Sidley offers experienced lawyers boundless opportunities to work on interesting and challenging projects for high-calibre clients.
We have built a reputation as a premier legal advisor for global businesses, trade associations and government entities, providing exceptional legal representation spanning the full range of trade, competition, litigation and regulatory matters.
The quality of work given to associates in Geneva is first rate—cutting edge and complex, and often high profile.
From our offices in the commercial, financial, and regulatory centers of the world, we harness our knowledge to provide thoughtful advice for the many legal and business challenges that our clients face.
We offer an attractive and competitive compensation package, along with a range of benefits.
We operate an annual bonus scheme that rewards associates for the quality of their work as well as billable hours.
Benefits for associates include:
- 20 days holiday per year
- Pension
- Collective medical insurance
- Participation in health insurance (CHF 4,200 annually)
- Contribution to gym membership (CHF 1,200 annually)
We are committed to training and developing our lawyers so that they continue to grow and learn throughout their careers.
Sidley has made a deep and ongoing investment in our world-class learning and development function, which plays a critical and strategic role within the firm and supports our stellar client service ethic.
In addition to the New Associate Orientation and Mid-Level Associate programmes presented annually, we offer a superb technical training programme designed by and for each individual practice group. Soft skills training is tailored to your level of qualification. Our Business Development Programme provides high-level, personalised coaching around communications and networking, client engagement and winning new business.
We are continuously looking for new talent to join our practice. Successful candidates will have an excellent academic record coupled with a proven interest and training in EU competition, trade or regulatory law.
There is no Sidley stereotype—we recruit from a variety of backgrounds, nationalities, ages and experience. We seek to hire individuals who are committed to serving clients and have strong business instincts. People who are approachable and easy to work with, self-disciplined and ambitious, and driven to deliver results.
If you are interested in a career at Sidley, please click here.
Working in Geneva
Sidley’s Geneva office office is both a leader in shaping and enforcing international trade and investment rules as well as home to one of Europe’s foremost international arbitration and cross-border dispute teams. Our Geneva professionals are part of the firm’s global International Trade and International Arbitration practices, and work closely on a daily basis with experienced trade and arbitration practitioners in the firm’s other offices to provide seamless services to our clients in Europe, the CIS countries, the Middle East, the Americas, and Asia.
The lawyers in our Geneva office are qualified in both civil and common law jurisdictions, including Australia, Canada, England and Wales, New Zealand, Switzerland and the United States, and work with a diverse team of experienced policy advisors, analysts and economists. Our team comprises many nationalities, with professionals who are able to communicate with clients in a multitude of languages.
Sidley’s reputation for excellence is a result of the firm’s commitment to cultivating a deep reserve of legal talent in numerous substantive areas, modelling an environment of teamwork and mutual respect, and achieving results for clients across all industries and stages of the business cycle.
Work Environment
Sidley has built an inclusive, collegiate culture firmwide that supports internal cooperation and rewards good work. Our lawyers place a premium on helping each other out, lending assistance and experience on projects that can span multiple offices and practice areas. We believe our culture sets us apart from other firms and enhances the professional experience and satisfaction of our lawyers.
Our Geneva office offers the best of both worlds—the experience of working in one of the largest international law firms along with the relaxed, down-to-earth friendliness of a smaller office.
We are located in the new Nations Business Centre near the Place des Nations in a space that boasts spectacular views of the lake and the mountains. You will find a great social scene within the office, with organised events including a summer barbecue, skiing day, yoga lessons, Friday happy hours and weekly lunches.
Professional Development
We provide comprehensive resources to assist all lawyers in reaching their professional goals. Lawyers are encouraged to have informal discussions about their progress and future on an ongoing basis and can adhere to a mentoring scheme, which matches new associates with partner and senior associate mentors of their choice from a practice group other than their own. These mentors serve as an alternative source of advice and coaching.
Commitment to Diversity
Sidley has a long history of taking committed action to diversify its own ranks, to achieve an inclusive and welcoming culture, and to increase the diversity of the legal profession as a whole. Our mission is to continually attract, retain and promote to partnership and leadership outstanding lawyers who reflect the global marketplace and communities that we serve.
Tradition of Service
Sidley lawyers recognise their responsibility to use their training, skills and experience to provide legal services to underserviced communities and to charitable, community, governmental and educational organizations that could not otherwise afford legal representation. Sidley lawyers and staff devote more than 100,000 hours annually to serving those most in need. The firm’s first global pro bono initiative, the Sidley Emerging Enterprises Pro Bono Program, is led by lawyers in Sidley’s Geneva and Brussels offices.