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Withers
An international firm focused on individuals, families, their businesses and philanthropy, with leading family, charities and art law practices.
About Withers
Withers is an international law firm centred on the personal, business and philanthropic interests of individuals and families. Its clients include entrepreneurs, business owners, senior executives, family offices, trustees and charities, often with interests spanning several countries. Its private client work covers tax, trusts, succession and wealth planning, while its wider offering includes corporate transactions, real estate and disputes. This allows the firm to advise across interconnected issues: a business sale may create questions about family wealth, succession or philanthropy, while a divorce may involve company ownership and international assets. For prospective trainees, its distinguishing feature is this combination of commercial work and advice directly affecting clients’ personal lives, supported by an international network across Europe, the United States and Asia Pacific.
Withers’ London training contract comprises four six-month seats. Options include private client and tax, family, charities, corporate, employment, intellectual property, real estate, litigation and arbitration, trust and inheritance disputes, and white collar defence. The firm considers trainees’ interests when allocating seats, although preferences do not guarantee a particular rotation. Its current brochure identifies Milan as an overseas secondment opportunity. Trainees receive support from a partner mentor, buddies and an HR contact, alongside their seat supervisor.
Each seat includes two formal appraisals, supplemented by informal feedback. Development covers technical law and skills such as negotiation, presenting, managing workloads and building client relationships. The firm funds the relevant PGDL and SQE course and examination fees, with maintenance grants supporting postgraduate study. According to Chambers Student, qualification processes vary between departments and may involve an interview, competency exercise or presentation
Practice areas & rankings
Withers has 16 ranked departments in Chambers UK 2026. Its six Band 1 rankings cover Agriculture & Rural Affairs, Employment: Senior Executive and Family/Matrimonial Finance: Ultra High Net Worth in London, together with Art and Cultural Property Law, Charities and Charities: Legacy Disputes UK-wide. It also holds Band 2 UK-wide rankings for Defamation/Reputation Management and Tax: Contentious: Fraud.
At the 2025 WealthBriefingAsia Greater China Awards, Withers won the Wealth Planning and Estate Planning categories. These recognise its Asian private wealth practice, separately from its UK directory rankings.
Ranked departmentsChambers UK
Explore the practice areas
Ranked Band 1 in London in Chambers UK 2026, Withers advises on major family disputes involving substantial assets. Its work includes domestic and international prenuptial agreements and marriage contracts, alongside complex financial proceedings. Chambers also recognises its arbitration and mediation offering for clients seeking alternatives to court proceedings. The practice combines financial complexity with sensitive personal circumstances, making clear advice and client relationships particularly important.
Withers holds a Band 1 UK-wide ranking in Chambers UK 2026. The practice advises charities operating in healthcare, education, sport and the arts, as well as philanthropic individuals and families. Work ranges from governance and constitutional reviews to legacy disputes and complex UK-US charitable structures. Chambers highlights its advice to the Arts Council on the Cultural Recovery Loan Scheme.
Ranked Band 1 UK-wide in Chambers UK 2026, this practice advises collectors, artists, galleries, dealers and museums. Its work includes purchases, loans and disposals, tax and estate planning for collections, and disputes concerning ownership, provenance and contracts. The practice illustrates how Withers combines advice on valuable assets with an understanding of clients’ personal interests and the commercial workings of a specialist market.
Withers is ranked Band 1 in London in Chambers UK 2026 for advising senior executives. The team supports clients from negotiating their initial employment terms through to departures, including disputes arising from the breakdown of employment relationships. Chambers identifies particular experience with professionals in financial services, technology and media, alongside regulatory employment issues.
Ranked Band 1 in London in Chambers UK 2026, the team advises owners of agricultural and landed estates on property, tax and succession. Its work includes estate purchases and sales, inheritance arrangements and diversification projects, including alternative energy developments. These matters bring together commercial decisions about land with the long-term objectives of individuals and families
Awards
Wealth PlanningWealthBriefingAsia Greater China Awards 2025
Estate PlanningWealthBriefingAsia Greater China Awards 2025
The application process
Click on each stage to find out more.
Withers accepts direct training-contract and vacation-scheme applications, but applicants must choose one route each year; only their first application is considered. The online form requires a complete academic history. Withers uses Rare’s contextual recruitment system and states that applications are reviewed by people rather than screened by AI.
The written application should explain why advising Withers’ client base appeals. A strong answer could explore how an entrepreneur’s business decisions connect with personal wealth or how international families require advice across jurisdictions. Choose an aspect that interests you and explain the connection to your experiences or career aims.
The current vacancy identifies communication, relationship-building, curiosity, initiative, collaboration and sound judgement among the qualities sought. Use concrete examples to show these qualities: explain what you personally did, why you chose that approach and what resulted. Applicants from all degree disciplines and career backgrounds are welcome.
Withers: quick answers
How much does Withers pay trainees?
Withers pays first-year trainees £47,000, rising to £52,000 in the second year. Newly qualified solicitors at Withers earn £95,000.
When are the Withers application deadlines?
Withers's training contract applications close on 8 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 Withers take on?
Withers takes on around 12 trainees in each intake, so places are competitive and strong applications matter.
What tests does Withers use in its applications?
Following an initial application review, shortlisted candidates complete a Cappfinity strengths-based assessment covering situational judgement, critical thinking and numerical reasoning. It is untimed, but must be completed within one week of the invitation. Applications are then reviewed again before successful candidates receive a separate proofreading assessment. Preparation should cover each component. Practise interpreting numerical information accurately and distinguishing what a passage establishes from what it merely suggests. For situational questions, consider the information provided, competing priorities and the consequences of different responses. For proofreading, practise checking short documents systematically for spelling, grammar, punctuation and inconsistencies. A useful method is to check meaning and consistency first, then review the wording closely. These are preparation suggestions; Withers does not publish the current proofreading exercise’s detailed format or timing.
What grades do you need to apply to Withers?
To apply to Withers you will generally need a 2:1 degree. At A-level, Withers asks for AAB. Requirements can flex where there are mitigating circumstances, so always check the firm's own criteria if your grades differ.
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