Our expertise

We’re global leaders in our field, working with the world’s biggest organisations on their most important cases and deals. How have we built a reputation for excellence across legal disciplines, business sectors and continents? Through an organisation-wide commitment to innovation, a trailblazing expertise in dispute resolution and corporate, and a pioneering approach to our prestigious clients. The work we do and the way we do it means we’re able to make a difference and tackle the important issues. 

Our work covers a variety of different sectors and our trainees are involved in every part of it.

View our insight hub for more

Podcasts

Our work covers a variety of different sectors and our trainees are involved in every part of it. Listen to our podcasts on ground-breaking cases and deals

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Awards

Global Law Firm of the Year in Europe 2021 – The Lawyer
Litigation and Dispute Team of the Year 2021 (British Legal Awards 2021)
Band 1 Global-wide Litigation Services - Chambers and Partners 2022
Winner of M&A Team of the Year (British Legal Awards 2021)

Digital

"Our clients want the very best legal expertise, but expect us to master the opportunities that technology offers – to be just as focussed on their digital needs and issues as they are on those of their customers, and to lead from the front, to provide legal advice for their new worlds"
Justin D'Agostino, CEO

Digital is reshaping the world. As our clients look to benefit from the opportunities brought about by technology and data, the work we do as lawyers and the way we work are changing too.

Work we do

Digital change helps our clients become faster, more efficient, and more resilient. It gives them new opportunities to collaborate and compete. But it also carries significant new risks which they need to understand and address if they are to be successful in this digital age.

Navigating these risks requires our lawyers to skilfully analyse complex issues which rarely have clear answers. Few laws and regulations were made for the digital world, and many are evolving to catch up. We pride ourselves on our ability to expertly guide clients towards digital success as one global team.

We have hundreds of lawyers, globally, advising the full spectrum of clients from established large companies to exciting new start-ups on corporate, commercial, regulatory, and disputes matters that relate to cutting-edge digital areas such as blockchain and digital assets, metaverse, and artificial intelligence.

Our own innovative use of legal technologies means clients also regularly look to us for advice on the use of digital in their in-house legal functions. Our lawyers and legal operations consultants regularly guide clients through their digital change programmes, sharing insights and experiences of our own digital efforts.

We are investing heavily on building your digital knowledge and skills, before and after you qualify, and providing you with the resources and environment you need to achieve your full potential.

See more latest thinking here

Way we work

Digital change gives us the opportunity to engage with our clients in new and novel ways. Technology and data are transforming the way our clients operate their legal functions and they are changing our ways of working, too.

We are continually developing comprehensive global and regional digital transformation initiatives to ensure our legal teams can keep pace with the rapid advancement of legal technology and respond to evolving client need.  As part of our strategy, Ambition 25, the firm has committed to a multi-year digital transformation programme and this is changing the way we work.  Our lawyers are increasingly involved in the digital transformation initiatives, working in multidisciplinary teams with our technical and operational experts to develop and champion innovative solutions and transform the way we work.  

Whether you sit in our Corporate, Finance, Technology, or Disputes teams, you will engage with and use the most cutting-edge legal technologies and become a lawyer fit for the digital age.

See more latest thinking here

A responsible business

As one of the world’s leading law firms, we engage with the most important challenges and opportunities facing our clients. As a signatory to the UN Global Compact, we work with our people, clients and wider society to address needs in our communities.

Leading together for impact

Being a responsible business is about more than the firm’s ambition and influence – it's about fulfilling your hunger for a more profound sense of purpose and growth. There are many ways you can make a positive impact as part of Herbert Smith Freehills:

Pro bono legal work: we assist people experiencing, or at risk of, marginalisation, under-representation or disadvantage. Pro bono work is a great way to hone your skills – and give back.

Diversity and inclusion: we foster a culture where everyone feels respected and valued – and ask you to help us build and nurture that.

Social impact: we support the communities where we live and work: increasing social mobility in law, partnering for Indigenous Reconciliation, and supporting charities, for example. You can grow by giving your time and talents to help others grow.

Sustainability: as part of our work to minimise our environmental impact and tackle climate change, we were the first law firm to adopt science-based targets in pursuit of halving our carbon emissions by 2030 – and we're the global law firm partner of The Earthshot Prize. There are many ways you can help us protect and repair our planet to make a better future.

Find out more

Pro Bono and Responsible Business Case

Rebecca, Fair Deal Sierra Leone

Fair Deal Sierra Leone is our flagship international development programme. Our Partner, Rebecca, explains how she partnered with two clients to produce an investor’s guide to the country and become a trusted advisor to the country’s government. Hear how she found the experience of pro bono secondment and why she’d recommend other trainees to get involved in this sort of opportunity. 

Any Questions?

You can view a selection of frequently asked questions about life at the firm and our range of opportunities via the button below.