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Reed Smith
A global US law firm with an established London practice in shipping, commodities, insurance, finance and commercial disputes.
About Reed Smith
Reed Smith is a US-founded international law firm with a substantial London practice. Its UK business developed through combinations with Warner Cranston in 2001 and Richards Butler in 2007, bringing together commercial expertise and established maritime capabilities.
The London practice advises on shipping, commodities, insurance, finance, corporate transactions and disputes. These areas frequently overlap: a trading business may need advice on financing, transport arrangements, contractual risk and litigation.
For prospective trainees, the firm offers opportunities to explore commercial law through particular industries and client relationships. Its Professional SQE programme also provides paid experience in business services teams before qualifying work experience begins, helping future trainees understand how the firm operates alongside their legal studies.
The London training contract comprises four six-month seats, with client and international secondment opportunities. Trainees receive supervisor feedback, mid-seat and end-of-seat appraisals, a trainee buddy and access to associate mentoring. The Trainee Academy provides continuing technical and professional development.
Before training, the Professional SQE programme combines examination preparation and tailored master’s-level study with paid placements in two business services roles. Study leave is built into the programme.
Reed Smith funds PGDL and SQE course fees and provides a £15,000 maintenance grant. Future trainees also receive the London Living Wage while undertaking part-time professional placements during SQE study.
Practice areas & rankings
Reed Smith has more than 30 ranked practices in Chambers UK 2027. Its five UK-wide Band 1 practices are Shipping; Insurance: Mainly Policyholders; Commodities: Physicals; Commodities: Trade Finance; and Commodities: Derivatives & Energy Trading.
Other recognised areas include aviation and shipping finance, banking litigation, securitisation, international arbitration, media and entertainment, private equity and real estate finance.
The firm won Investor Renewables Deal of the Year at the IJGlobal Investor Awards 2025, recognising its work on a renewable energy transaction. In May 2026, it also received a Marine Money Deal of the Year award for a transaction in the Jones Act/US Flag sector. The latter recognises the wider international maritime practice.
Ranked departmentsChambers UK
Explore the practice areas
Ranked Band 1 UK-wide in Chambers UK 2027, Reed Smith advises on contentious and non-contentious shipping matters. Its maritime expertise includes commercial disputes, arbitration and issues arising from marine casualties. The practice connects closely with commodities, insurance and asset finance, providing several perspectives on the operation and funding of international trade.
Ranked Band 1 UK-wide for physical commodities, trade finance, and derivatives and energy trading in Chambers UK 2027, Reed Smith has a broad commodities offering. These separate rankings reflect work involving the trading of goods, the financing supporting transactions and financial products used in trading markets. Applicants can explore how legal advice helps clients allocate risk across these relationships.
Ranked Band 1 for Insurance: Mainly Policyholders, UK-wide, in Chambers UK 2027, Reed Smith represents businesses seeking cover under their insurance policies. Its work includes financial lines, energy, commodities and political risk, alongside professional indemnity and broker negligence disputes. The team also advises corporate policyholders on structuring insurance programmes.
Reed Smith is recognised for both commercial and investor-state arbitration in Chambers UK 2027. Arbitration forms part of its wider disputes offering and supports clients operating across jurisdictions. It provides useful application material for candidates interested in how businesses resolve disputes involving international contracts, investments and enforcement.
Awards
Investor Renewables Deal of the YearIJGlobal Investor Awards 2025
Recognising its work on a renewable energy transaction.
The application process
Click on each stage to find out more.
Reed Smith recruits predominantly through vacation schemes. Applications for its 2027 schemes opened on 7 September 2026 and close at 5pm on 18 December 2026. Recruitment is rolling.
The portal lists schemes from 19–26 February and 16–23 April 2027. Candidates can express a preference, with places allocated on a rolling basis.
The process starts with academic and work experience information. Candidates who pass the online assessment then answer written motivational questions.
A separate direct training contract route reopens in spring 2027 for candidates who have passed SQE1, with starts from March 2028 onwards.
Explain why Reed Smith’s work interests you using a specific client issue, practice or industry. For example, research how a disruption to trade could affect a shipping contract, financing arrangement and insurance claim.
Use your written answers to demonstrate your own reasoning and contribution. Draw on examples showing research, collaboration, organisation and learning from feedback. Explain what you did and why it mattered, rather than listing responsibilities.
Reed Smith: quick answers
How much does Reed Smith pay trainees?
Reed Smith pays first-year trainees £55,000, rising to £60,000 in the second year. Newly qualified solicitors at Reed Smith earn £135,000.
When is the Reed Smith vacation scheme deadline?
Reed Smith runs more than one vacation scheme round in the 2026/27 cycle: the spring scheme closes on 18 Dec and the winter scheme closes on 18 Dec. Deadlines can change and popular schemes may close early, so check the live application deadlines tracker.
How many trainees does Reed Smith take on?
Reed Smith takes on around 24 trainees in each intake, so places are competitive and strong applications matter.
What tests does Reed Smith use in its applications?
The blended online assessment includes situational judgement, verbal reasoning and numerical reasoning. It is untimed, can be saved and resumed, and requires no prior legal knowledge. Candidates receive a feedback report. For verbal questions, distinguish what the material establishes from what merely seems plausible. For numerical questions, check units and identify the relevant figures. In workplace scenarios, consider the client’s objectives, competing priorities and when to seek guidance. Follow the instructions supplied with the invitation and allow enough time to work carefully.
What grades do you need to apply to Reed Smith?
To apply to Reed Smith you will generally need a 2:1+ degree. Requirements can flex where there are mitigating circumstances, so always check the firm's own criteria if your grades differ.
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