Trail blazing

This is for the graduate who chases tomorrow.This is for the student who’s ahead of the curve.Who thrives on the active; the trending; the now.

The music streamers.The avid gamers.

The green supporters.The soon-to-be lawyers.

Tomorrow is changing and law firms should catch up.But what if there’s a firm that’s already on the move?

A firm that’s ground breaking.A firm that’s game changing.A firm that’s smart thinking.

A firm that’s trail blazing.Well, that would be pretty amazing, wouldn’t it?

Trail blazing.Taylor Wessing.

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TaylorTaylor Wessing is a leading international law firm. We work with clients in the world’s most dynamic industries and help them succeed by advising on their businesses throughout their life cycle.

Specialising in technology, media and communications, life sciences and private wealth, we act for 32 of the world’s top 50 brands; some of the world’s most exciting start-ups and unicorns; and the world’s wealthiest families.

A diverse client base allows us to advise on more than just the law. We’re a firm that encourages new ideas and different ways of doing things. Our experts play an essential role in advising clients on business growth and protection, while introducing them to new people, new markets and fresh perspectives that will help their businesses stand out and flourish.

That’s the commitment and spark we need in our students and graduates. We look for the kind of intelligence that will put us ahead of the curve, so that we can work with clients at the peak of innovation. You’ll be a ground breaker, a smart thinker and a trail blazer – and we’ll support you to become one of the future’s brightest lawyers.

As a graduate at Taylor Wessing, you’ll be able to choose from a wealth of seats across our practice areas:

• Construction• Banking and Finance• Real Estate• Corporate Technology• Private Capital and Corporate Finance• Employment• Pensions and Mobility• Private Client• Tax and Incentives• Private Equity• Financial Services and Competition• Disputes and Investigations• Commercial Technology and Data• Patents• IP and Media

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1500+ employees

C350 partners

33offices

Wessing

FarTaylor Wessing’s international Private Wealth group has been recognised as a market leader for many years. We are one of the few international law firms able to provide clients with a fully integrated legal service that addresses their business, investment and personal interests.

Taylor Wessing has an international Private Wealth team comprising 50 partners in 33 offices located across 19 jurisdictions, all of whom are experienced in handling the needs of high net worth individuals.

More than 80% of our client base has connections to more than one jurisdiction and as a result a substantial proportion of our advice is cross-border in nature.

Our clients include ultra high net worth individuals and families, family offices, global property investors, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and owners and principals of private equity houses, hedge funds and other financial services companies. We also advise fiduciaries who administer trusts and other asset holding structures for high net worth individuals and their families.

Within Private Wealth, you’ll work alongside a number of the most preeminent lawyers in the sector. You’ll also be part of a top-ranked team in the leading legal directories, Chambers and Legal 500.

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reaching

We have plenty of chances to socialise with fellow trainees at Taylor Wessing. We have an annual Business Development event, various trainee barbecues on the terrace and social events interspersed throughout the training contract. Individual departments also organise socials. Not to mention the option to join the many clubs on offer. During my first seat I got involved with the women’s football team, and I was able to go to Bratislava for the Taylor Wessing International Football Tournament.

I’m currently in the last few weeks of my seat in Patent Litigation. I previously sat in Financial Services Regulatory and Competition, and will be moving to Tax and Incentives. So far, my proudest achievement since joining the firm has also been my most challenging. We recently represented a client during the sale of a compounding laboratory where the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) decided to conduct a phase 1 investigation. Without the sale, the compounding laboratory would have had a high chance of shutting down, and hundreds of staff would have lost their jobs.

As we approached a major deadline, a senior lawyer went on maternity leave, leaving only myself and a partner working on the matter. Although daunting at first, it presented me with the opportunity to take on a considerable amount of responsibility. We successfully represented our client during the investigation and the CMA approved the sale. I felt incredibly well supported throughout the experience, and in rising to the challenge I gained so much confidence in my ability. I learned how important and truly valued I am in the Taylor Wessing team.

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Diya Mukherjee

Trainee Solicitor

The most valuable lesson I’ve learnt so far is to

appreciate the wider social and financial implications of the work that we do. I’m always reminded of the importance of my contribution.

When deciding where to train, I went to quite a few open days to experience different firms. I knew I wanted to go somewhere that excelled in Property Law, offered great training and was truly international and multi-service in its structure. At the time, I remember reading how heavily involved Taylor Wessing were in the Gherkin, and they’d also just won Law Firm of the Year.

I’m currently in Banking Finance and my seat before was in Real Estate. My next seat will be in Construction. Because my seniors know I’m interested in property, they’ve been able to facilitate my learning. It shows the great level of care they take in assigning the right seats to the right trainees. I’m really enjoying the variety in my work. I could be financing anything from industrial units in Exeter one week to London sports stadiums and facilities the next.

While in my Banking Finance seat I was able to run the sale of a small portfolio property by myself from start to finish, and in Real Estate I worked with a partner on a big acquisition of a portfolio of properties in Sheffield.There’s a massive sense of trust at Taylor Wessing, and though you’re never without support, you’re very much encouraged to have autonomy and learn by doing.

I think being able to prioritise and work well under pressure are qualities of a great lawyer. Everyone at Taylor Wessing works hard, but people are never too busy to help. From other trainees, to associates, to partners I’ve never felt like there’s been any room I couldn’t walk into and speak to whoever I needed to.

Somehow the talent team manage to pick

people that are all on the same wavelength. People who think outside the box and enjoy socialising, but work hard without exception.

Liam Callaghan

Trainee Solicitor

WorldIn the constantly moving Life Sciences sector, Taylor Wessing’s teams are top ranked across Europe. With one of the continent’s strongest patent litigation teams, our experts also do outstanding work in the corporate, commercial disputes, venture capital, licensing and regulatory fields.

Clients can range from international pharmaceutical and medical device companies to innovative biotech and healthcare companies and their investors.

This year the Life Sciences group advised Babylon Health, a subscription health service provider, on its USD$700 million Series C funding round. This investment is one of the largest in European Venture Capital investments and will make Babylon Health a “unicorn”.

The group represented key client Mylan the Supreme Court in the long-running pregabalin litigation. The case concerns the standards of disclosure required to justify patents covering second medical uses of known drugs and the appropriate test for infringement of such patents by competing generic products.

They also advised long standing client Oxford BioMedica plc on an exclusive worldwide licence of its gene therapy treatment for Parkinson’s Disease, for a value of US$842.5 million.

Working within Life Sciences, you’ll be given fantastic responsibility, meeting with clients and barristers, and regularly taking an active involvement in court trials and high profile transactional matters.

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leading

Smart

thinkingTaylor Wessing’s market leading Technology, Media and Communications team represents a mix of clients from innovative start-ups to global household names in a number of verticals such as eCommerce, fintech, gaming, music, entertainment and mobile networks.

We advise ‘new economy’ clients developing disruptive approaches and emerging technologies, and ‘old economy’ clients as they evolve and acclimatise to the rapidly changing environment.

Our lawyers operate at the heart of this truly global sector, with a presence in London (City and Shoreditch), Cambridge, Silicon Valley, Asia and Middle East, as well as key technology hubs in Europe. We’re home to a multi-disciplinary group of specialists who advise clients on their corporate and commercial needs including M&A, venture capital, IP, data protection, employment, immigration, real estate, litigation, competition and tax.

Our recent headline deals include advising Outfit7, the entertainment company behind the global phenomenon ‘Talking Tom and Friends’ on its ground-breaking sale for $1bn to a consortium of investors from Asia, represented by United Luck Group. Farfetch on its $397m Series G financing round by new investor e-commerce giant JD.com, and Sonalytic, an artificial intelligence company developing machine learning for audio recognition, on its sale to Spotify.

Our technology, media and communications sector

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I found that even in the online material, Taylor Wessing was able to differentiate itself from all other city law firms. The focus is not only on working for exciting clientele from the industries of tomorrow, but also on building a strong sustainable firm strategy, and creating a dynamic work environment.

My first seat was in Banking and Finance, and I’m currently sitting in the Disputes and Investigations team. Both teams are relatively big, allowing you to work with a range of people on a variety of matters. However they differ in the nature of the work, the client base, and the industries you come into contact with. It’s definitely been a very well-rounded training contract so far.

The best project I’ve been a part of was a large commercial transaction that involved multi-jurisdictional work. I was in contact with law firms in 6 different jurisdictions on a daily basis. Our team was spread across our practice areas, which gave me great exposure to various aspects of the firm. It was an exciting opportunity to develop relationships across a large network and reap the rewards of working in an international full-service law firm.

You’re given a high level of responsibility at Taylor Wessing, and the work is always interesting and of a high quality. You’re encouraged to engage with senior clients and members of the team. You have to be proactive. However, there is a sense of togetherness. The small intake means you get to know every other trainee and are able to build lasting relationships with people that will support you through your training contract and beyond.

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Arnav Gupta

Trainee Solicitor

The open door policy is exactly that. Everyone at

the firm, no matter how senior, is always willing to help and guide you. They make an effort to involve you and take an active part in your personal and professional development.

Before my internship here, I did a lot of online research, as well as speaking to representatives from Taylor Wessing at my university’s law fair. I also attended an open day at the office – which was really friendly and welcoming, and a really good insight into what Taylor Wessing was like as a firm. Looking back now, that definitely solidified my desire to apply.

I thought Taylor Wessing’s sector focus was unique, and as I originally studied medicine, the technology and life sciences focus particularly interested me.

Two of my seats as a trainee were Real Estate and Patents (non-contentious). They were two very different seats in almost all respects, from subject matter and client base to the general type of work and level of client contact.

Patents was a mix of advisory, transactional and contentious work, whereas Real Estate has been fully transactional. This has been very useful in teaching me different skills; in Patents I tended to have a few larger projects on the go, sometimes with cross-border elements, whereas Real Estate has required juggling a lot of smaller matters with a higher level of client contact.

I think Taylor Wessing’s culture is particularly unique. It’s non-hierarchical, and in my experience, partners have made a lot of effort to get to know the trainees and make sure they’re involved in interesting work. On top of this, it’s genuinely a full-service firm, which gives not only great training experience, but means it has a very diverse and interesting range of clients.

I attended an open day at the office –

everyone was really welcoming, and they gave me a good insight into what Taylor Wessing was like as a firm.

Lucy Sharples Newly Qualified Associate

Great

trainingAt Taylor Wessing, we take on a small group of the most talented applicants for our training contracts so that we can guarantee you our full support. Within an intake of around 20 graduates, you’ll find the support you need to flourish and you’ll benefit from the experience you need to become a brilliant lawyer.

With clients spanning from the energy sector to the music industry, we encourage applications from both Law and non-Law students, and our graduates have degrees in a variety of disciplines, from languages to sciences to arts. No matter your background, you’ll find that our trainees – like our lawyers – are united by their focus, their commitment and their spark.

Across the two-year training contract, you’ll move through four six-month seats in different practice groups. All trainees take on a seat in either Corporate or Finance, and at least one seat must involve contentious work, but on the remaining two seats, you’ll be able to express your own interests. We can also offer client secondment opportunities, which provide a real and meaningful insight into the industries of tomorrow. Once qualified, secondment opportunites can extend out to our network of international offices.

At Taylor Wessing we expect you to be always learning. As soon as you start you will receive an in-depth induction into the Firm to help you fit right in as well as legal technical training throughout your seat. The Firm also offers a number of development programmes and personalised online learning to help you develop your business and interpersonal skills so that you become confident and commercially savvy lawyers. On top of the training we offer you will work closely with your supervisor in each seat who can give you feedback and guidance as well as the option to take up a mentor or coach that can give you tailored support so that you can reach your professional goals.

Training contracts

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ForwardWith outstanding talent and ambitious spark, our summer vacation scheme intake are the next generation of committed commercial lawyers. At Taylor Wessing, we take on up to 40 vacation scheme students per year, so that we can give you the rich experience you need to embark on a future career in law.

From the first day of the scheme, you’ll benefit from comprehensive training, with an induction programme that introduces you to our partners, our staff and our business strategy. You’ll also be given a buddy amongst the current trainees, to provide you with an in-depth sense of life at Taylor Wessing.

Our award winning vacation scheme is designed for you to experience life as a trainee solicitor in a fast-paced and creative international law firm. You’ll spend two weeks in two different practice areas gaining first hand experience under the supervision of associates and partners. The fortnight is stacked with socials, networking opportunities, pro bono work, practice group presentations and lots more. You’ll also be expected to deliver your own group project.

With our feedback, you’ll end the scheme with invaluable experience and a clear sense of career direction. Completing a vacation scheme with us is the only way to be considered for a training contract. This could be just the beginning of an incredible career with us.

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planning

Door

openingTaylor Wessing stands strong at the forefront of tomorrow’s industries, and we stay there by supporting tomorrow’s talent. We partner new clients as they become giants of their sectors, and we welcome and support our trainees to become the lawyers of the future.

We do that by offering a phenomenal support package, to help you advance and make the most of your talent. As our trainee, you’ll benefit from: • Competitive salary• Medical insurance• Life assurance• 25 days of holiday (plus an extra day

during the Christmas period)• Subsidised staff restaurant• Season ticket loan for travel• Interest-free loan for set-up costs• Pension scheme• Employee Assistance Programme• In house GP Service • Cycle to work scheme • Premium access to Headspace

We nurture talent from the outset, so we’ll supportyou as you transition from university:

• We’ll pay tuition fees for the GDL and a Masters (LLM) to be studied at BPP London; our chosen law school provider. We’ll also supply you with a £7500 p.a. maintenance grant.

• During your year at law school, you’ll be invited to regular Taylor Wessing social events.

• Our graduate recruitment team will maintain regular contact with you from the first application onwards, so that you’re always well-supported and connected.

• When you begin your training contract, you’ll be matched with a buddy – a former trainee from your practice area – who’ll introduce you to colleagues and help you settle in.

• Social and sporting events will also make sure that you’re surrounded by new friends.

Our strength comes from attracting and nurturing talent that’s as diverse as the world we live in, so we ensure that our opportunities are accessible to everyone – no matter who you are or where you come from.

Support and benefits

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All

embracingAt Taylor Wessing, our values are at the heart of everything we do. They define who we are and guide our actions and behaviour, not just for our clients but for our communities.

We know what our clients want because we build a deep knowledge of their businesses, understanding key issues and strategic priorities. Our uncompromising commitment to helping clients achieve their aims is why we act for some of the worlds most successful companies. We’re known for our business instinct and our ability to deliver. That’s because we look at the bigger picture today to predict what will change tomorrow.

Adding value through fresh thinking and creative solutions make us leaders and it’s the reason we thrive in fast-evolving sectors. Through innovation, our firm and our clients stay ahead of the market. By taking time to get to know each other to communicate openly and work collaboratively, we build successful relationships that span international boundaries and legal disciplines.

We aim to make a difference with our time, our expertise, our donations and our fund-raising activities.

Our people are entitled to one paid Make a Difference Day per year to volunteer, fundraise or get involved in the community through a number of established charity partnerships. A volunteering day is also built into the 2 week induction period for all new trainees.

Through pro bono, our lawyers are able to develop vital new and unique skills. We take on work for good causes which are aligned to our Responsible Business programme, either via the Arts or promoting inclusion, to give our clients the opportunity to gain access to world class lawyers.

We know that valuing each other’s differences brings greater strength to our teams and the firm. We currently focus on: gender, LGBT+, social mobility, disability, mental health & wellness, working parents, and cultural diversity. This is to ensure that our opportunities are accessible to everyone.

We promote an inclusive culture which respects differences and treats everyone with dignity and fairness. Everyone can play a role in strengthening our culture by living those values on a day to day basis. By challenging ourselves to “Call Out” behaviour that is out of line with our culture and values, we aim to empower everyone to remember that every small change has a cumulative positive effect on our culture.

Visit taylorwessing.com/diversity to discover more about our diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Our Values and Responsible Business

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HighWhatever you’re applying for, your journey with us will begin with an online application. You can find that at taylorwessing.com/graduate

The scheme is a great opportunity to get a first sense of life at the firm – a flavour of the work, and people you’ll be working alongside.

After screening your online application, we may ask you to complete our games based psychometric test, Cosimic Cadet. This is online, and will look at your approach to dealing with tasks. But don’t worry, you don’t need any experience of tests or mobile games at all. Once completed, you’ll recieve a personalised feedback report detailing your strengths.

Following these initial screening stages, sucessfull candidates will be invited to attend an assessment centre. These will be taking place over February 2020.

The assessment centres are designed to be flexible and welcoming, testing your abilities in a friendly environment. With our half-day sessions, you’ll be able to attend either a morning or an afternoon centre, depending on your preference.

At the centre, you’ll take part in both a group exercise and a competency-based interview. The group exercise is a chance to showcase your teamwork, group debate and presentation skills. You’ll then attend your interview with one of our partners, as well as either a senior associate or a member of the Talent team. At interview, we’ll learn more about you and you’ll complete a short exercise that demonstrates your commercial awareness.

Taylor Wessing is a disability confident organisation. If you require support for any reason, including if this relates to a disability or health condition, please let us know. All information is treated as confidential.

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1 October 2019

Applications open

February 2020

Vacation schemeassessment centres

13 January 2020

Vacation schemeapplication deadline

November 2019

Trail blazingopen days

flying

Trail

blazingIf you see yourself as one of the future’s brightest lawyers, today could mark the start of a trail blazing career with Taylor Wessing.

You can apply to our summer vacation scheme from any year at university, whether you are in your first or final year. We also welcome applications from those who have graduated, and career changers. The deadline to submit your application is 13 January 2020.

If you’re interested in finding out more in person, please see our website for upcoming events. We run a series of open days towards the end of the year, as well as a first year insight day, registration for these events will open on 1 October 2019.

For more information and to apply online, visit our website at:

taylorwessing.com/graduate