At Sidley, there are 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, financial institutions and government entities, providing exceptional legal representation spanning the full range of litigation, transactional and regulatory matters.
The quality of work given to associates in London 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 are pleased to provide a comprehensive, market-leading compensation and benefits package to support our personnel and their families. Our package is designed to support mental, physical and financial wellbeing, working parents and much more. We regularly review and enhance our offering to ensure that it remains competitive and meets the needs of our personnel.
- Group Personal Pension Scheme
- Pension Cash Alternative scheme (for higher earners)
- Life Assurance (4x salary)
- Group Income Protection
- Travel Insurance (for business and personal travel)
- Private Medical Insurance
- Private GP Service + Health Screening
- In-House Counselling Service
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Headspace (mindfulness app)
- Menopause Support Service
- Annual Flu Vaccination
- Annual Gym Allowance
- Annual Eye Screening and Prescription Allowance
- “Living Well” wellbeing programme
- Inclusive Family Leave Policies
- Emergency Childcare + Back-up Adult and Eldercare
- Parental Transition + Work & Family Balance Coaching
- 25 days paid annual leave
- Critical Illness Cover
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Cycle Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Employee Referral Scheme
- Matched Giving
- Payroll Giving
- Season Ticket Loan
- Volunteering Opportunities
- Will Writing Service
We are committed to providing career-long learning and professional development for our lawyers.
In addition to the New Associate Programme delivered annually, we offer a superb technical training programme designed by and for each individual practice group. In addition, a wide range of skill-building workshops are provided to enhance your performance as a lawyer, 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.
Sidley is dedicated to cultivating a culture of career-long learning while making considerable investments in the future of our associates. In support of this commitment, we launched Built to Lead℠, the firm’s new associate development program. This leadership and executive development model is uniquely designed to help our associates become world-class lawyers with greater business acumen and boardroom prowess.
We are always looking for talented lawyers to join us. Successful candidates will have an excellent academic record coupled with high-quality experience, most likely gained at a premier City firm.
We recruit from a variety of backgrounds, nationalities, ages and experience. There is no Sidley stereotype, although there are some essential attributes that Sidley lawyers have in common. They have strong business instincts and are genuinely intrigued by the commercial world and the world of finance in particular. They are approachable and easy to work with. They are self-disciplined and ambitious, driven to deliver results.
If you are interested in a career at Sidley, please click here.
Working in London
Sidley’s London office was established in 1974 and is the firm’s largest office in Europe. Our lawyers advise on domestic and cross-border matters across a full range of practice areas. We have a particularly strong footprint in London in structured finance, capital markets, restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, and private equity.
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. We believe our culture sets us apart from other firms and enhances the professional experience and satisfaction of our lawyers.
Our London 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. Here you will find high-quality work on par with Magic Circle firms and an energetic, meritocratic and supportive environment.
We are located in a distinctive new development at 70 St. Mary Axe with panoramic views across London. Based in the in the heart of the City and close to Liverpool Street station with all the area has to offer - fantastic restaurants and bars, shopping and sporting facilities. You’ll find a great social scene within the office, with organised events including sailing and skiing weekends, seasonal parties and charitable team activities.
Career Development
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. For the past 10 years, Sidley has been the sole law firm to be named to Chief Learning Officer magazine’s LearningElite, in recognition of the firm’s sustained commitment to training and development.
We provide comprehensive resources to assist all lawyers in reaching their professional goals. Our training opportunities for experienced lawyers reflect the firm’s dedication to career-long learning.
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 organisations that could not otherwise afford legal representation. Sidley lawyers and staff devote more than 100,000 hours annually to serving those most in need.