Associate - Employment

The Role

We are seeking an enthusiastic and ambitious mid-level solicitor to join our growing Employment team in London. The successful candidate will manage a broad caseload of advisory, contentious and transactional matters, often with an international element, and will play a key role in helping to build out the practice.

The role will suit someone who is a team-player, commercially minded, able to take initiative and who enjoys business development.

In return, we can offer a collaborative, friendly and welcoming environment which is entrepreneurial, supportive and dynamic, together with a varied mix of interesting and challenging work.

Responsibilities

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Manage a varied caseload of contentious, advisory and transactional matters (the practice is currently split fairly evenly across all three areas).
• Advise clients (mostly employers, as well as some senior executives) on contentious matters, often involving cross-border elements, including defending employment tribunal claims, litigating in the High Court, and pre-action correspondence and negotiations.
• Assist our transactional teams with the employment aspects of corporate deals.
• Work alongside our Regulatory colleagues on matters where there is a regulatory / employment law crossover.
• Develop and maintain strong client relationships, providing pragmatic and strategic advice.
• Contribute to business development initiatives and thought leadership within the team.
• Effectively manage all client work allocated to them, ensuring that it is progressed in a timely fashion and that the client is kept apprised on progress and costs.
• Exercise high standards of client care in a professional and friendly manner.
• Demonstrate a willingness to respond promptly to clients (both internal and external), including out of standard office hours where needed.
• Demonstrate excellent organisational skills to meet the demands of clients, external stakeholders and the business.
• Supervise and assist in the professional development of more junior team members.
• Keep up to date with current legislation and changes within area of expertise.

Essential

Experience, Skills and personal attributes:

• Extensive experience working across a range of employment matters.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral.
• Effective interpersonal skills and the ability to interact with people at all levels.
• Excellent drafting and analytical skills.
• Strong client management skills and commercial acumen.
• Ability to understand complex legal principles and apply them accordingly.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team on complex fast-moving matters.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills.
• A commercial and pragmatic outlook.
• Ability to demonstrate a flexible and hands-on attitude, responding effectively to rapidly changing circumstances.
• Excellent team player.
• Excellent attention to detail and the ability to work well under pressure.
• Must be able to work autonomously, as well as part of a team.
• Excellent prioritisation and time management skills, with an ability to work to tight deadlines.

Desirable

• Experience with cross-border and international matters.
• Experience of High Court litigation.
• Active involvement in business development and networking.
• Demonstrate ability to confidently interact with clients and actively seek new business development opportunities

Qualifications

• Admitted to practice as a solicitor or barrister either in England and Wales or qualified overseas with experience in the London market.
• Undergraduate degree achieving a minimum of a 2:1 or equivalent