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Skadden
A US firm offering London trainees experience in major international transactions, investigations and disputes.
About Skadden
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom was founded in New York in 1948 and developed its reputation through complex corporate work, including the hostile takeovers that became prominent during the 1970s. Its London practice brings together UK, European and US legal capabilities, advising on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, finance, capital markets, restructuring and tax, alongside substantial international arbitration, litigation and investigations work. This combination gives prospective trainees access to both transactional and contentious practices within an international firm.
Skadden’s two-year training contract comprises four six-month seats. Options include corporate, finance, restructuring, tax and international disputes. The firm aims for trainees to complete a corporate seat during their first year. Second-year overseas opportunities include Abu Dhabi, Brussels, Hong Kong and New York, subject to application and availability.
The 2029 intake will undertake the SQE+LLM preparation course at BPP in London. Skadden pays PGDL and SQE course and examination fees and provides a £20,000 maintenance grant for each course.
Practice areas & rankings
Skadden’s UK LLP profile records 10 department rankings in Chambers UK 2026. These include Band 1 for International Arbitration: Commercial Arbitration, UK-wide, and Band 3 rankings for high-value corporate/M&A, large private equity buyouts, borrower-side leveraged finance and corporate crime and investigations.
Ranked departmentsChambers UK
Explore the practice areas
Ranked Band 3 for Corporate/M&A: £800 million and above in London in Chambers UK 2026, Skadden advises on major domestic, European and transatlantic transactions. Its clients include corporates and financial sponsors across pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, insurance and financial services. Chambers highlights its advice to International Paper on the US$9.9 billion competitive takeover of DS Smith.
Ranked Band 1 for International Arbitration: Commercial Arbitration, UK-wide, in Chambers UK 2026, Skadden handles disputes involving energy, telecommunications, media, natural resources and financial services. Its practice covers proceedings under major institutional rules and also represents investors and sovereign states in investment treaty disputes.
Ranked Band 3 for Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above, UK-wide, in Chambers UK 2026, Skadden advises sponsors on substantial acquisitions, investments and portfolio-company matters. Its work includes transatlantic and European transactions, financing and management incentive arrangements. Chambers highlights its advice to Hg on the US$3 billion acquisition of AuditBoard.
Ranked Band 3 for Leveraged Finance: Borrowers/Sponsors: Big Ticket in London in Chambers UK 2026, Skadden advises major borrowers and private equity sponsors on acquisition financing, refinancings and distressed transactions. Its work includes high-yield financing and cross-border structures. Chambers highlights its advice on financing BlackRock’s US$3.2 billion acquisition of Preqin.
Ranked Band 3 for Corporate Crime & Investigations in London in Chambers UK 2026, Skadden handles international investigations involving corruption, sanctions and other financial crime issues. Its practice includes matters involving the Serious Fraud Office and US Department of Justice, alongside compliance advice for banks and international manufacturers.
Awards
Deal of the Year: EquityIFLR Europe Awards 2026
Won for advising The Magnum Ice Cream Company on its triple listing on the London Stock Exchange, Euronext Amsterdam and the New York Stock Exchange.
Impact Deal AwardIFLR Europe Awards 2026
Won for representing BlackRock, as part of a consortium including Allianz and T&D Holdings, on its acquisition of Viridium Group.
Tax Litigation Firm of the YearBenchmark Litigation Europe Awards 2026
The application process
Click on each stage to find out more.
Skadden recruits its London trainees exclusively through vacation schemes. Applications for the 2027 schemes and 2029 training contracts close on 1 December 2026, through the online application portal.
Undergraduates must be at least penultimate-year law students or final-year non-law students. The minimum degree requirement is a 2:1 or equivalent. Skadden reviews applications during the window but makes decisions after reviewing all applications following the deadline.
For preparation, connect your motivation to the London office’s work. Explain which aspects of international transactions or disputes interest you and why Skadden’s combination of practices suits your development. A reference to a particular matter is more useful when you explain the client’s objective and the legal or commercial difficulty involved.
Use your experiences to demonstrate your contribution, judgement and ability to work with others. Check the live form for the exact questions and word limits.
Skadden: quick answers
How much does Skadden pay trainees?
Skadden pays first-year trainees £58,000, rising to £63,000 in the second year. Newly qualified solicitors at Skadden earn £177,000.
When is the Skadden vacation scheme deadline?
Applications open 1 Sep and close 1 Dec · 2027 vacation schemes and 2029 training contracts both close 1 Dec 2026 · training contracts are offered EXCLUSIVELY to vacation scheme participants Deadlines can change and popular schemes may close early, so check the live application deadlines tracker.
How many trainees does Skadden take on?
Skadden takes on around 20 trainees in each intake, so places are competitive and strong applications matter.
What tests does Skadden use in its applications?
After applying, candidates complete an online psychometric and essential competencies assessment administered by Suited. The published completion deadline is 2 December. Skadden describes the assessment as covering personality, values and other competencies and characteristics. Read the assessment instructions carefully and arrange uninterrupted time to complete it. Approach questions about preferences and working style honestly. The public guidance does not establish that Skadden uses Watson Glaser, a situational judgement test or any other named test alongside Suited.
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