Buchanan
Labor Employment Associate
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Employment Associate - 2–4PQE - London
A newly merged transatlantic law firm is looking for a 2–4PQE Employment associate to join its UK Labour & Employment group. The firm is keen to move quickly, and the process is at an early stage.
The Platform
The merger has given the Employment team a much larger international platform and a strong US connection. The group already acts for significant clients, particularly in technology, life sciences and financial services, and advises many UK and North American businesses on their UK workforce. The enlarged firm brings access to bigger clients and larger, more complex mandates, much of it cross-border. For the associate who joins now, that means a chance to grow with a firm whose outlook and market presence are becoming increasingly transatlantic.
The Work
This is a genuinely broad Employment practice, not a narrow specialism. The associate will split their time between contentious, advisory and transactional work, and will be expected to take real ownership of matters.
Contentious Side:
- Running Employment Tribunal claims from initial strategy through to resolution
- Opportunities to undertake advocacy at preliminary hearings where appropriate
- Handling complex disputes involving:
- Senior executive appointments and exits
- Restrictive covenants and team moves
- Wider business-protection matters
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Advisory Work:
- Covering complex employee-relations issues, workplace risk and sensitive people decisions
- Much of the advice goes directly to senior stakeholders, including HR Directors, General Counsel and Managing Directors, so clear, practical and commercially focused advice is central to the role
The associate will also support domestic and cross-border corporate transactions on their Employment aspects, working alongside the firm's corporate teams.
Who Fits
The firm is looking for a lawyer of 2–4PQE with broad, high-quality Employment experience across both contentious and non-contentious work. Candidates should have:
- Hands-on Employment Tribunal experience
- Exposure to transactional Employment matters
- Strong technical knowledge combined with sound commercial judgement
Just as important is the ability to handle business-critical matters under pressure while keeping transactions and decisions moving. Excellent communication and client-handling skills are essential, and an entrepreneurial interest in building client relationships and spotting new opportunities will stand out.
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The firm is open-minded about background. There are no target firms, and candidates from boutique practices will be considered where they have the relevant breadth. In-house lawyers with the right seniority and technical experience may also be considered.
A Real Development Opportunity
The team sees this as a significant development role. Joining during the post-merger period gives an ambitious lawyer the chance to take on more substantial work, raise their profile and benefit from the firm's growth as its structure evolves.
The Practicalities
- 1,600-hour billing target, currently under review
- Salary review expected in January
- Three-stage process: a first interview with two partners, a second with a further partner and a member of the Knowledge Management team (including a technical exercise), and a short final meeting with the Head of Employment
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