Senior Associate

Description:

Senior Associate – Employment Law

Manchester (City Centre) / or Leeds (City Centre)

Hybrid working (3–4 days per week in the office)

A nationally recognised, values-led legal and professional services business is seeking a Senior Associate to join its established and growing Employment Law team in Manchester.

This is a senior opportunity within a highly regarded employment practice advising insurers, insured businesses, and private clients on complex, often high-volume employment matters. The role combines technical depth, client exposure, and leadership responsibility, making it ideal for an experienced employment lawyer looking to step into a truly influential position.

The team is known for its collaborative culture, Legal 500 recognition, and its work across regulated and people-intensive sectors, including health & social care, leisure, and hospitality.

The role:

You will advise on the full spectrum of employment law, covering both contentious and non-contentious matters, with a strong focus on tribunal litigation and pre-action dispute resolution.

Key responsibilities include:

• Advising insurers, insured clients, and private businesses on employment law issues and disputes
• Managing ACAS early conciliation, settlement negotiations, and drafting settlement agreements
• Providing clear, commercial opinions on prospects, risk, and strategy
• Advising on day-to-day HR matters, including grievances and disciplinary processes
• Drafting and reviewing employment contracts, policies, and handbooks
• Advising on complex project work, including TUPE and collective consultation
• Running Employment Tribunal and EAT matters end-to-end, including:
• Drafting ET claims, responses, and EAT applications
• Managing case directions and procedural compliance
• Preparing witness statements
• Briefing counsel and attending hearings where appropriate
• Delivering employment law updates and training to clients and internal stakeholders
• Supporting business development through client relationships and knowledge sharing
• Supervising and mentoring junior lawyers and supporting their development
• Maintaining accurate time recording and assisting with billing and invoicing

About you:

• Qualified Solicitor or Barrister (England & Wales)
• Significant experience handling both contentious and advisory employment law work
• Strong track record in Employment Tribunal litigation
• Confident advising clients independently on complex matters
• Commercially minded with excellent client-handling skills
• High-quality drafting ability with strong attention to detail
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, high-volume environment
• Experience supervising or mentoring junior team members (or keen to do so)
• Committed to ongoing professional development and maintaining CPD