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Debevoise & Plimpton
An elite US law firm recognised for its international arbitration, private equity, investment funds, insurance and complex cross-border transactions.
About Debevoise & Plimpton
Debevoise & Plimpton is an international US law firm founded in New York in 1931. With more than 900 lawyers across nine offices worldwide, the firm advises multinational corporations, private equity sponsors, investment managers, financial institutions and governments on complex transactions, disputes and regulatory matters. Its London office opened in 1989 and has developed into the firm's second-largest office, playing an important role in its international practice.
Debevoise is particularly recognised for its expertise in private equity, investment funds, insurance, international arbitration and white-collar investigations. Its London lawyers regularly collaborate with colleagues in New York, Paris and other international offices on matters involving multiple jurisdictions. The firm is especially prominent in investor-state arbitration and public international law, where it represents governments and investors in disputes involving international treaties and major investments.
Unlike US firms whose London practices focus primarily on leveraged finance or corporate transactions, Debevoise combines sophisticated transactional capabilities with internationally recognised disputes and investment management practices. This breadth provides trainees with opportunities to experience both contentious and non-contentious legal work.
Debevoise recruits approximately 11 London trainees annually into a two-year training contract comprising four six-month seats. The programme provides opportunities to gain experience across the firm's principal practice areas, including corporate M&A, private equity, investment funds, finance, insurance, international arbitration, commercial litigation and tax. Unlike firms with highly prescriptive training structures, Debevoise emphasises flexibility and allows trainees to express preferences for their seat allocations wherever possible.
Trainees work directly with partners, counsel and associates, undertaking substantive legal research, drafting, transaction management and dispute-related tasks. The relatively small intake allows trainees to develop close working relationships with senior lawyers and gain early responsibility. Each trainee receives supervision and support throughout their rotations, with opportunities to participate in cross-border matters involving colleagues in the firm's international offices. International secondments may also be available, although they are not guaranteed.
Debevoise covers the full cost of the PGDL and SQE preparation courses at the University of Law, alongside an annual £20,000 maintenance grant during the relevant studies. This is a substantial financial commitment to future trainees, particularly those undertaking law conversion and professional qualification courses.
The firm also offers private medical and dental insurance, access to a private GP, life and income protection insurance, pension contributions, 25 days of annual leave and an interest-free season ticket loan. Trainees can participate in pro bono matters and professional development activities throughout their training.
A distinctive feature of the programme is LAUNCH, a one-week professional development programme in New York attended by second-year trainees. The programme focuses on legal skills, financial literacy, mentoring and collaboration across practice groups, providing an opportunity to develop relationships with lawyers from the firm's international network.
Practice areas & rankings
In the 2026 edition of Chambers UK, Debevoise & Plimpton achieved 13 departmental rankings and 25 individual lawyer recognitions. The firm received Band 1 rankings for International Arbitration: Investor-State Arbitration and Public International Law, reflecting its established position in disputes involving governments, international treaties and foreign investments.
Its other leading rankings include Band 2 for International Arbitration: Commercial Arbitration, Investment Funds: Private Equity, Investment Funds: Private Equity: Credit Funds, Investment Funds: Private Equity: Secondaries, Banking & Finance: Fund Finance and Insurance: Non-contentious. The firm's London commercial litigation and corporate crime practices also achieved Band 2 recognition, while its leveraged finance, tax and international construction arbitration practices received additional rankings.
These results highlight Debevoise's distinctive combination of international disputes, investment funds and financial services expertise.
Debevoise has also received recognition from leading international legal publications. The firm was included in the Global Arbitration Review GAR 30 for 2025, which identifies prominent international arbitration practices. It was also shortlisted at the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers North America Awards for its AI risk assessment platform, STAAR. These are recognitions rather than confirmed award wins and should be distinguished from prizes actually awarded to the firm.
Ranked departmentsChambers UK
Explore the practice areas
International arbitration is one of Debevoise's defining strengths, with the firm ranked Band 1 for Investor-State Arbitration and Band 2 for Commercial Arbitration in Chambers UK 2026. The team represents multinational corporations, financial institutions, investors and governments in disputes involving international investments, commercial contracts and treaty obligations.
Its lawyers have particular expertise in disputes arising from energy, infrastructure, telecommunications and natural resources investments. The practice regularly handles proceedings under major international arbitration rules and represents clients in disputes involving multiple legal systems.
Debevoise's international arbitration capabilities are supported by its public international law practice, which is also ranked Band 1 nationally. This combination allows lawyers to advise on disputes involving both commercial obligations and international legal principles, including the interpretation of investment treaties and questions of state responsibility.
Debevoise's investment funds practice is ranked Band 2 for Investment Funds: Private Equity, Private Equity: Credit Funds and Private Equity: Secondaries in Chambers UK 2026. The team advises private equity sponsors, alternative investment managers and institutional investors on fund formation, investment structures, fundraising and regulatory matters.
Its lawyers regularly assist with the establishment of private equity and private credit funds, alongside transactions involving secondary investments and the restructuring of existing fund interests. The practice also advises investment managers on governance arrangements and the legal implications of operating across different jurisdictions.
The firm's international platform is particularly relevant to fund managers raising capital from investors in Europe, North America and Asia. Its funds lawyers work closely with the firm's tax, finance and corporate teams to provide integrated advice throughout the investment lifecycle.
Debevoise's insurance practice is ranked Band 2 for Insurance: Non-contentious in Chambers UK 2026. The team advises insurers, reinsurers, private equity investors and financial institutions on corporate transactions, capital raising, regulatory matters and strategic investments involving insurance businesses.
Its work includes acquisitions and disposals of insurance companies, complex reinsurance arrangements and transactions involving insurance-related financial products. The practice benefits from the firm's established US insurance capabilities, allowing lawyers to advise on transactions involving both UK and international regulatory requirements.
Insurance is also an important area for private capital investment, with financial sponsors increasingly acquiring and investing in insurance businesses. Debevoise's combination of insurance, corporate M&A and investment funds expertise allows its lawyers to advise clients on both the commercial structure and regulatory implications of these investments.
Debevoise's London disputes practice is ranked Band 2 for Commercial and Corporate Litigation and Band 2 for Corporate Crime & Investigations in Chambers UK 2026. The team represents corporations, financial institutions, investment managers and individuals in complex commercial disputes and regulatory investigations.
Its litigation work includes contractual disagreements, shareholder disputes, financial services litigation and disputes arising from major corporate transactions. The investigations practice advises on allegations of bribery, corruption, fraud and other forms of corporate misconduct, often involving multiple jurisdictions and regulatory authorities.
The firm's international network enables its lawyers to coordinate investigations and litigation involving clients with operations across Europe, the United States and emerging markets. Its contentious practices frequently collaborate with corporate, finance and regulatory specialists where disputes arise from commercial transactions or financial activities.
Debevoise is ranked Band 2 for Banking & Finance: Fund Finance and Band 4 for Leveraged Finance: Borrowers/Sponsors: Big Ticket in Chambers UK 2026. Its finance team advises private equity sponsors, investment managers, banks and other lenders on financing arrangements supporting acquisitions, investments and fund operations.
The firm's fund finance practice handles subscription facilities and other financing structures used by investment funds to manage liquidity and support investment activity. Its leveraged finance lawyers advise on acquisition financing and refinancing transactions involving major corporate borrowers and private equity-backed businesses.
Debevoise's tax practice, ranked Band 4 in London, complements its transactional work by advising on the tax implications of fund formation, cross-border investments and corporate acquisitions. Chambers highlights the team's expertise in UK–US tax matters, including its work advising Park Square Capital on a direct lending fund with €3.4 billion of investable capital.
The application process
Click on each stage to find out more.
Debevoise recruits all London trainees through its vacation schemes, making participation in the firm's recruitment open days the first step towards securing a training contract. Applications for the 2027 vacation schemes opened on 17 September 2026 and close at 23:59 on 4 January 2027. The firm expects to recruit approximately 11 trainees for its September 2029 intake. Debevoise welcomes applications from penultimate-year and final-year law students, final-year non-law students, graduates and postgraduates. Candidates are expected to achieve at least a 2:1 degree and have a minimum of 144 UCAS points at A-level or equivalent. The firm also offers a separate Transactional Insight Day on 19 January 2027, with applications closing on 14 December 2026. This is intended for first-year law students and first- or second-year non-law students interested in transactional practice areas, including M&A, insurance, capital markets, finance, investment management and tax. Candidates begin by completing an online application through Debevoise's graduate recruitment portal, operated by AllHires. The firm does not accept applications submitted by CV and covering letter alone. Applicants should demonstrate a clear understanding of Debevoise's principal practice areas, particularly its strengths in international arbitration, private equity, investment funds and insurance. A strong application should explain why the candidate is interested in the firm's relatively small London trainee intake and its approach to professional development. Applicants may also benefit from researching the relationship between the firm's transactional and contentious practices, particularly how its international arbitration and private capital teams advise clients on cross-border matters. The firm has not publicly confirmed the exact written questions or word limits for the 2026/27 application cycle. Candidates should therefore review the application form carefully before preparing their responses. Applications are assessed for suitability for the firm's open days, which form the next stage of recruitment.
How to answer why youDebevoise & Plimpton: quick answers
How much does Debevoise & Plimpton pay trainees?
Debevoise & Plimpton pays first-year trainees £60,00, rising to £65,000 in the second year. Newly qualified solicitors at Debevoise & Plimpton earn £173,000.
When is the Debevoise & Plimpton vacation scheme deadline?
Debevoise & Plimpton's vacation scheme applications close on 4 Jan for the 2026/27 cycle. Deadlines can change and popular schemes may close early, so check the live application deadlines tracker.
How many trainees does Debevoise & Plimpton take on?
Debevoise & Plimpton takes on around 11 trainees in each intake, so places are competitive and strong applications matter.
What grades do you need to apply to Debevoise & Plimpton?
To apply to Debevoise & Plimpton you will generally need a 2:1+ degree. At A-level, Debevoise & Plimpton asks for AAA. Requirements can flex where there are mitigating circumstances, so always check the firm's own criteria if your grades differ.
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