london
Graduate Recruitment in London
Our next generation of lawyers is the future of O’Melveny & Myers LLP. We’ve invested in that future by developing a training programme that is designed to turn the very best graduates into leading practising lawyers.
Our bespoke training programme is comprised of a wide variety of workshops, seminars, and case studies that aim to advance your legal knowledge, practice skills, and confidence using real life scenarios. In addition, all of our lawyers are given training to develop their presentation and networking skills. As a trainee you are given the opportunity to contribute to internal and external legal briefings and to attend external courses and presentations that are of particular interest to you. Regular feedback and mentoring is provided throughout the course of your training as well.
At O’Melveny, training doesn’t stop at the end of your training contract. Many of our lawyers are leaders in their fields and we invest heavily in training to keep them there.
Why Choose O'Melveny?
O’Melveny is one of the world’s premier international law firms, with approximately 1,000 lawyers and 14 offices worldwide. Our Firm values—excellence, leadership, and citizenship—guide everything we do. We offer you a rewarding career, top-tier work, and a supportive dynamic team of talented people with whom you’ll really enjoy working.
Our London office continues to expand its presence through the legal talent, dedication, and entrepreneurship of its lawyers and staff and to consolidate its market leading position to further enhance its capabilities as a true European player within a global firm. Our team of 40+ lawyers in our London office provides a full range of legal services to corporates, financial institutions, investment banks, and private equity houses on deals and arbitration/disputes that are shaping or affecting the future of their businesses. We work both in the UK and with our colleagues abroad to provide clients with seamless global service from our market-leading private equity, funds formation, corporate finance, M&A, and banking practices as well as from our experienced practitioners in international arbitration, tax, competition, regulation, and real estate.
We were named “Best US Law Firm in London” at the 2005
Legal Business Awards, and were short listed for two
Private Equity News Awards in 2006: “Best Funds Formation Team of the Year,” “Best Private Equity Deal and M&A Team of the Year in Europe.” However, our most valued accolades are those we receive directly from our clients and our peer group of other leading advisory firms who witness our performance on assignments.
Our clients are a diverse group of successful businesses and entrepreneurs, national and multinational corporations, investors, and bankers. In the UK we recently advised:
- GIC Special Investments - Budapest Airport
O’Melveny advised GIC Special Investments Pte Ltd (“GIC SI”) on its participation in the consortium that acquired Budapest Airport from UK airport operator BAA for around €1.93 billion and on its participation in a consortium that has agreed to buy Kelda Group Plc.
- Climate Change Capital - Fund Formation
O’Melveny advised one of Europe’s leading investment banking groups specialising in the climate change sector, Climate Change Capital, on the launch of its first clean technology private equity fund
- TUI AG - Sale of Budget Travel Ltd
O'Melveny advised leading international leisure travel group and new client TUI AG on the sale of its Irish travel agency and tour operator, Budget Travel Limited.
- Vivendi
O’Melveny represented Vivendi and its Polish telecommunications subsidiary Elektrimtelecomunicaja (Telco) in two connected arbitrations with T-Mobile and Elektrim over a 51% block of shares in Central Europe’s largest mobile phone operator PTC (worth over €2.8 billion). These were two of the largest arbitrations in Europe.
We are also proud of our long-standing commitment to diversity and to promoting equal and non-discriminatory opportunities for all our lawyers and staff. We are devoted to developing and maintaining a professional environment which attracts, retains, and promotes lawyers and staff of all backgrounds, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, or any other group characteristics.
What You Can Expect
Our trainees experience a minimum of three six-month seats, with the remaining six months possibly being split between two areas. Experience is focussed primarily on our core international transactions and litigation practices.
Our core practice areas are supported by leading practitioners in a number of areas of legal practice, including taxation (which often involves cross-border structuring), real estate, regulatory services, intellectual property, and information technology. All our lawyers are UK qualified, but a number of resident lawyers are also qualified in jurisdictions outside the UK and/or are multilingual. In conjunction with the Firm’s Brussels office, the London team also provides a full competition and merger clearance service.
Our London based lawyers work with colleagues and clients in Asia, Europe, and the US to deliver seamless global service and are occasionally required to travel to other locations. We also maintain close relationships with a number of the best independent law firms across Europe so we can provide coverage on pan-European assignments.
Trainee Point of View
“The training experience at O'Melveny is high quality, open, and focused on helping you reach your potential. As a trainee, you are given a lot of responsibility early on, which allows you to experience what it is truly like to be a solicitor in an international city firm. Trainees are encouraged to be a key part of the team and the working atmosphere is friendly and supportive - everyone is approachable if you have questions. I started at O'Melveny last September and have been involved in diverse and challenging work with a high level of responsibility since day one”.
Deborah Kershaw, second year trainee
Vacation Scheme
As a Vacation Scheme Student, you will work for two weeks within practice groups alongside associates. This experience will provide you with hands-on understanding of the work lawyers do and insight into how our business operates. Throughout your placement you will tackle assignments set and assessed by associates and attend formal training sessions and workshops. You will receive ongoing support and feedback from your colleagues and will have many opportunities to talk to associates, counsel, and partners on a more informal basis at organised social events or over a game of table football.
Student Point of View
"My summer associate program at O'Melveny was unlike any other. Within my two week placement I was able to really experience what it would be like to work in the funds practice group. I drafted an engagement letter, added terms to a contract, and reviewed a variety of documents. The work that I did was not just for assessment, but was actually used in real deals, which was really exciting! This great work experience was complimented by a friendly and fun set of associates and staff, who made me feel very welcome at the Firm. I now have a much better understanding of what practicing law will entail, and I am excited to embark on my legal career."
Ellaine Gelman, Oxford University, 2008
Pro Bono
Since the London office’s founding in 2004, we have been active participants in O’Melveny’s firm-wide pro bono initiative, and have fostered an office culture that wholeheartedly supports pro bono and community work. Pro bono programmes are accessible to our lawyers and staff at all levels, and individuals are encouraged to join existing schemes or to play an active role in developing new initiatives.
Our initiative in London includes both legal pro bono as well as community service work. Present programmes include a Law Works Community Business Clinic which provides free legal advice to small businesses, community groups and social enterprises. We also participate in a reading scheme in conjunction with the Tower Hamlets Education Business Partnership, providing support to young children at a local primary school. We are seeking to extend our commitment to other programmes run or supported by the Tower Hamlets Education Business Partnership, such as mentoring secondary school students or becoming school governors so that we can contribute to our local community and in so doing help to increase the aspirations particularly of the younger members of that community. Additionally, we act for a growing number of charitable and not-for-profit organisations.
Financial Assistance
Once an applicant has been offered and has accepted a training contract from the Firm, the Firm will pay all future GDL/LPC tuition fees. Fees incurred prior to the training agreement are not covered by the Firm.
In addition, the Firm offers a maintenance grant during the GDL/LPC course, which is currently £7,000 gross per annum.
Who We Are Looking For
The London office seeks to recruit four to six high calibre graduates for training contracts each year. Successful candidates must: be ambitious, have proven academic ability, demonstrate a high level of drive and determination, work well in a team setting, and possess sound commercial awareness. The office has a strong entrepreneurial and collegial style and to date, virtually all of our trainees have remained with the Firm on qualification.
The Application Process
To apply for any of the above programmes, visit
www.cvmailuk.com.
Contact Us
For general enquiries, please e-mail us: .