Houston

Simpson Thacher’s Houston office offers a compelling combination of energy and infrastructure industry knowledge, deep transactional experience and exceptional talent. Our Houston-based attorneys, who have been a part of the local fabric for over a decade, are repeatedly recognized for their work on sophisticated and complex transactions that span corporate disciplines, including mergers and acquisitions, banking and credit, capital markets and private funds formation. With extensive experience in infrastructure, exploration and production, midstream, refining and petrochemicals, oil field services, renewable energy and utilities, Houston attorneys partner with colleagues across the Simpson Thacher platform to provide market-leading corporate transactional advice.

We believe the unique combination of market-leading global practices, and our collegial and entrepreneurial atmosphere, makes Simpson Thacher Houston an ideal place to start a legal career.

2025 1L Summer Associate Program

As part of our ongoing efforts to recruit high caliber attorneys, we offer positions in our Houston 1L Summer Program to a select number of students. We are looking for applicants who possess a strong record in academic, employment and community achievement, demonstrating the potential for success in law school and in the legal profession.

We will consider applications on a rolling basis. We will begin accepting 1L applications on November 4, 2024 and ask that all applications are submitted by January 21, 2025. Any questions related to the application process or summer program can be sent to [email protected].

Applications must include:

• Resume
• Application form, including practice area preference(s)
• Statement of interest not to exceed 500 words
• Official or unofficial transcript of undergraduate grades
• Official or unofficial transcript of first semester law school grades may be submitted separately, as soon as they are available.

For 2Ls who wish to apply to our 2026 summer program, please visit our website in the spring.

Summer Program

At Simpson Thacher, a critical component of our recruiting efforts is our summer program. The goal of the Houston summer program is to introduce you to life at the Firm—our practice, our people and our culture. Our summer program provides law students with a range of opportunities to experience the breadth of the Firm’s practice, meet and engage with our attorneys and experience the culture of Houston.

Orientation and Training: You will participate in both an initial orientation program to introduce you to the Firm’s work and culture, and a series of “Lunch and Learn” training programs and workshops throughout the summer. You also will be encouraged to participate in the Firm’s general training seminars offered while you are here.

Assignments: Our summer associates are assigned to active transactions and work alongside partners and associates, getting real transactional experience. We encourage summer associates to try different practice areas, and to that end, our assigning attorneys will try to match you with work based on your expressed practice interests. Your assignments will give you a realistic introduction to life as a transactional lawyer, working as a member of the deal team, while simultaneously developing your skills in legal analysis, drafting and research.

Mentoring and Evaluations: To provide additional guidance and foster relationship-building during the summer program, you will be paired with both a Houston partner and associate mentor. We match you and your mentors based on common interests or from special connections made during the recruitment process.

We know that receiving feedback on your work is important for your development and growth. We encourage our supervising attorneys to provide real-time feedback and offer you practice pointers and tips along the way to augment your skill set. You will also receive a mid-summer review and a final review.

Social Events: Simpson Thacher’s Houston office hosts many social activities throughout the summer, allowing you to spend time with our attorneys outside of the office and to experience the many attractions in the city.

Some of our past summer activities have included events at Topgolf, Escape the Room, bouldering, Houston Astros baseball games, a casino night, meals at some of Houston’s best restaurants, cocktail and dinner parties hosted by our partners and other impromptu events.