Firm Profiles
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
A global law firm known for disputes, energy, and corporate work
A global law firm known for disputes, energy, and corporate work
Year 1 Trainee
£56,000
Year 2 Trainee
£61,000
Newly Qualified
£145,000
About the firm
About the firm
TC Number
65
Seats
4
Secondments
Yes
Offices
26
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer was formed in June 2025 through the combination of Herbert Smith Freehills and Kramer Levin, creating a world-leading global law firm with over 6,000 people including approximately 2,700 lawyers spanning 26 offices. As of 2024, HSF Kramer retains the most UK-listed clients of all law firms, representing 116 companies listed on the London Stock Exchange.
In its final set of pre-merger results, Herbert Smith Freehills reported a 4% rise in revenue to £1.36 billion, a 9.5% increase in profit to £486.9 million, and an 8.6% boost in profit per equity partner to £1.43 million. The merger with Kramer Levin adds significant US firepower — particularly through Kramer's New York, Washington DC, and Silicon Valley offices — giving HSF Kramer genuine transatlantic reach in bankruptcy and restructuring, capital markets, white collar litigation, and intellectual property.
The Trainee Associate Programme is built around four seat rotations across practice areas including Dispute Resolution, Corporate, Finance, Competition, Regulation and Trade, Intellectual Property, Employment, Pensions and Incentives, and Tax. HSF Kramer offers 55 secondments each year, including international secondments to offices in Europe, Asia, and Australia, client secondments giving first-hand insight into client priorities, and internal secondments to the ESG, pro bono, or in-house legal teams.
Trainees are supported by a dedicated supervisor in each seat and are matched with a partner mentor from day one. The firm funds SQE preparation in full via BPP's City Consortium Solicitor Training Programme (CCP), and provides a £20,000 maintenance grant during the study period. Full PGDL fees are also funded, with a £12,500 grant for London-based PGDL study.
Practice areas and rankings
Practice areas and rankings
Rankings in Chambers
64
Category
Silver Circle
HSF Kramer won the Innovation in Data-enhanced Knowledge award at the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Awards Europe 2024, recognising the firm's use of data analytics to improve legal services. The firm was also shortlisted as Most Innovative Law Firm in Asia-Pacific at the FT's 2025 Asia-Pacific awards
Top practice areas:
Disputes and commercial litigation
HSF Kramer's strongest card, globally acclaimed for its litigation and dispute resolution practice, including corporate litigation, arbitration, and mediation. It has a Band 1 ranking by Chambers for commercial litigation, as well as leading banking, competition, and real estate litigation practices. The disputes practice is consistently ranked among the top three in the UK and is the practice area the firm is most associated with globally.
Energy, resources, and infrastructure
After litigation, HSF Kramer is probably best known for its work in the energy, resources, and infrastructure sectors, advising on some of the largest and most complex transactions globally. The firm's Australian heritage gives it particular depth in mining and natural resources, while its Middle East and Asian offices handle major energy and infrastructure mandates.
Corporate and M&A
A strong corporate practice advising FTSE 100 companies and major international corporations on domestic and cross-border M&A. The corporate team works closely with the disputes and finance practices on complex multi-jurisdictional transactions.
Finance
Ranked by Chambers UK for Banking and Finance, with particular strength advising borrowers on big-ticket financing transactions. The finance practice spans acquisition finance, real estate finance, restructuring, and project finance across the firm's global network.
International arbitration
HSF Kramer advises clients on arbitrations under all major institutional rules and has conducted numerous ad hoc arbitrations. The firm has genuine sector knowledge and regional sensitivity across civil and common law jurisdictions, with experience in investor-state and state-to-state arbitrations
The application process
Written application
The application form asks candidates to complete personal details, academic credentials, and work experience, and to answer three written questions with a maximum of 300 words each. The three questions focus on a topic of interest, your reasons for choosing a career at HSF Kramer specifically, and a team project or challenge you have faced. Each 300-word answer requires a different approach. The topic of interest question tests intellectual curiosity and commercial awareness so you must choose something you genuinely find interesting and can discuss in depth, ideally with a legal or commercial angle. The motivation question is your opportunity to explain specifically why HSF Kramer rather than other firms. You may choose the firm's disputes heritage, its energy and resources practice, its transatlantic reach post-merger, or its unique secondment programme which are all specific and differentiating. The team challenge question is a competency question. Use the STAR structure and keep the focus on what you specifically decided and did, not just what the team achieved.
Psychometric Testing
Every HSF Kramer applicant undergoes psychometric tests The assessment is comprised of multiple components, including situational judgment questions and a personality and behavioural questionnaire. The test is not officially time-limited but records the time taken, and most candidates complete it in approximately 30 to 35 minutes. The situational judgment section presents realistic workplace scenarios testing professional judgment, ethics, and decision-making. The personality questionnaire assesses behavioural traits and cultural fit. There are no right or wrong answers in this section, but authenticity matters as inconsistent responses are visible.
Assessment Centre
The assessment centre consists of three interviews: a case study interview, a competency interview, and a scenario-based interview.
Candidates are given time to analyse a commercial brief and prepare a short presentation, which is then delivered to a partner and followed by questions on the issues raised. The case study tests commercial reasoning, analytical thinking, and the ability to communicate a recommendation clearly. You do not need legal knowledge as what is being assessed is whether you can identify what matters in a complex situation, structure your thinking, and present it persuasively.
The competency interview focuses on past experiences, motivation for a career in law, and your alignment with HSF Kramer's values. Prepare structured STAR-format examples across the core competencies: communication, teamwork, initiative, resilience, and commercial awareness. The interviewers will probe your examples. Be ready to go deeper on what you personally decided and why, not just what happened.
The scenario interview tests thinking on your feet. Candidates are presented with an industry scenario they may be unfamiliar with and asked how they would approach the matter. This is not a legal knowledge test. It assesses professional judgment, composure under uncertainty, and whether you can reason through an unfamiliar situation methodically.
The application process
Written application
The application form asks candidates to complete personal details, academic credentials, and work experience, and to answer three written questions with a maximum of 300 words each. The three questions focus on a topic of interest, your reasons for choosing a career at HSF Kramer specifically, and a team project or challenge you have faced. Each 300-word answer requires a different approach. The topic of interest question tests intellectual curiosity and commercial awareness so you must choose something you genuinely find interesting and can discuss in depth, ideally with a legal or commercial angle. The motivation question is your opportunity to explain specifically why HSF Kramer rather than other firms. You may choose the firm's disputes heritage, its energy and resources practice, its transatlantic reach post-merger, or its unique secondment programme which are all specific and differentiating. The team challenge question is a competency question. Use the STAR structure and keep the focus on what you specifically decided and did, not just what the team achieved.
Psychometric Testing
Every HSF Kramer applicant undergoes psychometric tests The assessment is comprised of multiple components, including situational judgment questions and a personality and behavioural questionnaire. The test is not officially time-limited but records the time taken, and most candidates complete it in approximately 30 to 35 minutes. The situational judgment section presents realistic workplace scenarios testing professional judgment, ethics, and decision-making. The personality questionnaire assesses behavioural traits and cultural fit. There are no right or wrong answers in this section, but authenticity matters as inconsistent responses are visible.
Assessment Centre
The assessment centre consists of three interviews: a case study interview, a competency interview, and a scenario-based interview.
Candidates are given time to analyse a commercial brief and prepare a short presentation, which is then delivered to a partner and followed by questions on the issues raised. The case study tests commercial reasoning, analytical thinking, and the ability to communicate a recommendation clearly. You do not need legal knowledge as what is being assessed is whether you can identify what matters in a complex situation, structure your thinking, and present it persuasively.
The competency interview focuses on past experiences, motivation for a career in law, and your alignment with HSF Kramer's values. Prepare structured STAR-format examples across the core competencies: communication, teamwork, initiative, resilience, and commercial awareness. The interviewers will probe your examples. Be ready to go deeper on what you personally decided and why, not just what happened.
The scenario interview tests thinking on your feet. Candidates are presented with an industry scenario they may be unfamiliar with and asked how they would approach the matter. This is not a legal knowledge test. It assesses professional judgment, composure under uncertainty, and whether you can reason through an unfamiliar situation methodically.
Firm history
Firm History
Ready to Apply?
Ready to apply?
The Future Trainee Academy covers the full application, including written applications, online assessments, interviews, and assessment centres.
For situational judgment and reasoning practice, the Watson Glaser Practice Hub gives you unlimited free timed tests with worked explanations.
Firm Profiles
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
A global law firm known for disputes, energy, and corporate work
Year 1
Trainee
£56,000
Year 2
Trainee
£61,000
Newly
Qualified
£145,000
Practice areas and rankings
Rankings in Chambers
64
Category
Silver Circle
HSF Kramer won the Innovation in Data-enhanced Knowledge award at the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Awards Europe 2024, recognising the firm's use of data analytics to improve legal services. The firm was also shortlisted as Most Innovative Law Firm in Asia-Pacific at the FT's 2025 Asia-Pacific awards
Top practice areas:
Disputes and commercial litigation
HSF Kramer's strongest card, globally acclaimed for its litigation and dispute resolution practice, including corporate litigation, arbitration, and mediation. It has a Band 1 ranking by Chambers for commercial litigation, as well as leading banking, competition, and real estate litigation practices. The disputes practice is consistently ranked among the top three in the UK and is the practice area the firm is most associated with globally.
Energy, resources, and infrastructure
After litigation, HSF Kramer is probably best known for its work in the energy, resources, and infrastructure sectors, advising on some of the largest and most complex transactions globally. The firm's Australian heritage gives it particular depth in mining and natural resources, while its Middle East and Asian offices handle major energy and infrastructure mandates.
Corporate and M&A
A strong corporate practice advising FTSE 100 companies and major international corporations on domestic and cross-border M&A. The corporate team works closely with the disputes and finance practices on complex multi-jurisdictional transactions.
Finance
Ranked by Chambers UK for Banking and Finance, with particular strength advising borrowers on big-ticket financing transactions. The finance practice spans acquisition finance, real estate finance, restructuring, and project finance across the firm's global network.
International arbitration
HSF Kramer advises clients on arbitrations under all major institutional rules and has conducted numerous ad hoc arbitrations. The firm has genuine sector knowledge and regional sensitivity across civil and common law jurisdictions, with experience in investor-state and state-to-state arbitrations
About the firm
TC Number
65
Seats
4
Secondments
Yes
Offices
26
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer was formed in June 2025 through the combination of Herbert Smith Freehills and Kramer Levin, creating a world-leading global law firm with over 6,000 people including approximately 2,700 lawyers spanning 26 offices. As of 2024, HSF Kramer retains the most UK-listed clients of all law firms, representing 116 companies listed on the London Stock Exchange.
In its final set of pre-merger results, Herbert Smith Freehills reported a 4% rise in revenue to £1.36 billion, a 9.5% increase in profit to £486.9 million, and an 8.6% boost in profit per equity partner to £1.43 million. The merger with Kramer Levin adds significant US firepower — particularly through Kramer's New York, Washington DC, and Silicon Valley offices — giving HSF Kramer genuine transatlantic reach in bankruptcy and restructuring, capital markets, white collar litigation, and intellectual property.
The Trainee Associate Programme is built around four seat rotations across practice areas including Dispute Resolution, Corporate, Finance, Competition, Regulation and Trade, Intellectual Property, Employment, Pensions and Incentives, and Tax. HSF Kramer offers 55 secondments each year, including international secondments to offices in Europe, Asia, and Australia, client secondments giving first-hand insight into client priorities, and internal secondments to the ESG, pro bono, or in-house legal teams.
Trainees are supported by a dedicated supervisor in each seat and are matched with a partner mentor from day one. The firm funds SQE preparation in full via BPP's City Consortium Solicitor Training Programme (CCP), and provides a £20,000 maintenance grant during the study period. Full PGDL fees are also funded, with a £12,500 grant for London-based PGDL study.
The application process
Vacation Scheme Deadline
TBD
N/A
A-Levels Reqs.
Degree Reqs.
2:1
Written application
The application form asks candidates to complete personal details, academic credentials, and work experience, and to answer three written questions with a maximum of 300 words each. The three questions focus on a topic of interest, your reasons for choosing a career at HSF Kramer specifically, and a team project or challenge you have faced. Each 300-word answer requires a different approach. The topic of interest question tests intellectual curiosity and commercial awareness so you must choose something you genuinely find interesting and can discuss in depth, ideally with a legal or commercial angle. The motivation question is your opportunity to explain specifically why HSF Kramer rather than other firms. You may choose the firm's disputes heritage, its energy and resources practice, its transatlantic reach post-merger, or its unique secondment programme which are all specific and differentiating. The team challenge question is a competency question. Use the STAR structure and keep the focus on what you specifically decided and did, not just what the team achieved.
Psychometric Testing
Every HSF Kramer applicant undergoes psychometric tests The assessment is comprised of multiple components, including situational judgment questions and a personality and behavioural questionnaire. The test is not officially time-limited but records the time taken, and most candidates complete it in approximately 30 to 35 minutes. The situational judgment section presents realistic workplace scenarios testing professional judgment, ethics, and decision-making. The personality questionnaire assesses behavioural traits and cultural fit. There are no right or wrong answers in this section, but authenticity matters as inconsistent responses are visible.
Assessment Centre
The assessment centre consists of three interviews: a case study interview, a competency interview, and a scenario-based interview.
Candidates are given time to analyse a commercial brief and prepare a short presentation, which is then delivered to a partner and followed by questions on the issues raised. The case study tests commercial reasoning, analytical thinking, and the ability to communicate a recommendation clearly. You do not need legal knowledge as what is being assessed is whether you can identify what matters in a complex situation, structure your thinking, and present it persuasively.
The competency interview focuses on past experiences, motivation for a career in law, and your alignment with HSF Kramer's values. Prepare structured STAR-format examples across the core competencies: communication, teamwork, initiative, resilience, and commercial awareness. The interviewers will probe your examples. Be ready to go deeper on what you personally decided and why, not just what happened.
The scenario interview tests thinking on your feet. Candidates are presented with an industry scenario they may be unfamiliar with and asked how they would approach the matter. This is not a legal knowledge test. It assesses professional judgment, composure under uncertainty, and whether you can reason through an unfamiliar situation methodically.
Firm History
Ready to apply?
The Future Trainee Academy covers the full application, including written applications, online assessments, interviews, and assessment centres.
For situational judgment and reasoning practice, the Watson Glaser Practice Hub gives you unlimited free timed tests with worked explanations.