Join our firm, and you’ll learn so much more than the practice of law. We’ll give you all the experiences you need to become a business leader of the future.
All our lawyers are sector specialists. Soon, you will be too. You’ll learn about the areas that matter most to everyone’s future – from healthcare and technology to the financial forces that power our world.
Make a smarter choice, with us.
Financial institutions
Help us re-write the future.
When we say financial institutions, you might think of traditional banks that are stuck in their ways. But at Simmons & Simmons, you'll find there’s so much more to discover.
The truth is, the world of banking is changing every day. The rise of FinTech means it’s now one of the most innovative sectors to work in. Coupled with the monumental focus on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues in the sector, along with the ever likely transition of crypto currency into mainstream finance, navigating the new technologies and regulatory landscape has never been so challenging for firms. It’s our job to help them.
The financial institutions sector is our biggest focus. We’re known for our work with top international banks and insurers across Europe, the Middle East and Asia. And we’re delivering breakthrough projects that are rewriting the rules of the game.
So, as this sector shapes the world around us, you can be sure that our firm is leaving its mark.
Case study: Breaking boundaries for Barclays
We are a key strategic adviser to Barclays. As the firm’s largest client globally, we act on some of their most strategic and innovative matters.
For example, we successfully defended Barclays against a £1.6 billion deceit claim arising out of events from the 2008 financial crisis. This culminated in a ten-week Commercial Court trial in summer 2020 – the first ever “hybrid” trial (which incorporated both physical and virtual elements) in the UK, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This case was very complex from a legal defence perspective, due to the existence of parallel criminal and regulatory proceedings. The ground-breaking nature of this case has led it to be a precedent decision for situations where a defendant faces multiple claims arising from the same underlying events.
This matter was listed as one of the most significant cases of the year in The Lawyer’s Top 20 cases of 2020, demonstrating how our teams work and deliver the highest quality service to our clients despite the adversities they are faced with.
Asset management
and investment funds
Making the future, present.
Asset managers have surprising influence over how the world works. You may not know much about it now, but join our firm and you’ll see how this sector is behind many of the world’s biggest headlines.
As in everything we do, our influence here is international. Our core team may be based in London, but every day it works with practices across Asia, Europe and the Middle East to deliver a top-tier service to clients around the world.
The asset management sector moves quickly, and we’re innovating to stay ahead. One great example is LaunchPlus, our award-winning online resource that helps hedge funds get started, enabling them to manage all the legal and business decisions that might come their way. Another is our on the Long Term Asset Fund (LTAF), we were the only law firm represented on the Bank of England, HMT, and FCA Productive Finance Working Group which has been central to the development of the LTAF.
We have been actively engaging with our major asset manager clients on the development of the LTAF as well as working closely with a number of trade associations (the Investment Association, AIMA, ACC and BVCA) in this area.
So, when it comes to our influence in the sector, we’re not just leaving our mark right now. We’re helping businesses draw up their blueprints for success.
Join our firm, and you’ll have the opportunity to shape tomorrow’s world, today.
Case study: Advising BlackRock on its acquisition of e-Front
As a Simmons trainee you’ll be involved in game-changing work. Here’s how global investment management company, BlackRock, engaged Simmons on an acquisition, and the role trainees played in making it a reality. BlackRock set its sights on eFront, a private equity and alternative investment software platform - a major strategic acquisition for the company. BlackRock wanted to merge this platform with Aladdin, its own investment software platform. Teams from around Simmons collaborated to help the client achieve the best outcome and forge this major new relationship. Our trainees were right in the thick of the action, completing tasks such as project management, preparing due diligence reports, finalising contractual documents, liaising with local counsel in other jurisdictions and updating BlackRock regularly. The deal set a new standard in investment and risk management technology. BlackRock now has the most comprehensive whole portfolio approach in their industry. This successful client outcome shows how strong our connections and expertise are across our network – and how well we all work together.
Healthcare and life sciences
Be part of something, with us.
We often take day-to-day healthcare for granted. But next time you check a fitness app on your phone or book a GP appointment online, take a second to think about the work that made it happen. Chances are we were involved.
The advance of technology means the healthcare and life sciences sector is changing. Fast. We help clients keep up. Our advice influences everything from the discovery of drugs and the delivery of care to how businesses invest sustainably.
For decades, we have stood by our clients, who are committed to delivering better healthcare for all. As they push the boundaries to address the unmet needs of millions of patients, they have to navigate an increasingly complex and constantly evolving legal environment. On a daily basis, our team works alongside them to answer the legal questions that arise on their path to innovation.
We go above and beyond to share our expertise. To provide an extensive view of the industry’s emerging trends, we surveyed 2000 senior decision makers across the globe, with a particular focus on the legal challenges that lie ahead. Our report shows that:
- digitalisation is gathering pace, from accelerating the M&A negotiation process, to the rise of remote consultations;
- the war for talent continues as the sector aims to attract digital talent and emerging employment law shifts to address hybrid and remote working arrangements;
- ESG is becoming a key focus, as the industry aims to keep pace with other sectors; and
- that supply chains, product liability , disputes, cyber security and the rise of regulation are some of the biggest areas of challenge.
At Simmons, you’ll guide some of the world’s top companies in pharmaceuticals, consumer health and biotech, helping them to rethink the entire healthcare system. In other words, you’ll be part of a revolution that leads to smarter and more sustainable services for patients around the world.
Our multidisciplinary team, covering all areas of business law, consists of lawyers and health professionals. This combination of expertise, unique to the market, allows us to offer incomparable legal services to the sector.
Be part of something, with us.
Case study: Fostering innovative collaborations
We advised these eight leading international pharmaceutical/biotechnology companies on a long term £multi-million collaboration agreement with Our Future Health, pursuant to which each company would become a founding industry member of the Our Future Health programme. Our Future Health will be the UK’s largest ever health research programme, bringing people together to develop new ways to prevent, detect and treat diseases. Our Future Health will collect information from millions of volunteers right across the UK to create one of the most detailed pictures we’ve ever had of people’s health. Researchers will be able to use this information to make new discoveries about human health and disease. The goal of Our Future Health is to transform the prevention, detection and treatment of conditions such as dementia, cancer, diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
Technology, media
and telecommunications
Bring innovation to life.
The Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) sector has a powerful influence on our way of life. Thanks to digital innovations, almost every industry is transforming day by day. At Simmons, you’ll be at the cutting edge of this revolution.
Wherever you look, we’re advising the companies behind major breakthroughs – from the giants of today’s tech world to the major players of tomorrow’s. That’s the level of our influence throughout this fast-moving industry.
Soon, you’ll be dealing with patent wars, or helping a telecoms operator build a new network. Or perhaps you’ll get involved in landmark cases with some of the biggest names in tech. Whatever the project, you’ll impact some of the most ubiquitous devices and digital services on the planet.
So, whether you’re advising clients on new technology such as blockchain or artificial intelligence, or helping them to enter new markets, you’ll see your work – and your career – come to life here.
Case study: Patent Litigation – Philips v Xiaomi
Simmons was recently instructed to defend Xiaomi in global SEP (standard-essential patent)/FRAND (Fair, Reasonable and Non-Discriminatory) litigation brought by Philips, an aggressive SEP portfolio holder. Xiaomi is one of the world’s largest smartphone manufacturers, responsible for hundreds of millions of phone sales a year, and faced the prospect of injunctions across a number of major European markets if Philips succeed. The threat of the world’s largest smartphone manufacturer being forced out of some of the biggest global markets made this litigation both high-stakes and high profile.
Our pan-European Patent Litigation and Intellectual Property teams (part of Simmons’ Dispute Resolution practice group) co-ordinated Xiaomi’s defence across a number of countries, including the international Simmons teams in key jurisdictions Germany and the Netherlands. The UK arm of the proceedings explored novel areas of SEP/FRAND law including the possibility of recovering damages from infringements across the world in a single set of UK proceedings. On this type of case, typical tasks for trainees may involve undertaking investigatory work, factually reviewing allegations by the claimant, taking minutes when interviewing experts in the relevant fields in relation to the litigation matter, and assisting with inter-party correspondence.