Haynes Boone

The London office has been welcoming graduates into its training programme since 2020. The office has built on the strong shipping and oil and gas practices gained from its 2016 merger and further excels in fund finance and international arbitration. Trainees follow a traditional four-seat training contract, rotating every six months through seats in finance or corporate, investment management, contentious law, and energy or shipping. Insiders have praised the “exciting high-profile work,” with one trainee telling Legal Cheek, “The projects I am currently working on are high value, complex, and have wide-reaching international aspects.” The investment management seat has received high praise from an enthusiastic junior who shared, “I get a front-row seat to amazing, new, innovative companies, and no two mandates are the same!” It’s not hard to see why. The investment management seat has received high praise from an enthusiastic junior who shared, “I get a front-row seat to amazing, new, innovative companies, and no two mandates are the same!” It’s not hard to see why.

The London office has been busy on some seriously impressive deals of late. Recent highlights include advising on the Fermi America IPO, the largest US IPO in London by market cap since 2015, acting for early-stage venture capital firm Backed VC on the closing of a $100 million fund, and representing Octopus Ventures on its investment in tech platform Kraken with an eyewatering $8 billion valuation.

Haynes Boone takes a typically American approach to training, with much of the learning happening “on the job”. The upside to this is we’re told it gives rookies who can prove themselves “plenty of responsibility”. Trainees are encouraged to take an active role in their learning, as one insider explains: “Partners operate an open-door policy, and we are actively encouraged to call and ask questions.” Another trainee adds, “All the partners are very approachable and friendly. I find it very easy to discuss work with them and ask questions.” The firm also regularly holds ‘points of law’ and ‘lunch and learn’ training sessions, the latter with the bonus of a “free lunch included”.

A free lunch goes down particularly well among Haynes Boone juniors, who admit that the firm’s on-site catering leaves something to be desired. Although there’s no canteen, our sources tell us the office does run a “small café” but, as one peckish insider noted, it “could be bigger”. However, another was willing to look on the bright side: “Although you can’t buy food in the office, it doesn’t really matter because we’re in one of the best areas in London for lunch options.”

Competition for a training spot at Haynes Boone is strong, with the firm taking on only three London trainees each year. Those who secure a place can look forward to a starting salary of £50,000 in their first year, which increases to £55,000 in their second year. While the firm does not currently disclose its NQ salary, it offers a range of perks, including a £500 contribution toward trainees’ gym memberships.

HB also funds an active social life for its juniors. “There are firm-wide summer and Christmas parties, which are great fun. The trainees and associates also have their own separate Christmas party, fully paid for,” one insider tells Legal Cheek. Events like these help build strong connections within this close-knit office. As one junior notes, “Given the size of the firm, you tend to see and speak to everyone at socials, regardless of seniority.”

Informal social events are a regular part of life at Haynes Boone and can sometimes get quite lively. One insider shared, “We had a staff vs. partners 5-a-side football tournament that turned into a pub crawl and went on until the early hours.” By all accounts, the lawyers at Haynes Boone are a fun-loving group. As one rookie reported, “You will always find at least a few people willing to go to the pub after work if you wanted a drink!”

The firm is keen to invest in its “incredibly nice and supportive culture,” hosting “welcome breakfasts for every new joiner and socials when colleagues from the US are visiting.” Transatlantic relationships are further nurtured as Haynes Boone flies its NQs to the Dallas headquarters for a week. “This was a great opportunity to see our colleagues across the pond!” one insider explains.

It’s not all social events and jet-setting at Haynes Boone; trainees also put in their fair share of hard work. Overall, they handle it well, with one source noting, “There are times when it is busy, but on the whole, the work/life balance is excellent, especially for a US firm!” Another trainee agreed, saying, “We have some very late nights, but these are much more the exception than the rule.” One fortunate junior shared, “I’ve never had to cancel any evening plans and never worked on a weekend.” The general consensus is that the work/life balance at the firm is “pretty good”. There are some grumbles from rookies about the firm’s legal tech. “We still use a fairly old instant messenger/phone app. I wish they’d move to Teams!” one exasperated insider told us. Another admitted, “The work equipment and software can sometimes be temperamental.” Haynes Boone, though a late starter on AI compared to some City firms, has launched a firmwide initiative treating effective use of generative AI as a core lawyering skill. The programme embeds hands-on AI training into standard lawyer development, from trainees through to partners.

Sticking with tech, the firm provides a £1,000 budget to support those working from home, which juniors describe as “generous”. While the firm is “fairly relaxed” about remote work, it requires trainees to spend at least three days a week in the office. The open-plan layout fosters relationships among peers: “I am always just a few steps away from the other trainees,” one insider tells us, while another explains how it “helps when approaching seniors”.