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 is so much more to discover about the work of these fantastic organisations.
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. There is an increasing focus on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues in the sector, along with the ever likely transition of crypto currency into mainstream finance, as well as navigating new technologies such as AI. Unsurprisingly, the regulatory landscape has never been so challenging for firms. It’s our job to help them.
The financial institutions sector is the firm’s largest sector. 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 shaping the markets in which our clients operate.
So, as this sector shapes the world around us, you can be sure that our firm is leaving its mark.
Case study: Advancing innovation
We advised a major international bank’s Ventures Division on its strategic partnership with a technology company to enable sports clubs (initially football clubs) to issue smart membership cards to their members that enable access to stadia for matches. The cards can also be used as a payment card at any retailer accepting Visa. A key aspect of the offering was collection of data and its commercialisation.
The project was very challenging in terms of complexity especially in terms of how data could be utilised for each party in the ecosystem, whether the bank, its technology partner, the club or retailers, in a manner that is compliant with relevant law. The financial services regulatory and IP issues were equally complex.
This was an ambitious new product offering for our client and the first of its kind in the UK market.
Asset management
and investment funds
Making the future, present.
Asset managers wield a surprising amount of influence on global affairs. You might not realise it yet, but by joining our firm, you'll discover how this sector is a driving force behind many of the world’s headline-making developments.
We have a broad network which spans the globe, breaking through geographical barriers. Our expertise and collaborative efforts stretch across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, ensuring we deliver outstanding service to a diverse and international client base.
Our client roster speaks volumes about our depth of expertise. We work with over 85% of the top 50 global asset managers, the leading hedge funds in Europe and the US, a wide range of private fund managers, and some of the world’s most significant institutional investors.
Staying at the forefront of the asset management industry demands continuous innovation. Our solutions, such as LaunchPlus, underscore our commitment to providing hedge funds with the essential tools they need to navigate the complex legal and business environment from the start. Furthermore, our involvement in the broader conversation on the retailisation of private funds (making it easier for retail investors to engage in long-term investments) establishes us as thought leaders in the investment community.
We are actively engaged with key financial institutions, regulatory bodies, and trade associations, including the Investment Association, AIMA and MAS, across our international network, highlighting our central role in the sector and our dedication to advancing the asset management industry.
Joining our firm is more than starting a new job. It’s an opportunity to be part of a team that’s at the forefront of shaping the future of global finance, devising the strategies that will navigate the evolving landscape of asset management.
Case study: Brookfield Infrastructure's acquisition of Data4 from AXA IM
As a Simmons trainee, you'll have the opportunity to contribute to transformative projects. Take, for example, our involvement with Brookfield Infrastructure's acquisition of Data4 from AXA IM. Brookfield, a leading global alternative asset manager with assets under management totalling approximately $800 billion, aimed to expand its portfolio by acquiring Data4, a prominent data centre firm based in Paris. Data4 is known for its extensive operations across France, Italy, and Spain, and is actively developing projects in Poland and Germany, serving a diverse clientele including cloud operators and various companies, with this deal therefore positioning us well for advising on future such matters. The acquisition, which completed in Q3 2023, required significant regulatory approvals, showcasing the deal's complexity and significance.
Our trainees played a pivotal role in this extensive cross-border transaction, which was recognized as the Europe Datacentre Deal of the Year at the TMT M&A Awards EMEA for its size, complexity, and impact on the market. The involvement spanned multiple jurisdictions, including the UK, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and Spain, and required coordination across various practice groups and cross-sector, including TMT, AMIF, and with Adaptive, demonstrating our firm's comprehensive capabilities and dedication to excellence. Our trainees were deeply involved, undertaking responsibilities that included managing projects, drafting due diligence reports, finalising contractual agreements, and co-ordinating with local counsel across different jurisdictions. This deal not only highlights the firm's strategic focus on Transactions for Funds (T4F) but also exemplifies the high-calibre work we undertake for our clients, thanks to the collaborative effort of all 183 timekeepers involved.
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.
At Simmons, you’ll guide some of the world’s top companies in pharmaceuticals, medtech, consumer health and biotech to help them answer the legal questions thatarise on their path to innovation. 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, legal engineers, data scientists and health experts. This combination of expertise, unique to the market, allows us to offer incomparable legal services to the sector.
Together, let’s empower healthcare innovators.
Case study: Using technology to support our clients’ strategic projects
We advised Novartis on the separation and spin-off of Sandoz, its generics and biosimilars division. Simmons worked alongside the client’s procurement and legal teams to support the project’s global contract separation workstream - we used technology, data science, process engineering and legal analysis to review and separate thousands of supplier relationships, so that Sandoz and Novartis could operate as separate entities from the date of the spin- off.
The spin-off was completed on 4 October 2023, following approval by Novartis shareholders. As a consequence of the spin-off, Sandoz has become an independent, publicly traded company on the SIX Swiss Exchange with ADRs traded on OTCQX in the US over-the-counter market. It was a real privilege to work with the excellent client procurement and legal teams on this brilliantly executed project.
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: Google 7.3bn class action claim in UK Competition Appeal Tribunal
In an article from The Lawyer.com, they reported Simmons & Simmons has swooped in to defend Google in what will be the firm’s second class action mandate in the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT).
The £7bn lawsuit was filed in September 2023 by the co-founder and CEO of Consumer Voice, Nikki Stopford. Dubbed the “cost of living crisis” class action, Stopford accuses Google of anti-competitive practices that she alleges have led to 65 million UK consumers paying more for goods and services.
This is the second class action Simmons will be defending. Partners Patrick Boylan and Satyen Dhana are already defending BT in the class action brought by Mishcon de Reya-repped Justin Le Patourel, which is currently on trial and featured as one of The Lawyer’s top 20 cases of 2024. The Patourel case is the first to progress to full trial since the new regime’s introduction and will test how the tribunal determines awards of aggregate damages in collective proceedings.