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Covington lawyers represent some of the world's most sophisticated clients in cutting-edge technology, white collar defense, litigation, transactional, public policy and government affairs, and life sciences matters.
Who We Are
Covington & Burling LLP was founded in Washington, DC a century ago. Today, Covington has more than 1,000 lawyers and advisers across our offices in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States.
We offer services across a wide range of practice areas, advising clients on their most challenging and complex matters. Most of the work has an international element, and all our practice groups operate across borders. Our distinctively collaborative culture allows us to be truly one team globally, drawing on the diverse experience of lawyers across the firm.
At Covington, you will have an opportunity to work on cutting-edge deals for international and UK corporates such as Microsoft, Astra Zeneca and Facebook, Fortune 100 businesses and leading technology, life sciences and media companies. We have represented Facebook, Inc in its US$22 billion acquisition of WhatsApp and its US$1 billion acquisition of Instagram. We also advised Illumina on a four-year project that will map genomes for breakthroughs into cancer and rare diseases. Most recently we have advised on a deal in which Pfizer & BioNTech have agreed to work together to develop a covid-19 vaccine.
Why Train at Covington?
As a trainee at Covington you will have early responsibility and exposure. Working within small teams and playing a significant role in complex substantive work, our trainees work closely with senior lawyers and partners, and have a chance to make a real impact on work that matters.
We offer trainees the opportunity to work on complex projects for clients such as Microsoft, Astra Zeneca and Meta, and engage in cutting-edge pro bono matters. We have advised pharmaceutical manufacturers on purchase and distribution agreements relating to manufacture and supply of COVID-19 vaccines, acted for ACWA Power in relation to the world’s most ambitious regenerative tourism project in Saudi Arabia, and represented Ukraine against the Russian Federation at the International Court of Justice.
Sarah Cowlishaw, Graduate Recruitment Partner
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Diversity
Covington are committed to supporting and uplifting lawyers from a range of backgrounds.
Covington recognises the differences among their people as an asset and a source of strength. The firm believes that excellence in the practice of law knows no racial, ethnic, gender, religious, sexual orientation, ability or other boundaries. Covington lawyers bring a wide variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences to their practice. By recruiting, retaining developing, and promoting a diverse group of lawyers, the firm advances the interests of their clients, their practice, and their entire profession.
Why Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is important at Covington
Covington has instituted all the elements of a strong diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) program - the infrastructure, the events, the learning programs, and sustained communications about DEI. Our work is guided by our Strategic DEI Action Plan goals that include: (1) Ensuring DEI is a firm priority and the diversity of our leaders reflects the diversity of our lawyers and professional staff; (2) Recruiting, developing, promoting, and retaining a diverse population of lawyers and professional staff at all levels and across all offices; and (3) Collaborating with clients to increase the representation of women and historically underrepresented lawyers in the profession.
Covington sponsors seven firm-wide affinity groups: Asian Pacific Islander (API), Black, Latino, LGBTQ+, Middle Eastern and North African (MENA), Veterans, and a Women’s Forum. These groups are important elements of our DEI efforts, as they contribute to fostering connections and mentorship among members, facilitating professional development opportunities, and promoting firm-wide education and awareness of the experiences of women and underrepresented individuals. Our Women’s Forum specifically provides members with community and mentorship, while celebrating the achievements of women in the legal industry and beyond. The Women's Forum chapters in each of our 14 offices champion inclusionary practices to support all women at Covington by hosting professional development forums and sponsoring participation in leadership development programs.
Within our London office we have established diversity strands to focus, develop and promote diversity within specific fields. We asked members from across the Covington diversity strands
Covington DEI Networks and Strands
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Luciana Griebel – Associate – Women’s Forum
The Women’s Forum is a firm wide initiative designed to foster greater interaction among women lawyers at all levels of the firm. Through regularly scheduled programs and initiatives, the Women’s Forum provides an opportunity for our women lawyers to network with each other and address issues of common interest, such as career growth, mentoring, business and professional development. The Women’s Forum is organized on an office-by-office basis, with coordination among the offices.
Azumah Cofie - Associate - Multicultural Network
The Multicultural Network (MCN) is a recent strand of the wider DEI Committee that aims to promote ethnic diversity, equity, and inclusion within the EMEA offices. It is effectively a support network for colleagues who identify as racial/ethnic minorities (R/EM), where members share ideas and organise events and activities.
Eddy Eccles – Special Counsel - Disability and Mental Health Strand
The Disability & Mental Health Strand is a really exciting group within the DEI Committee here at Covington. We are a group who meets on a monthly basis to pursue the goals of the subcommittee in a friendly, fun environment. Everyone always brings a lot of good ideas, and great energy and commitment.
Antonio Michaelides – Special Counsel - Social Mobility Strand
The primary goal of the Social Mobility Strand is two-fold: to provide a support network for those already at the firm from backgrounds where there were obstacles to social mobility, and second to raise awareness of this as a diversity strand, so that those who are less familiar understand the challenges faced by those from less privileged backgrounds and what can be done from an equity and inclusion perspective. I am really pleased with the progress we have made with the social mobility strand and the things we are doing.
Olivia Scalise Gaspar – Associate - LGBTQ+ Strand
We have three primary goals at the LGBTQ+ Strand: community, education, and recruitment. Our community events are dedicated to bringing the members of the Strand together, to help each of us foster a close network of relationships, and give us the space to discuss issues and events important to us or our identities. Our educational events encourage active allyship through engagement with queer topics and events, and focuses on bringing awareness of the LGBTQ+ community and issues relevant to our community to members across the firm. Our recruitment events promote the visibility of queer people and inclusion at the firm, and seek to normalise bringing one's "full self" to work.
