Bay Area
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is one of the world’s preeminent international law firms. At the epicenter of Silicon Valley, the Palo Alto office is uniquely positioned to represent some of the largest tech companies, private equity firms and financial institutions in Northern California and across the globe. Since opening in 1999, the office has grown steadily in response to the rapidly changing and evolving needs of our clients. So much so, that we will be opening an office in San Francisco in early 2026. With over 90 attorneys practicing transactional and litigation law, we are consistently finding new and innovative ways to address the most recent legal questions facing them and provide a fresh perspective that holds significant value. Simpson Thacher serves a broad base of clients in a multitude of technology sectors, including internet and social media, hardware, software, semiconductors and telecommunications. We also provide cutting-edge legal advice to clients in the banking, biotech, healthcare and consumer products industries. We are substantially involved within our communities across the Bay Area, providing legal services to vulnerable communities, nonprofits and fledgling small businesses, and spearheading major initiatives that focus on preservation of the environment, adequate education and civil and human rights.
Summer Program
The Bay Area summer program aims to introduce you to our practice, our people, and the unique culture of our offices. In 2026, it will provide you with the opportunity to spend half of the summer in Palo Alto and half in San Francisco. Our goal is to provide you with all of the tools to succeed. As a reflection of that, our training programs are designed to help you gain a deeper understanding of the law and give you the confidence and skills necessary to thrive as a lawyer. These range from attorney interactions to formal orientation sessions and in-depth workshops. You will also be staffed on many different types of live deals and receive real client work, providing you with an accurate introduction to what life is like as an attorney at Simpson Thacher. These assignments will help develop and hone your skills in a variety of areas, including research, legal analysis and application, writing, and communication. The hands-on work, paired with comprehensive guidance and real-time feedback, will allow you to practice what you have learned and discover your interests and passions along the way. You will also have opportunities to participate in our pro bono program and make a difference, both locally and globally.
Our mentoring program allows you to gain a broader exposure to the office as a whole and provides valuable opportunities to learn about the nuances of our practice and discover where you fit in. At the beginning of the summer program, you will be paired with a partner and associate mentor. Over the course of the summer program, we host a wide range of social activities and events that will allow you to meet more of our attorneys, get to know your classmates, and explore all that the Bay Area has to offer. In previous years, summer associates have attended the U.S. Open Golf Championship in beautiful Pebble Beach, spent a day touring Napa Valley wineries, indulged in a chocolate tasting workshop, taken a boat tour of the San Francisco Bay, cheered on the San Francisco Giants, watched the hit musical Hamilton, and participated in other impromptu activities throughout the course of the summer.