Our Work
As one of the world’s leading law firms, we advise many of the biggest and most ambitious organizations across all major regions of the globe. Our clients trust us with their most important transactions, disputes, and projects because of our ability to cut through complexity and mitigate risk. We offer local insight and seamless cross-border service in all major regions. Positioned to support the major trade flows, we help the world’s top companies thrive in the global economy. We build exceptional working relationships with our clients. By doing so, we are able to develop a deeper understanding of your organization, give you commercially astute, innovative advice and deliver better business outcomes. Our clients include BHP, BP, Chevron Corporation, Credit Agricole, Standard Chartered, Credit Suisse, Dyson, Jefferies, Kingdom of Spain, Marriott International, Republic of Italy, Engie, Eni, and Uber.
Key Cases:
Secured an important victory for the Kingdom of Spain in a long-running landmark investor-state arbitration concerning the renewables sector in Spain.
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- Retained as trial counsel to represent a plaintiff group of five heirs of an Italian senator in dispute with Christie's, Inc. and other defendants concerning allegations that an extremely rare and precious pink diamond was stolen from them.
- Acted as counsel for Chevron Corporation to defend the company against an $18 billion sham arbitral award issued against Chevron and Saudi Aramco by a corrupt "arbitration centre" in Cairo, Egypt.
- Defense of the Jefferies Entities in litigation concerning racketeering and fraud claims asserted by more than a dozen privatized military housing projects.
- Represented a plaintiff group of eight individual photographers in a dispute with the National Football League and Associated Press.
- Secured the dismissal of a putative securities class action lawsuit against hibu group. The judge dismissed all of plaintiffs' claims with prejudice.
- Advised Hecate Grid on the procurement, construction, and maintenance arrangements for a stand-alone utility scale battery project in Santa Ana, California.
- Represented an international banking client in a disability discrimination case.
Pro Bono
Inspired by our clients and by our professional responsibility as a global law firm – sustainability, social impact and a sense of justice underpin everything we aspire to achieve as a responsible business. Reflecting our global outlook, our pro bono and citizenship initiatives focus on building the rule of law, social inclusion, capacity building and the far-reaching implications of climate change. Some notable cases include:
- Acting for Equality Now on pro bono research and policy advocacy project on online sexual exploitation.
- Acting as coordinating counsel on pro-bono project involving a multi-jurisdictional study of whistleblower protections and risks.
- Preparing a report with the results of a study on the protections of biocultural property rights of indigenous communities under US law for Fundación Nativo.
DIVERSITY
Leading for Inclusion is our global diversity, inclusive culture, and mental health strategy. This strategy builds on the momentum and achievements since introducing our first global Diversity & Inclusion strategy more than ten years ago. It provides an opportunity to take stock, reflect on our history and achievements, and acknowledge how much the world, our clients and we as a firm have changed.
This new strategy broadens our focus to encompass workplace culture and frames our vision within our firm values - Human, Bold and Outstanding, as well as the HSF Deal expressed in Your Growth. Our Ambition. It integrates an updated global approach related to mental health that beyond ensuring access to support and recognises the clear link between wellbeing and high performance. It's an exciting time to reset our vision, and we are more committed than ever to working together to achieve it – as colleagues and with our clients and the communities in which we operate.
Latest News
United Nations Global Compact
We are a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact. We work with our people, our clients and wider society to respond to the needs that exist in the communities in which we do business, and lead by example to make a positive impact.
Gender Equality Matters (GEM)
Our global Gender Equity Matters (GEM) network focuses on bringing women together to share experience and knowledge. We’ve also introduced a Women in Tech series to help women overcome barriers to success.
Multiculturalism
Our global Multiculturalism network aims to improve racial and cultural diversity across the firm. As well as supporting anti-racism and educational initiatives, the network celebrates key religious and cultural events.
LGBT+ Inclusion
As a global firm, we’re proud advocates of LGBT+ inclusion. That’s why we’re consistently awarded Stonewall’s Top Global Employer status, as a leading global employer for LGBT+ diversity and inclusion. We are working hard to ensure that, wherever our people are located, they feel safe, included and celebrated for who they are. Our global IRIS (Inclusion, Respecting Identity and Sexuality) Network is one of our longest-standing diversity networks. It connects and engages LGBT+ colleagues and allies across our firm and champions our market-leading commitment to LGBT+ inclusion. Recently, we relaunched our trans and non-binary guidelines and supported pro bono efforts to decriminalize homosexuality around the world.
Locally, we have established a New York chapter which aims to raise awareness of LGBT+ inclusion and create safe and supportive spaces for everyone to thrive together.
Mental Health Strategy
In October 2019, we launched our first global mental health strategy – Thrive. This strategy continues to drive our activity throughout the firm, with a focus on culture and access to support to enable optimal mental health for everyone and our Mental Health Champions program lies at the heart of this.
Champions play a critical role in raising awareness of mental health, championing wider initiatives across the firm and supporting a culture of inclusion and openness around mental health. We don't require or ask our Champions to be counselors – they are everyday people, drawn from all levels and teams, who have an interest in providing a safe and trusting space, supporting colleagues with effective signposting and championing the firm's approach to mental health. They lead by example, proactively looking after mental health and wellbeing and helping teams to spot early unsustainable ways of working.
Awards
Our firm is consistently recognized for our work by Law360, Chambers, Legal 500, Latinvex, Latin Lawyer, Benchmark, IJ Global, Best Lawyers. Some further highlights include:
- Best Law Firms, 2021 – The Times
- Vault Rankings 2022: # 4 Quality of Work; #19 for Firm Culture; #23 for Satisfaction; #38 Best Law Firms to Work For
- Commended for Litigation Team of the Year, 2020 – Lawyer Awards
- A Top 5 Practice in the World, 2016-2020 – Global Arbitration Review
- Award for Innovation in Diversity & Inclusion, 2019 – Financial Times
- Band 3 International Arbitration – Chambers & Partners Latin America 2023
- Band 4 Project Finance – Chambers & Partners Latin America 2023
- Band 4 International Arbitration: The Elite – Chambers & Partners USA 2022
- Band 1 Global-wide Litigation Services – Chambers & Partners 2022
- Best for Commercial Dispute Resolution, The Times Best Law Firm 2022
- Global Law Firm of the Year in Europe 2021 – The Lawyer
- Gold Award 2022 (Stonewall Workplace Equality Index)
- Latin America’s Top 100 Female Lawyers, Latinvex 2022
- Litigation & Disputes Team of the Year 2021 – British Legal Awards
- Ranked 7th 2022 UK Social Mobility Employer Index
- Ranked 3rd Globally for Proportion of Women Partners, according to Pirical (HR analytics Co.)
- Employment Practice Receives Elite Ranking and Recognition for Global Strength, International Employment Lawyers (IEL) Elite 2023
- Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Awards 2022: Winner – innovation in managing complexity
- New York Partners Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America 2020, 2021
- Top 10 on GAR 30 List, Global Arbitration Review 2023
- Top International Law Firms, International Arbitration, Legal 500 Latin America 2023
- Member of the Law Firm Antiracism Alliance
Key Reasons to Join
BE A PART OF THE NEW YORK STORY |
From the start of your career, you will be a key contributor to the growth of the office and its practice. You will be able to work on a collaborative team and shape how the business will continue to drive our success for years to come. |
CAREER AT THE TOP OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION |
By joining Herbert Smith Freehills, you will become an integral part of one of the world’s leading legal practices and play a vital role in helping our clients thrive in the global economy. |
ADVISE ON COMPLEX AND CRITICAL MATTERS |
You will provide new perspectives to our clients to help them navigate legal complexities and protect them from risk. |
OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS THE GLOBE |
We can give you international opportunities in select regions of the world that only a leading global practice can provide. |
INVESTMENT IN YOUR DEVELOPMENT |
We will help you grow professionally through formal training programs and real case work in New York. Our top performing associates have the opportunity to receive training at our yearly Associate Development Center. |
FIRM CULTURE |
You will be part of a working environment that is supportive, open, and one that fosters your individual talent. |
RECOGNITION FOR EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE |
We’ll expect exceptional performance from you; in return, we will provide you with rewards and opportunities tailored to your needs and goals. |
TOP-OF-MARKET COMPENSATION |
We want the best people and match New York’s market-leading salary and bonus scale at all levels of seniority. |
Hear From Our Team