Travers Smith

Travers Smith is a leading City law firm based in London.

Recognised as a member of the Silver Circle of top law firms, Travers is one of those City stalwarts that has quietly done its own thing for more than 200 years - and it’s paid off handsomely.

Tracing its roots back to a small practice in the heart of the City, over time it steadily built up a solid client base and a reputation for high-calibre work. By the late 1990s, it had become known as a go-to for mid-market corporate deals and niche private equity matters - which remain two of its strongest cards today.

While many of its City peers have chased headline-making mergers or aggressive global expansion over the past decade, Travers has stuck to what it does best. It doubled down on its core strengths in corporate, private equity and dispute resolution, helping it maintain an independent spirit in a crowded marketplace.

Today, Travers has around 90 partners and more than 400 lawyers.

Despite not being the biggest firm on the block, it regularly features on major M&A deals and fund formations. It’s widely seen as one of the most prestigious names outside of the Magic Circle. Its private equity practice, in particular, has developed a loyal following among big-name sponsor clients.

On culture, Travers Smith consistently scores highly in legal directories where it’s often praised for its ‘collegiate and friendly’ culture, with partners and associates working closely alongside clients. While some might view that as standard marketing-speak, feedback from insiders suggests it’s actually pretty accurate.

Don’t be fooled by its modest size compared to some City rivals: it punches well above its weight in handling premium deals and complex matters - much like its similarly-sized rival Macfarlanes.

In fact, the two firms are often put in the same bucket when it comes to their successful (and difficult to replicate) mix of intentionally modest size, distinctive culture and healthy profits.

Internationally, Travers Smith maintains a decidedly focused footprint. It has an office in Paris but no others overseas, preferring to partner with a network of like-minded firms worldwide (in the spirit of Macfarlanes and Slaughter and May). This setup allows the firm to handle cross-border transactions without sacrificing that fiercely independent streak.

It’s fair to say that Travers has faced some challenges over the past five or so years. After ten straight years of revenue growth leading up to 2020, the firm hit a bit of a wobble between 2020 and 2023, with profits taking a dip for two consecutive years and a handful of headline partner exits.

Fast-forward to 2023/24, though, and things look to be back on track: Travers recorded a tidy 10% increase in revenue and recorded its best-ever PEP figure of £1.3 million.

Just in time for its move to new City headquarters at Stonecutter Court in Farringdon, neighbouring Deloitte and Goldman Sachs.

Other things to know

Nigel Farage Debanking Scandal: In 2024, Travers Smith was appointed by NatWest Group to conduct an independent review into the closure of Nigel Farage's bank accounts at Coutts, a NatWest subsidiary. The scandal revolved around allegations that Farage's accounts were closed due to his political views, leading to significant public and political backlash.

Sale of Legal AI Division: In 2024, Travers Smith spun-off its AI technology arm into a separate software business known as Jylo. Top 100 law firm Howard Kennedy became a Jylo customer in January 2025, choosing the platform to help build out its generative AI strategy.

What is Travers Smith known for?

Travers Smith is a full service corporate law firm, with a strong focus on corporate/M&A, finance and disputes. It is best known for its expertise in the following practice areas:

Corporate/M&A: Travers Smith has one of the most highly-regarded mid-market M&A practices in London. It advises clients on the full range of transactional work and is very strong in the technology and financial services sectors. It has a Band 1 ranking from Chambers for mid-market M&A advice.

Private Equity: Long-regarded as one of the City’s leading private equity advisers, Travers Smith is known for its sponsor-side practice. Like conventional corporate mandates, it is among the best on mid-market buyouts. Chambers ranks it in Band 2 for mid-market work.

Litigation: Regarded as punching well above its weight on high profile dispute resolution matters, Travers Smith advises big-name and blue chip corporate clients across a range of commercial disputes. It has a Band 2 ranking from Chambers for corporate litigation advice.

What's Chambers?

We use Chambers rankings to demonstrate a firm's strengths. Chambers is the most highly-regarded provider of law firm rankings in the legal industry. Law firms are ranked in bands from 1 (highest) to 6 (lowest) across a range of practice areas.

It's important to note that being ranked in any band at all is still considered a significant achievement.

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Who does Travers Smith compete with?

Travers Smith is regarded as one of the best firms outside of the Magic Circle. It competes with Silver Circle rivals Herbert Smith Freehills and Ashurst, as well as ‘small but mighty’ rival Macfarlanes.

Travers Smith sits outside the top 25 biggest law firms in the UK by revenue. In 2023/24, its revenue was £215 million.

In 2023/24, its profit per equity partner (PEP) was £1.3 million.

How much does a partner at Travers Smith make?

In 2023/24, Travers Smith’s average profit per equity partner (PEP) was £1.3 million.

This is the total amount of profit available for distribution among equity partners, divided by the number of equity partners at the firm.

This represents the average amount that equity partners are entitled to. Some will receive significantly more, some less. It depends on the firm’s profit-sharing formula and each partner’s seniority.

How many trainees does Travers Smith take?

Travers Smith takes up to 35 trainees each year.

Trainees complete four seats in different departments, each lasting six months. Trainees must do both a corporate seat and a disputes seat (in litigation or employment).