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Goodwin
US law firm with a London training programme focused on private equity, investment funds, technology, life sciences and real estate.
About Goodwin
Goodwin advises businesses and investors across private equity, investment funds, life sciences, technology, healthcare and real estate. Its London office combines these industry specialisms with expertise in finance, intellectual property, competition, tax, employment, regulatory matters and disputes.
A defining feature is the relationship between its company-side and investor-side work. Lawyers advise emerging businesses raising capital, investors funding their growth, and sponsors acquiring or selling established companies. The funds practice also supports the investment vehicles behind these transactions. This creates connections between different teams and allows trainees to explore how businesses develop, obtain financing and complete major transactions.
Goodwin’s two-year Trainee Solicitor Programme comprises four six-month seats. Available areas include private equity, investment funds, technology, life sciences, real estate, financial services, competition, employment, tax and disputes. The programme provides the qualifying work experience required for the SQE route.
Each trainee has an associate supervisor and a partner supervisor in every seat. Training begins with an induction covering legal knowledge, technology, AI and professional skills, followed by ongoing development sessions and departmental training. A client secondment is available, alongside support from buddies, mentors and the Early Careers team.
Goodwin sponsors the SQE LLM and, for non-law graduates, the PGDL. Maintenance grants are £12,000 for the PGDL year and £18,000 for the SQE LLM year. Future trainees receive a buddy and invitations to events and sessions before joining.
Practice areas & rankings
Goodwin has 17 ranked departments in Chambers UK 2026. Its UK-wide Band 1 practices include Life Sciences: Transactional, Private Equity: Venture Capital Investment and Investment Funds: Real Estate. It also holds Band 2 rankings for private equity funds, private equity secondaries and buyouts worth up to £500 million.
Goodwin won Law Firm of the Year for Transactions at the 2024 Mergermarket British Private Equity Awards. It was also named Law Firm of the Year for Real Estate Fund Formation in Europe at the 2024 PERE Global Awards, announced in March 2025.
Ranked departmentsChambers UK
Explore the practice areas
Ranked Band 1 for Private Equity: Venture Capital Investment, UK-wide, in Chambers UK 2026, Goodwin advises emerging companies, investment funds and other investors on fundraising. Technology and life sciences are particular strengths, with work spanning initial investments and successive financing rounds. Its advice to Moove Africa on a US$100 million Series B financing illustrates this practice.
Ranked Band 1 for Life Sciences: Transactional, UK-wide, in Chambers UK 2026, the team advises companies and investors on financing, capital markets, acquisitions, licensing and strategic collaborations. Its work follows businesses from early development through growth and maturity. A recent example is advising Adcendo on its US$135 million Series B financing.
Ranked Band 1 for Investment Funds: Real Estate, UK-wide, in Chambers UK 2026, Goodwin advises managers on establishing, raising, restructuring and closing funds. Its European capabilities combine with its US practice to support international fundraising. The team advised Patron Capital on the closing of its seventh flagship fund.
Ranked Band 2 for Private Equity: Buyouts: Up to £500 million, UK-wide, in Chambers UK 2026, Goodwin handles investments, acquisitions and exits, with particular strength in technology businesses. Its US presence supports transactions involving American investors. Work includes advising TA Associates on its acquisition of and investment in Agilio Software.
Awards
Law Firm of the Year for TransactionsMergermarket British Private Equity Awards 2024
Recognising its cross-border deal-making leadership.
Leading Secondaries PracticeSecondaries Investor Law Firm Survey 2025
Named for advising on over 100 transactions valued at more than $25 billion.
The application process
Click on each stage to find out more.
Apply online for either the vacation scheme or the direct Trainee Solicitor Programme. Both routes opened on 4 September 2026 and close on 4 December 2026. Applications are not screened on a rolling basis. The current recruitment cycle covers the April 2027 vacation scheme and training contracts beginning in 2029.
The form includes academic information, work experience and four longer written questions. Applicants can apply from their penultimate year of a law degree or final year of a non-law degree, with graduates also eligible.
Explain why Goodwin’s work interests you and support your suitability with specific examples. Research how its investment funds, private equity and company advisory practices connect. A focused explanation of one sector or transaction will give your motivation more substance than a list of practice areas.
The vacation scheme is the primary recruitment route, but direct applications are also welcomed. Choose the route that suits your circumstances and use your answers to demonstrate curiosity, adaptability, resilience and collaboration.
Goodwin: quick answers
How much does Goodwin pay trainees?
Goodwin pays first-year trainees £55,000, rising to £60,000 in the second year. Newly qualified solicitors at Goodwin earn £175,000.
When is the Goodwin vacation scheme deadline?
Goodwin's vacation scheme applications close on 4 Dec 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 Goodwin take on?
Goodwin takes on around 14 trainees in each intake, so places are competitive and strong applications matter.
What grades do you need to apply to Goodwin?
To apply to Goodwin you will generally need a 2:1 degree. At A-level, Goodwin 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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