Commercial Litigation Solicitor: Birmingham

Our client is a City-led, international and national law firm with over 130 partners and 830 staff. With offices across the UK, Middle East and Far East, they provide a full-service integrated offering.

Their clients operate in diverse industry sectors such as construction, transport and infrastructure, banking and financial services, distribution and logistics, education and health, hotels and leisure, defence, engineering and surveying, charities, retail and energy and natural resources. They also act for many high net worth individuals

While the work on offer is rewarding and often complex, the qualities they look for in employees are simple. The ability to get on with people from all walks of life, for example. To talk and to listen. To develop the sorts of relationships that mean you win the friendship and loyalty of clients and colleagues alike. In short, to connect. These characteristics are vital, as is the drive and imagination to use your unique talents to the full. They will help you in this and support you in every way.

They have 2 roles in the commercial litigation team both to be based in the Birmingham office, one is for an NQ and one is for an Associate 4PQE+.

The purpose of the roles is to work as part of a team on a broad spectrum of dispute resolution including litigation, arbitration and ADR

The first role is they are looking to recruit an Associate into the Commercial Litigation team to support the partners in the Birmingham team

Responsibilities

• Caseload will consist of a variety of commercial litigation matters, which may include breach of commercial contracts, fraud claims, professional negligence, judicial review, contentious trust and probate matters and contentious procurement matters in the High Court, domestic and international arbitration and mediation / other forms of ADR. A proportion of the department's work has an international element, and overseas travel may be required.
• Handling own caseload (subject to partner supervision where appropriate).
• Build and maintain effective relationships with clients and market intermediaries.
• Participation actively in marketing initiatives, including training days / seminars.
• Ensure files are managed in compliance with Lexcel procedures.
• Participation in firm-wide and departmental meetings, training sessions and social events, including travelling to internal meetings or attending via video-con, and contributing to the integration of the Birmingham Commercial litigation team with the firm's wider Commercial litigation team in the UK regional offices.
• Meet targets as agreed. Manage files, time and billing efficiently and in a cost-effective manner.
• Active participation in marketing initiatives, including attending conferences, giving and assisting with presentations, writing articles and creating marketing materials.
• Training and development of junior staff (where appropriate).
• Assisting with the development of junior fee-earners and supervising as appropriate.

Specification

The firm operates a Career Development Framework, a merit based and clearly defined career structure which sets out the competencies we expect of those at the solicitor grade, and beyond. In particular, for this role we require:

• Proven ability to take on responsibility and manage files, independently where appropriate;
• Strong client focus and a commitment to service delivery;
• Drive and enthusiasm;
• Flexibility and a can do attitude;
• Commercial awareness;
• Credibility;
• Commitment to marketing and business development;
• Excellent file and cost management;
• Ability to work to deadlines;
• Team player; and
• Good interpersonal skills, presenting and client facing skills.

Experience and qualifications required

• Excellent academic record;
• Qualified solicitor with a minimum of 4 years post qualified experience;
• Experience in a broad range of commercial litigation;
• Experience of managing disputes from start to finish;
• Managing client relationships;
• A track record of marketing and business development.

The second role is for an NQ to join the commercial litigation team in Birmingham.

You will cover the same range of mix of caseload as the associate role above with the only differences in the responsibilities being you will only have a caseload of simple matters, when able, and will assist on more detailed complex litigation.

Experience and qualifications required

• Excellent academic record;
• Newly or recently qualified solicitor;
• Experience in commercial litigation in private practice as a trainee, paralegal or qualified solicitor;
• Experience of running some disputes from start to finish; and
• Establishing client relationships.

Lipson Lloyd Jones Ltd is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy. Please note our advertisements use PQE levels purely as a guide to the minimum level of experience required. However we are happy to consider applications from all candidates who are able to demonstrate the skills necessary to fulfill this kind of work.