Overview
Introduction
Freshfields is ideal for associates seeking exciting international work. The firm is in an expansion phase, which means lots of opportunity for early hands-on experience, as well as valuable mentorship in a friendly culture. Freshfields’ history may date back to the 1700s, but the firm’s recent momentum in the United States reveals an exciting career outlook for its associates. The attorneys at Freshfields have a global perspective, which allows the firm to excel at handling complex, cross-border work.
Firm Stats
Total No. Attorneys (2024)
No. of Partners Named (2023)
Featured Rankings
No. of 1st Year Associates Hired (2023)
No. of Summer Associates (2024)
Base Salary
Vault Verdict
In terms of history, cross-border work, and growth, Freshfields is about as impressive as it gets. The firm hires primarily from T14 schools and also looks for work experience, an interest in international work, and multilingualism. Offices are friendly and collaborative, and work-life boundaries are respected. Team members genuinely enjoy working together, and partners are accessible and instrumental in helping associate development by providing regular feedback. Senior associates and partners take mentoring seriously, and Freshfields offers more-formal, frequent, and well-organized training. Lateral hires appreciate being supported and incorporated into teams quickly. Work assignments are interesting and challenging—sometimes exceeding an associate’s comfort level—and often incl...
About the Firm
For more than 250 years, Freshfields has remained a constant at the top of the U.K. and European legal markets. With 28 international offices, the firm has expanded its reach around the globe and recently has become a player in the United States with growing offices in New York; Silicon Valley; and Washington, DC. Its U.S.-qualified team is now 300 strong, with roughly one-third of the U.S. partnership and associate team joining since 2019.
Established Name, Modern Growth
Founded in 1743, Freshfields might be the oldest international law firm in the world. Its first client was the Bank of England, which remains a firm client to this day. In 1801, James William Freshfield joined the firm as a partner. Successive generations of lawyers in the Freshfield family would go on to work at...
Associate Reviews
- “Our firm is friendly and respectful and emphasizes the importance of doing good work but also having a life outside the office.”
- “Freshfields has a very social and friendly atmosphere. Despite being coworkers, people seem to genuinely enjoy spending time with one another, and firm-sponsored and organic social events are well-attended.”
- “The firm fosters a very social and collegial culture. As a new lawyer to the firm, I have found everyone to be extremely welcoming and helpful. There is also investment in events that foster socializing across the office (lawyers and staff alike).”
- “Freshfields attorneys are generally curious, kind, and interesting people. From what I've experienced, many attorneys get together both inside and outside of the office, and the overall atmosphere is generally conducive to forming friendships. People are also very understanding and generally willing to help one another however they can.”
Why Work Here
Who We Are
More than 2,800 lawyers who work in 150+ countries and speak over 70 languages. Freshfields combines the entrepreneurial and collaborative environment of a boutique firm with the top clients, scale, mandates, resources, benefits and training of one of the oldest and largest international firms in the world.
With top-tier lawyers in the U.S. in M&A, corporate governance, securities and shareholder litigation, antitrust, white-collar defense and investigations, restructuring, technology and CFIUS, we offer clients the ability to work with the world’s first “jurisdictionally agnostic” firm, capable of delivering elite legal advice in every major practice area and in every corner of the world. We help clients navigate their most complex business issues and capitalize on their most significant opportunities. This work involves executing complex cross-border transactions, dealing with the most challenging multijurisdictional litigations and global investigations, and handling arbitrations and regulatory issues involving multiple countries.
Diversity at Freshfields US LLP
Getting Hired Here
- “Big focus on diversity in hiring summers and first-year associates but does not seem interested in seeking candidates outside of T14 schools.”
- “Like most firms, it's overwhelmingly T14 grads. NYU seems pretty well represented. Diversity and prior work experience seem to matter. Honestly, I think it's more about whether you have the right personality to be happy here and an interest in cross-border work.”
- “From what I can tell, Freshfields recruits largely from T14, NY, and DC schools. Most associates have international experience or interests, speak multiple languages, and are generally thoughtful and curious people. Some first years have prior paralegal experience, and most worked on journals during law school.”
- “I believe Freshfields is more interested in the person than the school or grades. Everyone who is hired comes from a top-tier school, but you have to have the right personality and want to do the work that Freshfields offers: cross-border matters for the largest companies.”
Perks & Benefits