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Simmons & Simmons

Simmons & Simmons is not technically categorised as magic or silver circle, but I believe this is an omission given that the firm is ranked very highly across a range of practice areas and has revenue figures that rival the magic circle. For these reasons, I have included the firm in this category.

Unique selling points

  • Chambers and Partners has awarded the firm Band 1 rankings for Banking & Finance, Corporate Crime & Investigations, Employment, and Investment Funds.
  • Strong focus on including technology, media, telecommunications; asset management and investment funds; financial institutions; and healthcare and life sciences.
  • Formal training provided through the firm's 'Compass Programme,' which facilitates the development of both legal and business skills.
  • Notable clients include Schroders, Invesco, Hyatt Hotels, Santander, HSBC and Laser Digital. 
  • Committed to promoting equality and inclusivity with initiatives such as its Allyship Programme, its TNOC network and its Allies Network. 
  • Embracing technology and innovation in its legal services with initiatives like Simmons Wavelength, Simmons Solutions and Searchlight. 

We cover these selling points in more detail below, alongside other relevant firm facts and characteristics.

Practice areas / services

Simmons & Simmons is a full-service law firm, with a broad range of practice areas including:

  • Capital Markets
  • Commodities
  • Competition/Antitrust
  • Construction and Engineering
  • Corporate and M&A
  • Criminal Law
  • Data Protection and Privacy
  • Digital Business
  • Dispute Resolution
  • Employment, Incentives and Pensions
  • Energy, Natural Resources and Infrastructure
  • Finance
  • FinTech
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • Investigations
  • Private Wealth Asset Recovery and Enforcement
  • Real Estate
  • Regulation
  • Tax

Chambers and Partners, a leading analyst of the legal market, has awarded Simmons & Simmons its highest ‘Band 1’ ranking for the following departments: Banking & Finance: Borrowers: Lower Mid-Market, Banking & Finance: Lenders: Lower Mid-Market, Corporate Crime & Investigations, Employment: Employer and Investment Funds: Hedge Funds. See here for more information.

Key sectors / industries

Simmons & Simmons services a broad range of industries, with some of its highest-value clients operating in the following sectors: 

Work

Simmons & Simmons consistently advises on complex high-profile legal matters, including, for example:

  • Schroders: the firm advised Schroders Capital on the structuring and FCA authorisation of a new Long-Term Asset Fund (LTAF). 
  • Invesco: Simmons & Simmons advised Invesco on the sale of its stake in the Co-operative Bank to Coventry Building Society (CBS) alongside other institutional sellers.  
  • Hyatt Hotels: the firm advised Hyatt Hotels on its acquisition of Standard International which saw Hyatt Hotels acquire management, franchise and license contracts for 22 open hotels, as well as 30 future hotel projects.  

Offices / global footprint / expansion

Headquarters: London, Citypoint, 1 Ropemaker Street

Offices: Simmons & Simmons has 22 offices worldwide, with office locations including Tokyo, Luxembourg and Amsterdam. 

Insights, internships and other opportunities

Simmons & Simmons offers a number of opportunities for individuals wishing to gain experience in the legal industry and learn more about life at the firm. Opportunities for interested applicants include: open days at the firm’s London and Bristol offices, which provide students with the chance to meet the firm’s lawyers; a two-day Spring Insight Scheme for first year law students and first and second year non-law students, which involves workshops, work shadowing and social events; and summer and winter vacation schemes open to penultimate year law students, final year non-law students, and graduates, during which participants will be supervised by a partner or associate and get a taste of real work.

Training contract

Simmons & Simmons offers a four-seat training contract, with each seat lasting six months. At least one of these must be a contentious seat, and at least two seats must be non-contentious. Alongside on-the-job training, trainees will complete formal training modules through the firm’s ‘Compass Programme’, developing their business development and legal skills. This programme also comprises of five contact days with future trainees over the course of the LPC, providing a unique insight into the firm’s structure and clients.

Secondments

Simmons & Simmons offers its trainees the chance to apply for a six-month client or international secondment, which may take place during the second, third or fourth seat. Previous client secondments have taken place with banking clients in Canary Wharf, whilst international secondments have included a placement at the firm’s office in Hong Kong. 

Technology and innovation

Simmons & Simmons is committed to utilising technology to provide clients with flexible and innovative legal services, with related initiatives including:

  • Simmons Wavelength: Simmons Wavelength - formed through the acquisition of a leading legal-tech firm - is a hub for legal and technological expertise within the firm, with a view to combining, collaborating on, and producing innovative solutions to client issues.
  • Simmons Solutions: adapting to the evolving needs of clients in a changing legal market, Simmons & Simmons has launched ‘Solutions’, a flexible service for clients that need help with specific areas of their business (usually in relation to optimisation and targeted efficiencies).
  • Searchlight: This is one of the products which Simmons & Simmons offers. It is a tool which is used to track upcoming legislative and regulatory changes, to help businesses can keep track of changes across key business areas.

Corporate social responsibility

Simmons & Simmons is committed to carrying out ‘wide reaching’ pro bono work, in part through partnering with clients who share the firm’s ‘passion to make a difference’. Examples of pro bono projects include:

  • Working Families: the firm has a number of volunteers who support Working Families, a UK charity which provides free legal advice to parents and carers on their rights at work. 
  • Safe Passage International: Simmons & Simmons works with Safe Passage International, a not-for-profit which champions the rights of refugees and displaced people fleeing prosecution. The firm provides face-to-face advice and practical casework support on the UK’s two entry clearance schemes. 
  • Kids in Need of Defense: the firm volunteers to help undocumented children make applications to gain British citizenship. 

Diversity and inclusion

Simmons & Simmons ‘values all forms of diversity’ and has put in place a number of initiatives to ensure equality for its staff remains a priority. Examples of these initiatives include:

  • Allyship Programme: in 2023, the firm introduced race and ethnicity allyship training to the UK. It focuses on themes including how to be a better ally, and sessions by an external facilitator which include face-to-face discussions on allyship and challenging non-inclusive behaviours. 
  • Allies Network: this network was launched in 2011 and it is open to everyone at Simmons to champion equality and inclusion in the workplace.
  • TNOC: TNOC is Simmons & Simmons gender network which supports progression for both women and men across the firm. It delivers internal events to promote development, retention and wellbeing.