Squire Patton Boggs

The odd “unengaged supervisor” aside, by and large newbies are more likely to provide feedback along the lines of this: “Great variety of training. I have been integrated into each team I have sat with and given tasks that are reflective of a task an associate would do. I have had a good amount of client-facing work and partners try to involve you as much as possible.” It’s more common to work directly with partners in smaller departments such as competition, and IP & tech, but in larger departments like corporate, there’s the advantage of having more junior associates to fire questions at throughout the day. It helps that all of the firm’s supervisors are required to go through formal training on how to develop rookies, and that SPB is said to involve its new recruits in conversations about firm strategy as part of its ‘one firm’ culture.

As you might’ve guessed, partner approachability is a particularly strong point. One trainee describes them as “proper down to earth” and “always happy to help,” with the firm’s well-followed open-door policy making it “incredibly easy” to approach partners and associates alike. “Most partners are relaxed and down to earth. It doesn’t feel hierarchical at all here, and in some teams, you will regularly go for drinks with senior associates and partners,” reveals one rookie. Another left an even more glowing review: “Extremely approachable, whether that be those who rank just slightly higher than one, or even the global leads. No favour to ask is too much, and all trainees are encouraged to maximise the lines of communication with the team at all levels to ensure support is fully maintained.”

On the financials, SPB’s global revenue sits at around £1 billion, with profit per equity partner, according to the latest publicly available figures, coming in at a cool £1.7 million. It’s a performance that puts the firm in the same ballpark as the UK’s Silver Circle when it comes to that sweet spot between scale and profitability.

That success has deep roots. Born in 2014 from the merger of Ohio-based Squire Sanders and Washington lobbying heavyweight Patton Boggs, this all-American firm has long been a transatlantic player. In the UK, its reputation is built firmly on the legal side of things, thanks to Squire Sanders’ 2011 takeover of Hammonds, a name that once carried serious clout in British legal circles. The Hammonds link gave SPB a solid foothold across Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham and London, and it hasn’t slowed down since. The firm continues to grow its offering in all four cities, with around 30 training contracts up for grabs each year.

Alongside an extensive network of US and European offices, Squire Patton Boggs also has a substantial and growing presence in the Middle East, Asia and Australia. Back at base, SPB has continued to poach lawyers from rivals, with recent UK arrivals from Eversheds Sutherland and Gowling WLG forming part of a wider run of senior hires across most of its practices. Twenty were also made partner in SPB’s latest promotion round, including five in London, one in Leeds and one in Birmingham.

In part, the firm’s success stems from the level of responsibility trainees are entrusted with, with one reporting that “seniors get you involved in drafting the ancillaries and you get a lot of responsibility in terms of project managing on deals and transactions.” Across the board, recruits gave feedback along the lines of this: “There is a large variety of clients with some very niche but interesting work alongside the regular work. Some very big clients that are household names which is always nice to do work on.” Burberry, BMW and RBS are just some of these household names you might find yourself working with at SPB, while recent corporate work has included advising Oxford PharmaGenesis on its acquisition by Klick Health, and industrial technology group Smiths Group on the proposed £2 billion sale of its Smiths Detection division to CVC Capital Partners. The Leeds corporate team has also completed more than 50 deals worth just under £4 billion, highlighting the scale of transactional work available outside London.

That breadth is reflected in the firm’s Chambers Europe 2026 ranking, which recommends SPB for commercial and corporate litigation, mid-market corporate/M&A, and leveraged finance work for both borrowers and lenders. Its data privacy, cybersecurity & digital assets practice is another standout, comprising more than 80 lawyers across 14 countries. The firm also has a sizeable pensions practice, advising more than 300 pension plans with over £400 billion in assets, and has recently strengthened the team in Leeds and Manchester. Sporty students may also be keen to hear about SPB’s rated sports & entertainment team, who have advised on the purchases and sales of football clubs such as Manchester City and Aston Villa. As one told LC: “I find it particularly fulfilling acting for household names (which is a regular occurrence), FTSE100 or national/international companies, and this complements some work which is for local clients, which, again, is fulfilling as one sees a direct impact in their local vicinity.”

For at least one trainee, some of the most stimulating work has come in the form of non-billable “business development or pro bono” work: “Off the back of a blog I wrote on the four day working week for the employment team, I helped set up a webinar which had over 100 attendees. I also carried out pro bono work for a charity which I previously volunteered at. Generally the firm encourages trainees to get started on BD, and it’s a useful way of learning more about the strategies of the various practice areas and the higher relevance of the work you’ve been doing.” There’s still a decent amount of “admin” to get through, but one current trainee takes a balanced view: “You’re never going to get the most exciting work all of the time (grunt work is part of the job description sometimes!), but supervisors are always extremely keen to get you as stuck into work as possible, and to give you as much responsibility as they can.”

SPB trainees still feel that the tech here is lagging behind a bit, with recent feedback describing it as “quite average” and suggesting “we are falling behind.” However, another adds that this slow uptake of new ideas is partially due to the firm taking time to ensure that only “the most applicable legal tech is implemented.” That cautious approach has not ruled AI out entirely, though, with current trainees confirming that they now have access to Copilot, subject to restrictions on inputting confidential information. The basic equipment is still said to get the job done, with rookies being provided with new iPhones and Lenovo ThinkPads, while tech support also apparently provides around-the-clock service.

The trainees themselves are said to be “extremely supportive,” “super friendly,” and always on hand to help out. As one source revealed: “Throughout each seat you remain in contact with the trainee who previously was in that seat, and they will provide a lot of support about the work the team does, how to perform certain tasks and who to ask in a team for specific inquiries. I have found my contact with trainees who have done the same seats as me incredibly helpful as a way to filter what questions I should be asking of my supervisor and what I can work out for myself (or with other trainees’ help). There is not a competitive environment in the firm at all, and we are always very open with each other about which seats we want to go to next and where we may be interested in qualifying. The openness is very helpful, as it enables you to speak to current trainees in a seat about what it is like, to help inform your opinion about where you want to go.” What’s more, insiders tell us that they’re often shipped off to spend some time in other offices, which allows trainees to build a community firmwide. “I have formed connections for life” was the short-but-sweet summary from one recruit.

The friendly vibe spills over into an active social scene outside the office. Apparently “there’s drinks events pretty much every single week, on top of extracurricular activities like the footy team or the charity committee pro-bono events.” One recent intake even enjoyed a European city break to celebrate qualification together! Each office also has an employee-led social committee, organizing everything from quizzes and sports events to office parties and murder mystery nights, while trainees have their own dedicated social budget. Rookies also appreciate SPB’s ‘Grow Your Network’ initiative, which holds events for junior lawyers to network across industries. For those keen to display their budding leadership skills, there’s a ‘head trainee’ position available at each UK office to act as liaison with HR, which trainees are interviewed for.

Another major plus of the six-seat rotation is that one of the seats will likely be an international or client secondment. On the client side, recruits report spending time at an eclectic array of companies, including football administrator City Football Group, events promoter Live Nation and Pets at Home, with recent secondments also spanning the telecoms, music, logistics and property development sectors. SPB is also said to be “supportive of you doing international secondments,” with Milan, Paris, Dublin, Madrid and Brussels some frequented hotspots over recent years, and one current trainee recently completed a three-month stint in Brussels in one recent round.

SPB offers its London NQs £110k starting salaries, whilst NQs in the regions take home £70,000. There is a broad understanding that work/life balance is reasonable for corporate law; most people reported being out the door (or away from the kitchen table) by 7 or even 6pm. Within this average, though, hours can vary quite widely. One insider describes it like this: “I think the balance is great, let’s face the facts, we are training in one of the biggest law firms in the world, so it is rarely going to be a seven-hour day. However, the very late nights are remarkably few and far between, as it is extremely common for work to be divided well between team members (for instance, if someone is more quiet than others, they can be allocated some of the busier individual’s workload to balance the burden!). Generally, I’m able to socialise in the evenings with colleagues (which is encouraged), with clients (which is encouraged), with family (which is encouraged) and with friends (which is encouraged!), as well as maintain my interests in non-work related activities.”

The firm doesn’t score particularly highly for perks, which are said to be “bog(gs) standard,” but there is private medical cover, the option to buy additional holiday, a subsidized gym membership and a relatively generous pension contribution. Free snacks and an assortment of hot drinks from the office’s “fancy coffee machines,” plus free food after 7pm, also sweeten the deal. Nothing to turn your nose up at, but it “could be improved in comparison to other US firms of our size,” according to one.

SPB has been generous with its working from home set-up, with trainees generally reporting that monitors, headsets, keyboards and mics are provided. As one rookie explains: “The firm kit you out with whatever you need. You can request equipment and it will be delivered directly to your house. And if you don’t need them anymore, they’ll pick them up again too.” The WFH policy still allows some flexibility, although trainees are now heavily encouraged to spend four days a week in the office for their learning development, with home working typically falling on a Monday or Friday.

As far as the office spaces go, most rookies are highly impressed with their digs. SPB’s new “swish and secure” London home at 60 London Wall has been very warmly received, with many comparing it to a 5-star hotel: “New offices are excellent. The view of the City from the 8th floor is pretty impressive. The shower facilities are what you might expect in a decent hotel. Huge bike storage area, complete with tools and repair station,” one trainee raves. The Leeds office is also said to be “very nice,” with an SPB members-only mini-golf area on its roof, a terrace space, and even a “fruit & veg garden where anyone from the firm can tend to, a putting green on the roof and a local bee-keeping plot.” Those in Manchester seem happy with their “very fancy” lodgings in the “prime area of the city’s financial district,” while Birmingham has caught up with the pack, moving into a new 22,231 sq ft Grade A office at 19 Cornwall Street in May 2026. “The new Birmingham office is a massive improvement on the old one, very modern and well decorated inside, and everyone has an adjustable standing desk,” reports one current rookie.

The canteen offering varies by office. Where subsidised catering is available, trainees rate it highly: “Food is amazing and subsidised so very affordable,” says one, while another describes it as being “of a very high quality.” Others report having no canteen at all, including those in Birmingham following the office move, although one rookie reckons “the free snacks and fancy coffee machines basically make up for it.”