Associate/Solicitor - Commercial - Manchester/Nottingham - United Kingdom - Browne Jacobson LLP

Description

Associate/Solicitor – Commercial - Manchester/Nottingham

Vacancy type Lawyer

Level Junior

Business area Business services

Duration Permanent

Hours Full time

Location Manchester, Nottingham

Reference number LD17/11

Job title Associate/Solicitor - Commercial

Team Business Services - Commercial

Vacancy owner Linzi Durham

At Browne Jacobson, we've always worked across business and society, and this expertise sets us apart. Social and environmental impact are at the top of our business agenda. We champion fairness, make the complex simple and forge connections between clients to find creative solutions. This is how we improve outcomes for every person, community and business we serve.

With offices in Birmingham, Dublin, Exeter, London, Manchester and Nottingham, we're a UK & I based law firm with an international reach. Our sectors include: health; real estate and construction; education; energy and infrastructure; financial services; government; insurance; manufacturing and industrials; and retail, consumer and logistics.

We nurture talent at all levels and from every background and celebrate what makes people individuals. Law needs all voices to reflect the society it serves and we're working towards social mobility, diversity and inclusion in our firm - and our profession. We strive to create meaningful personal and professional development opportunities and offer flexible working in support of a good work-life balance. We focus on wellbeing and individuality, so that all our people can thrive.

What is the working practice for this role?

The firm operates a set of core principles that guides our working practice. It's called 'One Firm, Wherever You Are'.

You might have enjoyed working from home and would like to split your time between there and the office/ other work locations. Others may be eager to return to the office on a more regular basis. We believe that a regular level of in-person contact is an important way to build connections with your colleagues, enhancing knowledge and idea sharing and enabling all of us to benefit from the vibrant office culture Browne Jacobson has to offer.

Our expectation is that, on average , you'll work from home for no more than three days per week, with the remainder of your time either spent with your colleagues in the office or working from other locations as work demands dictate, e.g. courts, client offices, conferences etc. This is an average expectation over time and we know that there will be variations from week to week. Equally, there will be individual circumstances in which a different pattern of work is needed, for example as an agreed reasonable adjustment for colleagues with a disability or long-term medical condition.

We believe this approach:

• fits with our values and personality;
• will enhance our performance through greater flexibility;
• advances our ambitions as an inclusive employer – helping you better balance work and family/life commitments;
• offers opportunities to reduce our carbon footprint (travel, office services etc.), a key ambition underpinning our corporate sustainability plan

Why is this role important and how does it fit into the team, department and wider firm?

We are seeking to recruit an Associate into our commercial group in Manchester or Nottingham. The successful candidate will have experience gained from a leading City or substantial regional firm or in-house with a substantial commercially-focussed business with a substantive legal team. A strong, sound technical expertise, good client-facing skills and the ability to work well as part of a team are essential requirements.

The role will involve advising and assisting clients in connection with the legal aspects of a wide range of non-contentious commercial work, including: drafting and negotiating terms and conditions of trading, agency and distribution arrangements, manufacturing and logistics agreements; outsourcing agreements, advising on data protection and privacy issues, competition law, technology law and e-commerce; advising on brand exploitation, IP protection and disputes and marketing issues, consumer rights legislation and providing transactional corporate support.

We are an ambitious and successful group of friendly people with a real drive to be the best at what we do and, although the role is based in our Manchester or Nottingham office, the candidate will work closely with our other commercial solicitors across the office network, including attending meetings in those locations as required. You will also be heavily involved in the development and implementation of new cross-office marketing initiatives and the development of our commercial contracts, data and technology offering.

We are committed to professional and personal development and the candidate will benefit from, and be asked to contribute to, programmes of training and development for both our team and our clients.

What is required for someone to be successful and enjoy the role?

Responsibilities

• To advise clients upon the legal aspects of their existing and proposed commercial contracts and arrangements, including IT, IP and data protection issues
• To prepare or assist in the preparation and negotiation of complex commercial transactions
• To support our corporate teams in the completion of corporate transactions including undertaking buyer and vendor due diligence and advising on associated transactional documents (e.g. SPA, BPA, TSAs)
• To maintain visibility and accessibility across the team and to manage client relationships throughout the delivery of legal services
• To help develop and implement marketing and new business development strategies
• To undertake marketing activities including presenting seminars and contributing to tenders and pitches
• To record time promptly and meet financial goals with a good track record in achieving both targets

Person specification

As part of the commercial team, you would be expected to have the following abilities, skills and experience:

• A strong background with experience in providing legal advice and assistance on commercial issues and arrangements
• A sound knowledge of the application of general legal principles to commercial situations
• The ability to apply this knowledge to the preparation of clear and accurate agreements (drafted from scratch, where necessary), policies and other documentation and advice
• The ability to master complex contracts and regulations with careful attention to detail
• The ability to translate clients' commercial needs into legally effective solutions and to provide clients with commercially relevant advice
• The ability to negotiate effectively
• The ability to work in a fast-paced environment working to tight deadlines and on multiple projects as required
• Excellent time-management skills
• Keeping up-to-date with legal developments
• The ability to work as part of a team both within the team and within the firm as a whole, together with high levels of personal commitment and initiative whilst also able to supervise others and delegate work