- HFW is an industry leader in the aerospace, commodities, construction, energy, insurance, and shipping sectors, and prides itself on its deep industry expertise.
- Chambers afforded HFW its highest ‘Band 1’ ranking for Commodities: Physicals; and Shipping and Transport.
- HFW services a number of interesting industries that are not always covered by other large firms, including Government and public sector, marine insurance, offshore wind, ports and terminals, and travel, cruise and leisure.
- The firm partnered with CyberOwl, a company focused on shipping cybersecurity, to help HFW’s clients in the shipping sector prevent and actively defend against commercial, legal, technical and operational risks. This has further helped to develop the firm’s reputation as a leading shipping law firm.
- Notable clients include Goldman Sachs, Vitol, BP, Northern Offshore Services, BIMCO, Nibulon and LEMSCO.
- All trainees are apparently offered an international secondment, according to Chambers Student.
- The firm prides itself on its deep industry expertise and its entrepreneurial, creative and collaborative culture.
- HFW has 21 offices worldwide and focuses on developing international lawyers.
- HFW recruits a relatively small number of trainees each year, 18 which is divided across its September and March intake
- The firm’s pro bono work takes on a nautical theme too as the firm has partnered with The Mission To Seafarers which is a charity that helps seafarers in over 200 ports with welfare, chaplaincy and emergency assistance.
- The training contract at HFW leans towards contentious practice as trainees spend three of their four seats in contentious work
We cover these selling points in more detail below, alongside other relevant firm facts and characteristics.
Practice areas / services
HFW is a full-service law firm, with a broad range of practice areas including:
- Admiralty & Crisis Management
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Anti-bribery & Anti-corruption
- Anti-dumping
- Antitrust
- Antitrust & Competition
- Asset Finance
- Capital Markets
- Commercial
- Commercial Contracts
- Commercial Litigation
- Commodity Trading
- Complex Environments
- Compliance
- Corporate
- Corporate Litigation
- Crisis Management
- Customs
- Cyber Security & Crisis Management
- Data Protection
- Derivatives
- Digital Trade
- Dispute Resolution
- Employment
- EU Litigation
- Finance
- Financial Services Regulation
- Fraud & Asset Recovery
- Fraud & Insolvency
- Insolvency Litigation
- Intellectual Property
- International Arbitration
- International Trade Regulation
- Investment Funds
- Islamic Finance
- Joint Ventures
- M&A
- Merger Control
- Project & Infrastructure Finance
- Projects
- Public Procurement
- Regulated Markets
- Regulatory
- Reorganisations & Restructurings
- Sanctions
- State Aid
- Trade Compliance
- Trade Finance
- World Trade Organisation (WTO)
- White Collar Defence & Investigations
Chambers and Partners, a leading analyst of the legal market, has awarded HFW its highest ‘Band 1’ ranking for the following departments: Commodities: Physicals; and Shipping and Transport: Logistics. It also awarded the firm its ‘Band 2’ ranking for the following departments: Asset Finance: Shipping Finance; Aviation; Commodities: Derivatives & Energy Trading; Insurance: Contentious Claims & Reinsurance; and Travel: Regulatory & Commercial. See here for more information.
Key sectors / industries
HFW services a broad range of industries, with some of its highest-value clients operating in the following sectors:
In addition, HFW services various industries including Aerospace, Banking & Finance, Construction, Government & Public Sector, Insurance & Reinsurance, Logistics, Marine Insurance, Mining, Offshore Construction, Offshore Wind, Oil & Gas, Ports & Terminals, Technology, Media & Telecom (TMT), and Tunnelling.
Work
HFW has consistently advised on some of the most high-profile cases and matters in the aerospace, commodities, construction, energy, insurance and shipping sectors in recent years. Some notable examples include:
- BIMCO: HFW supports BIMCO, which is the world’s largest direct-membership organisation for those in the shipping industry, in helping the industry to navigate complex new carbon intensity (CII) regulations and work towards decarbonisation.
- Nibulon: the firm advised Nibulon, the leading Ukrainian agricultural group, on the restructuring of its US$80 million pre-export credit facility.
- LEMSCO: HFW advised on the launch of the shipping industry’s first sustainable fund, named the Low Emission Methanol Shipping Company (LEMSCO).
Offices / global footprint / expansion
Offices / global footprint / expansion
Headquarters: London, 8 Bishopsgate
Offices: HFW has 21 offices across 16 countries, including offices in Shenzhen, Piraeus, Syndey, Abu Dhabi, Houston, and Monaco.
Insights, internships and other opportunities
HFW offers a variety of opportunities for students wishing to explore law as a future career. These include insight and open days designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the firm’s ethos, practice areas and strategies. Alongside this, the firm also offers a spring and summer vacation scheme. These schemes involve a one-hour negotiation exercise, a short research project, and a partner interview.
In 2023, the firm launched its solicitor apprenticeship scheme. This is a six-year programme where the first one and a half years are spent focusing on gaining a deeper understanding of how law firms operate, then halfway through year two, apprentices spend time in legal seats. In year five, solicitor apprentices merge onto the training contract programme. Solicitor apprentices also have the opportunity in year four of the programme to apply for an international or client secondment.
Training contract
HFW offers a four-seat training contract, with each seat lasting six months. A training contract at HFW typically consists of three contentious seats and one transactional. The firm recruits a small number of trainees: typically around 18 per year, split across September and March intakes. Throughout the training contract, trainees benefit from workshops, departmental know-how sessions, mentoring by experienced lawyers, and on the job training.
Secondments
All trainees are apparently offered an international secondment, according to Chambers Student, although the firm’s website was less clear on this.
Technology and innovation
HFW has extended its work in its core practice areas to develop additional areas of expertise for its clients. Examples of these developments include:
- CyberOwl: HFW has partnered with CyberOwl to offer its clients in the shipping sector comprehensive advice on how to prevent and actively defend against commercial, legal, technical and operational risks. CyberOwl provides a team of data and security experts to work alongside the expert lawyers at HFW.
- Starburst Aviation Tech Accelerator Program: Starburst is the world’s only accelerator solely dedicated to aviation technology. HFW has provided legal training for its ten promising aviation start-ups.
- Solomonic: HFW partnered with Solomonic, which is a system that uses detailed court data to enhance predictions, optimise case research and improve outcomes. In particular, HFW has provided expertise to help the platform develop and improve its data analytics.
Corporate social responsibility
HFW provides both legal and non-legal pro bono support across a variety of different causes and issues. Examples of its pro bono work includes:
- Mission To Seafarers: in 2017, HFW started a partnership with The Mission to Seafarers, which involves the firm providing legal advice in connection with a global governance review (which in turn has enabled Mission to Seafarers to update many of its outdated processes).
- Keep Kids in School: This programme in Nepal was launched in 2021 and is supported by the firm. It helps to improve access to secondary education for 3,312 vulnerable children through the provision of accessible, dignified WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) facilities in a number of schools in Nepal.
- NAHAM 3 Hostages: a team of HFW lawyers helped to secure the successful release of 26 seafarer hostages from Somali pirates, after their capture in 2012 on the NAHAM 3.
Diversity and inclusion
HFW describes itself as being ‘dedicated to inclusivity’ and is committed to improving its approach to diversity and inclusion. Examples of its policies and strategies in this area include:
- Proud@HFW Network: one of the firm’s internal diversity and inclusion networks, Proud@HFW, organises events, training and campaigns for those in the LGBTQ+ community and allies. Representatives from the network also attend the London Pride Parade annually.
- Shared Parental Leave Policy: in 2016, the firm’s London office introduced a shared parental leave policy - which matches the firm’s enhanced maternity pay provision - to encourage men to take time to be with their families.
- Race and Ethnicity Network: the firm’s race and ethnicity network has held events in recognition of UK Black History Month, recognised religious events such as Diwali and Hanukkah, and held an Eid meal for those who celebrate in the firm’s London office cafe.