US firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett has announced the launch of its first UK training contract programme, creating a dedicated pathway for aspiring lawyers looking to build careers in private equity.
The firm is expected to recruit an inaugural intake of around 10 trainees, who will join in 2028. Applications are due to open next month.
Unlike traditional training contracts, the programme has been designed around the practice areas that support private equity sponsors throughout the investment lifecycle. Trainees will rotate through core disciplines while gaining hands-on experience working alongside one of the world's most established private capital practices.
The move reflects the growing influence of private equity within the legal market and the increasing demand for lawyers with specialist sector expertise from the outset of their careers.
Among the Highest-Paid Trainees in London
The new programme will also place Simpson Thacher among the highest-paying firms in the City.
Trainees will receive £65,000 in their first year and £70,000 in their second year, while newly qualified solicitors will earn £178,000 upon qualification.
The launch marks a significant expansion of the firm's talent strategy in London. Although Simpson Thacher has maintained a presence in the City since 1978, it has traditionally developed junior lawyers through alternative routes, including sponsoring paralegals through the SQE while providing qualifying work experience within the firm.
A Growing Trend Towards Specialist Training
The introduction of the SQE has given firms greater flexibility to tailor training programmes around specific practice areas.
Several firms have already moved towards specialist pathways. Earlier this year, Gowling WLG introduced a real estate-focused route, while BCLP has long offered a similar programme. Milbank also operates a training contract focused on leveraged finance.
________
The move comes as Simpson Thacher continues to expand its London footprint. The office now comprises more than 250 lawyers following an aggressive hiring drive across private equity, M&A and funds, cementing its position as one of the leading US private capital platforms in the City.
For aspiring lawyers targeting private capital work, Simpson Thacher's new programme offers one of the clearest specialist routes currently available in the London market.