I am and then log back on from home to finish off any work that needs completing on that day. On busy days, there is often not enough time to make the commute home before the work has to be done. On those occasions I stay in the office and order dinner which can then be expensed. The high-value and international nature of the work means large amounts of work and co-operating with lawyers in jurisdictions several hours behind or ahead of the UK, so working late in not uncommon. 

The firm also often hosts social events. The Banking and Finance team, for example, organises a monthly drinks trolley in the office, which offers the chance for you to share a drink and some nibbles with members of the team of all levels. The securitisation team will also frequently organise dinner at a local restaurant to reward the team for their hard work. 

About the firm

The firm:  Mayer Brown is a leading international law firm representing the world’s major corporations, funds and financial institutions in their most important and complex transactions and disputes. We’re recognized as among the best in many areas, including: Energy, Projects & Infrastructure, Capital Markets, Insurance, Investigations, Antitrust & Competition, Funds & Asset Management, International Arbitration, International Trade, Employment & Benefits, Finance & Private Credit and M&A/Private Equity.

The clients:  Client Stories | Mayer Brown

The deals:  Client Stories | Mayer Brown

Managing partner: Dominic Griffiths 

Other offices:  21

What we do:  Commercial Corporate Law 

What we’re looking for:  We are looking for the highest quality candidates with energy and enthusiasm for both the law and the world of business, who are willing to work hard and will thrive in a team environment.

What you’ll do:  During your training, you’ll be one of 30 trainees and you’ll have the opportunity to assist our teams on matters that may be multidisciplinary, cross-border, complex and high-profile in nature. As a trainee at Mayer Brown, you’ll be encouraged to play an active part of the team. As you develop your skills, you’ll be able to take on more responsibility – but you’ll always have the support of your colleagues. Over two years you’ll experience four seats. During each six-month seat, you’ll share an office with a partner or senior associate who’ll act as your supervisor or mentor. They’ll be there at every step, to take an active interest in your development, and to help you plan your career at Mayer Brown.

Perks:  Life assurance, employee assistance, income protection, pension with company contributions, private healthcare, gym membership, subsidised restaurant, cycle to work scheme.

Sponsorship

PGDL Grant: £15,000

SQE Grant: £20,000

Seat options

Finance & banking; corporate & securities; litigation regulatory enforcement; intellectual property; tax; employment; real estate; restructuring 

Tips from the recruiter

• Be yourself and authentic 

• Research the firm and be prepared to talk about what interests you about both the work and social side of the firm 

• Start keeping up-to-date with business news; commercial awareness is key 

Diversity/ Inclusion