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Mayer Brown
Global commercial law firm with particular strengths in finance, construction disputes and real estate, offering a small London trainee intake and international opportunities.
About Mayer Brown
Mayer Brown advises multinational companies, financial institutions, investors and other businesses on transactions, disputes and regulatory matters. Its London office provides a broad commercial practice, working closely with colleagues across the firm’s international network.
Finance is a central strength, spanning lending, securitisation and other capital markets transactions. Construction disputes and major real estate investments are also prominent parts of the London practice, creating opportunities to see how financing, development and contentious work interact.
The relatively small trainee intake offers scope to develop relationships across departments. Trainees contribute to research, drafting and client matters while building their understanding of the commercial priorities behind each instruction. International collaboration is a regular feature of the work, particularly where transactions involve assets, investors or financing across several jurisdictions.
The two-year training contract covers four seats. Development combines departmental workshops, practice meetings and briefings from knowledge lawyers. Supervisors review progress midway through and at the end of each seat.
Future trainees complete SQE preparation at BPP and receive an SQE buddy. Non-law graduates also complete the PGDL. Maintenance grants are £15,000 for the PGDL and £20,000 for the SQE year, with an additional £5,000 interest-free loan available on request.
Keeping-in-touch events and presentations help future trainees build relationships before joining. Client and overseas secondments can provide further experience of different teams and working environments.
Practice areas & rankings
Mayer Brown secured 31 practice area rankings in Chambers UK 2027. Three practices achieved Band 1: Asset-Based Lending, Construction: Contentious, and Construction: Professional Negligence. Other recognised strengths include real estate, leveraged finance and securitisation.
The firm won Disputes Team of the Year at the British Legal Awards 2025 for representing Shepherd Construction in a building safety dispute worth more than £70 million. The matter concerned defective cladding and became an important example of the disputes arising from building safety issues.
Its broader international recognition includes North American Law Firm of the Year at the 2026 SCI Risk Sharing Awards, reflecting its work in structured finance and risk transfer.
Ranked departmentsChambers UK
Explore the practice areas
Band 1, UK-wide, Chambers UK 2027.
The practice advises banks and other lenders on financing supported by business assets, including receivables. Its work extends to leveraged acquisition finance and complex arrangements involving several jurisdictions. Clients operate across industries including retail, automotive and shipping, requiring lawyers to understand both financing structures and the underlying businesses.
Band 1, London, Construction: Contentious, Chambers UK 2027.
Mayer Brown represents contractors, developers, employers and insurers in construction disputes. Matters include defects, delays, professional negligence and major infrastructure projects. The team handles domestic litigation and international arbitration, with experience across energy, transport, retail and residential developments.
Band 2, London, Real Estate: £150 million and above, Chambers UK 2027.
The real estate team advises on substantial acquisitions, financing and redevelopment projects. Its clients include property companies, private equity funds and institutional investors. Cross-border investment into the UK is a particular feature, alongside work involving alternative property assets such as data centres, student accommodation and care homes.
Band 2, UK-wide, Capital Markets: Securitisation, Chambers UK 2027.
The team advises on transactions involving commercial and residential mortgages, vehicle loans and less conventional assets. Its work combines financing structures with detailed regulatory analysis. Recent matters include advising Standard Chartered on a $3 billion clean energy infrastructure securitisation platform established with Apollo.
Awards
23rd Most Innovative Law Firm in EuropeFinancial Times Innovative Lawyers Europe 2024
Earned Highly Commended mentions in deals and financing, unlocking finance, and sustainability and ESG.
Behavioural Matter of the Year, EuropeGlobal Competition Review Awards 2024
Won by the antitrust team for a landmark ECJ case nullifying supermarket dawn raids.
Europe Commodity Finance Deal of the YearTXF Commodity Finance Deals 2024
Won for a 1.23 billion euro MET Group facility, highlighting its project finance capabilities.
The application process
Click on each stage to find out more.
Candidates complete an online application covering education and work experience. Legal experience is not required; applicants can demonstrate relevant skills through other employment, study and activities.
A strong application should connect your interests with particular features of the London practice. Explain what attracts you to finance, construction disputes or international transactions, and support your suitability with specific examples of analytical thinking, collaboration and responsibility.
Vacation scheme applications close on 4 December 2026. The published schemes run from 12 to 23 April and 21 June to 2 July 2027, paying £650 per week.
Mayer Brown: quick answers
How much does Mayer Brown pay trainees?
Mayer Brown pays first-year trainees £56,000, rising to £61,000 in the second year. Newly qualified solicitors at Mayer Brown earn £150,000.
When are the Mayer Brown application deadlines?
Mayer Brown has more than one deadline in the 2026/27 cycle: the summer scheme closes on 4 Dec, the spring scheme closes on 4 Dec and the training contract closes on 31 Mar. Deadlines can change and popular schemes may close early, so check the live application deadlines tracker.
How many trainees does Mayer Brown take on?
Mayer Brown takes on around 15 trainees in each intake, so places are competitive and strong applications matter.
What tests does Mayer Brown use in its applications?
Alongside the application form, candidates must complete an immersive assessment consisting of behavioural questions, numerical and verbal reasoning questions, and video response questions. The behavioural questions test how candidates would react in trainee scenarios. The numerical and verbal reasoning questions test performance in typical trainee tasks. The video response questions allow candidates to explain motivation for a career in law at Mayer Brown and demonstrate key competencies. Responses are scored against traits that help candidates succeed at Mayer Brown, and candidates must meet or surpass benchmark scores to progress. At the end of the assessment, candidates receive a report explaining how they performed and highlighting potential development areas. No legal knowledge is required.
What grades do you need to apply to Mayer Brown?
To apply to Mayer Brown 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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