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Shoosmiths
UK commercial law firm advising businesses on corporate transactions, real estate, technology, finance and disputes, with a national office network.
About Shoosmiths
Shoosmiths advises businesses through transactions, disputes, regulatory challenges and property matters. Its practice combines corporate and commercial advice with expertise in finance, employment, technology, restructuring and real estate.
The office network allows teams to support clients across the UK, drawing on different specialisms as matters develop. Its corporate lawyers advise on acquisitions and investments, while technology specialists support procurement and digital projects. Real estate and restructuring teams handle the legal issues surrounding property assets and financially distressed businesses. This breadth gives trainees opportunities to explore how different areas of law contribute to a client’s commercial objectives.
The established training contract runs for two years and comprises four six-month seats, including contentious and non-contentious experience. Trainees gain practical responsibility, client exposure and support from experienced solicitors, alongside structured learning. Client secondments may also be available.
Training locations have included Birmingham, Leeds, London and Manchester, with Scottish traineeships across Edinburgh and Glasgow. The firm is not currently recruiting trainees for Belfast.
For England, Shoosmiths partners with BPP for PGDL and SQE training. Tuition and examination fees are funded, with financial support towards living costs. Non-law graduates complete the PGDL before the LLM SQE. There is no prescribed provider for the Scottish Diploma.
The firm is redesigning its emerging talent programmes, so future training arrangements should be checked when the new programme is published.
Practice areas & rankings
Shoosmiths has 76 ranked departments in Chambers UK 2027. Its Midlands Band 1 practices include Information Technology and Restructuring/Insolvency. In London, Corporate/M&A transactions worth £10 million to £100 million are ranked Band 2, while Real Estate transactions worth £50 million to £150 million are ranked Band 3.
At the Legal 500 Northern Powerhouse Awards 2026, Shoosmiths won Corporate Firm of the Year. Charlotte Thomas also received Finance Leading Associate of the Year, recognising individual achievement within the firm’s finance practice.
Ranked departmentsChambers UK
Explore the practice areas
Ranked Band 2 for Corporate/M&A: £10–100 million in London in Chambers UK 2027, Shoosmiths advises on acquisitions, disposals and investments. Its clients include businesses, management teams and financial investors. The practice also handles private equity and venture capital matters, with international transactions involving the US and Europe.
Ranked Band 1 for Information Technology in the Midlands in Chambers UK 2027, the team advises on technology procurement, outsourcing and commercial agreements. Financial services, retail and telecommunications are important client sectors. Its work supports both customers acquiring technology and suppliers providing services, including projects spanning several jurisdictions.
Ranked Band 1 for Restructuring/Insolvency in the Midlands in Chambers UK 2027, Shoosmiths advises banks, insolvency practitioners and investors. Its work includes distressed business acquisitions, property-related insolvency, litigation and company voluntary arrangements. The practice combines advice on business recovery with the transactions and disputes that can arise during financial distress.
Ranked Band 3 for Real Estate: £50–150 million in London in Chambers UK 2027, real estate forms one of the firm’s principal practice areas. Its broader offering connects property transactions with advice on development, financing, regulation and disputes, drawing on specialists across the business.
Awards
Ranked across 120+ practice areasLegal 500 UK 2025
Named in the 2025 edition across more than 120 practice areas.
The application process
Click on each stage to find out more.
Shoosmiths has paused applications to its emerging talent programmes during the 2026/27 recruitment cycle while reviewing and redesigning its approach. A relaunch is planned for autumn 2027, and there will be no vacation placement in 2027.
The new application format, eligibility requirements and deadlines have not yet been published.
Shoosmiths: quick answers
How much does Shoosmiths pay trainees?
Shoosmiths pays first-year trainees £46,000, rising to £48,000 in the second year. Newly qualified solicitors at Shoosmiths earn £105,000.
How many trainees does Shoosmiths take on?
Shoosmiths takes on around 20 trainees in each intake, so places are competitive and strong applications matter.
What grades do you need to apply to Shoosmiths?
At A-level, Shoosmiths asks for CCC. Requirements can flex where there are mitigating circumstances, so always check the firm's own criteria if your grades differ.
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