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 just one overseas office - now in Brussels (the firm announced the closure of its small Paris base in March 2025) - 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.

Things recovered in 2023/24, with the firm recording a tidy 10% increase in revenue. And, although this slipped again in 2024/25 to £210 million, Travers' PEP inched up to a record £1.3 million while revenue per lawyer climbed to its highest-ever figure.

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