HFW

About the firm

If you’re certain maritime law floats your boat, or perhaps all that stands between you and a career in aviation law is being cleared for take-off, HFW’s training contract should definitely be on your radar. The firm secures top-tier rankings in Chambers UK for shipping, aviation, transport logistics and commodities nationwide, and has done for well over a decade. As a general rule:“We focus on particular contracts within our industry sectors,” explains the firm’s training principal, Nigel Wick. He continues, “Our clients might be working on an aviation finance contract, or it might be a super yacht, or a port, or a terminal, and they come to us because we know those contracts and we know those industries.” This is an idea that trainees at the firm certainly buy into too. As one put it: “It’s a very genuine firm, at the top of its profession.”

“It’s a very genuine firm, at the top of its profession.”

As one of the major international capitals for the shipping industry, it’s hardly surprising that HFW’s only UK location and head office sits in London. The firm’s London office is also joined by 22 international offices, staffed by over 700 lawyers. For prospective trainees, sector experience is of course a plus. Alongside recent graduates, a good number of the firm’s current trainees spent time working in other, law-adjacent sectors before joining the firm.

Why trainees joined the firm

Sector-focused approach

HFW’s sector focus is understandably a big part of the draw for many who apply: “The firm is organised around sectors, which actually allows you to develop a deeper understanding of what’s actually happening in each seat, and understand how changes in a sector might impact your everyday work” one trainee explained.As another put it: “I wanted a deep dive into a few different areas instead of gaining broader experience at a firm with more general practice area expertise.”

High calibre work

More than one of the trainees we spoke to flagged the firm’s top rankings in sectors like shipping (and, more importantly, the calibre of the work that comes with it) as a key part of the draw: “I wanted that top rank in shipping, because I wanted to end up in shipping.”

Real sense of camaraderie

When discussing the relationships that they had forged at HFW, one interviewee argued that “The people you work with really make a difference. I’ve worked with some really great teams.” Don’t think that this sense of community is unique to UK offices either. The firm’s international offices were described as “friendly,” and social events overseas tend to involve larger, office wide groups rather than smaller, individual groups.

Trainee satisfaction rankings

Training contract structure

Seat allocation

Trainees at HFW sit in four six-month seats as part of their training contract. Whilst there are no seats which are explicitly mandatory, trainees must sit within a non-contentious seat. Seat selection takes place on a rolling basis (two to three months before the end of your current seat) and is informed by a meeting with the firm’s graduate recruitment team. For the most part, those in the second year of their training contract will have their choices prioritised.

International secondments

As aviation and maritime specialists, it’s evident that the firm likes to keep things moving, even its trainees. All trainees are expected to do an international secondment with seat options in Shanghai, Dubai, Singapore, Monaco, Paris, Piraeus, Geneva or Hong Kong.

Trainees reckoned that the firm’s overseas seats seemed to “force you to grow in a way that you wouldn’t if you were just in the London office.” Another trainee argued that an international secondment “is such a cool experience,” telling us that “it’s neat to explore a different office, and build a different network. The whole experience was enjoyable.”

Seat Experiences

Trainee life

Culture and environment

Data from our annual trainee survey

Reflecting on their relationship with their fellow trainees, one interviewee told us that “I’ve made some good, genuine friends with the people in my cohort. It’s definitely a friendly place.” More senior lawyers also received praise from trainees for their cordiality. We were told that “associates at HFW are really friendly, they will go out of their way to chat to you.” What’s more, “the majority of partners here are very sociable and approachable. I’ve never dealt with difficult partners.”

“I’ve made some good, genuine friends with the people in my cohort.”

HFW’s firm wide social calendar is populated by informal drinks (which take place most weeks), and is also supplemented by firm-funded activities such as bingo or baking contests. Whilst one trainee remarked that “we’re quite social as a firm, there are regular events here,” other trainees were quick to emphasise that each team at HFW has its own unique social life. The firm’s shipping team, for example is almost unanimously seen by trainees as the firm’s most sociable department, even if they had not spent time in the seat. Trainees in the seat go out for regular drinks and dinner and hold charity socials.

Just a few years ago, HFW moved into a new home in Bishopsgate. Interviewees revealed that the office is furnished in an open plan style, has great natural light, and has lots of side and meeting rooms with “all the modern tech you need.” The office’s 26^th floor has a bar and is reportedly a frequented location for after work drinks. One we spoke to noted a good range of draft beer and pointed out that it was a “nice area to relax and socialise with colleagues.” The building even hosts free exercise classes, massage chairs, puppy therapy, and sunset yoga.

Working patterns

Data from our annual trainee survey

The number of days HFW trainees are expected to work in the office can vary by seat, but generally trainees are expected to be in three or four days a week. Most interviewees admitted that they preferred being in the office, with one arguing that it is “much easier to learn when you are in person. It’s far easier to get explanations, and double check things.”

Trainees reported starting at around 9am, with 7pm seen to be a fairly normal time to finish. Trainees firmly believed that in many teams, the company line was to “take your time off and when you’re on holiday don’t log on.”

Pay

Interviewees reckoned that their compensation was roughly in line with other city-based firms, but thought that their work/life balance was probably better. As one trainee put it “The work at HFW is demanding enough, but for city firm, the work life balance is gentler.”

Supervision and training

At HFW, trainees are not just left to sink or swim. During their induction week, trainees are provided with a mentor, who is usually a medium seniority lawyer that trainees won’t directly work with. This separation allows trainees to speak to their mentor in a more candid manner about any issues they may come across: “I couldn’t speak more highly about my mentor,” noted one trainee, whilst also pointing out that “having someone you don’t work with is really valuable.” The firm’s supervisors were also described as approachable. One trainee recalled: “I always felt like I had so many stupid questions at the beginning of the seat and they were happy to answer.” Some supervisors were said to be more hands-on than others, but trainees said that eventually, they were able to work out how to get the best out of all of their supervisors.

To supplement their supervision and mentorship programmes, HFW runs non group-specific formal training sessions for the entire cohort. Trainees reported that these sessions were helpful and felt as if the opportunity to ask senior lawyers questions was “really valuable.” Around four or five times a year, firmwide training is also given to HFW lawyers by Oxford professors, who provide caselaw updates.

Pro bono & CSR

Trainees noted that the firm has recently increased its pro bono commitments, with “quite a few different pro bono things” reportedly now on offer. Trainees can volunteer to help out at the Tower Hamlets law Centre on a rotating basis and one-off pro bono opportunities are frequently posted on an intranet for trainees to get involved with. Once trainees qualify, a certain amount of pro bono hours can count towards bonuses.

Several teams at the firm also have dedicated charities that they frequently fundraise for. The shipping department, for example, supports the Mission to Seafarers charity.

Other opportunities include

• Supporting 'The Air League' - a company that aims to break down the barriers to aviation for hundreds of young people every year, helping them start their careers and building self-esteem and well-being through work experience

Inclusion

HFW has several inclusion networks which its trainees are able to become members of, including ENRICH (ethnicity, nationality, race/religion, identity, culture, heritage), Gender Equality, Healthy Minds, Proud, Social Mobility and Thrive (disability and neurodiversity). The firm also has a dedicated DEI partner to support DEI efforts. Trainees reckoned that there were usually talks held every two to four weeks, which are well attended. One trainee told us that “the DEI partner’s commitment to real change has been inspiring. It’s been fantastic.”

“…the DEI partner’s commitment to real change has been inspiring. It’s been fantastic.”

The firm also celebrates key religious and cultural dates, including Diwali, Ramadan, Hanukkah, Black History Month, Pride Month and South Asian Heritage Month. The firm also holds regular talks on the subject of inclusion and accessibility in the legal profession, which are reportedly well attended. The firm puts on seminars and talks related to the subject of mental health and provides trainees with access to Headspace.

Qualification

For most of HFW’s departments, the qualification process appears slightly less formal than at other firms. In many cases, there are no technical tests, unless the available positions are oversubscribed. Interviews are also typically only undertaken “in name only.” This approach does not apply to the firm’s shipping department, however, as we heard that it is very competitive to qualify into. Trainees wanting to qualify into the shipping team are required to take a technical test and undertake a more formalised interview.

“The process here doesn’t seem excessive,” one told us, arguing that “the timeline makes sense and it is a clearly explained process, so you’re aware as you go.” Many trainees seemed as if they would be willing to stay at the firm. As one trainee was keen to point out: “There are lots of partners that have been here from day one, which seems like a really good indication. I can definitely see myself staying”. Providing advice on the qualification process, one interviewee argued that “it’s all about getting on the right people’s radar whilst at the firm. Grad rec can only do so much for you.”

Meals on the 26^th floor…

Breakfast (which usually consists of fruits and pastries) is free to HFW lawyers and free hot lunch is provided two days a week.