Job Description
Legal Director – Crime & Regulatory (progressive law firm!)
(we will also consider someone at the Senior Associate level)
Location: Manchester (Hybrid working available)
Salary: Up to £95,000 + bonus (Legal Director) / up to £70,000 (Senior Associate)
Type: Full Time / Permanent
We are proud to be supporting a long-established and highly respected legal business with the appointment of a Legal Director to lead and grow a specialist Crime & Regulatory practice within their Manchester office.
This is a rare opportunity for a senior lawyer to step into a high-impact leadership role—working across complex and sensitive matters on behalf of regulated professionals, SMEs, and public sector clients, often under insurer-funded arrangements.
The role blends technical case leadership, team development, client management and strategic influence across the wider business. You will join a forward-thinking, values-led firm that successfully blends the agility of a boutique with the backing of a global parent group.
About the Firm:
Our client is an SRA-regulated legal services provider with national reach and a strong reputation in civil litigation, employment, commercial, and regulatory law. Their work is underpinned by long-term partnerships with insurers and affinity groups, and they offer both insured and uninsured clients access to clear, pragmatic legal advice. The culture is collaborative, commercially focused, and genuinely people-first.
The Crime & Regulatory team handles a diverse and intellectually stimulating caseload, including professional disciplinary defence, inquests, business crime, environmental regulation, and health & safety matters. Clients are often navigating investigations or proceedings that are career-defining—and the team is known for its empathetic, expert, and outcomes-focused approach.
What You’ll Be Doing:
* Leading on complex crime and regulatory matters, including:
* Professional discipline and healthcare regulation
* Police disciplinary investigations
* Health & safety, environmental, and licensing cases
* CQC/Ofsted enforcement and registration issues
* Business crime investigations and prosecutions
* Inquests and public inquiries
* Managing and mentoring a team of solicitors, paralegals, and trainees
* Developing and deepening strategic relationships with clients, including key insurer partners and affinity groups
* Advising on policy interpretation, indemnity, and insurance-funded litigation strategies
* Supporting broader team performance and contributing to operational improvements
* Representing the firm in senior forums, both internally and externally
* Delivering against commercial KPIs including billing, recovery, and team utilisation
What We’re Looking For:
* 5-10+ years PQE with a strong track record in crime, regulatory, or professional discipline law (salary dependant on experience)
* Demonstrated leadership experience within a law firm or insurer-side environment
* Deep understanding of insurer relationships and delegated authority models
* Experience supervising teams and driving high standards of client service and legal delivery
* Excellent technical and interpersonal skills, particularly in dealing with sensitive or reputationally significant matters
* Strong organisational and communication abilities
* A genuine interest in supporting regulated individuals and businesses through complex legal processes
Why Join This Firm?
* A unique opportunity to shape and grow a high-performing team
* Broad, fascinating work across public and private sectors
* True autonomy, influence, and access to leadership
* A people-first environment where values are lived, not just listed
* Hybrid working and flexible structure
* Long-term progression routes in a business that’s growing year-on-year
Apply Now:
To arrange a confidential conversation or request further details, please contact Elliott Sanderson at Sanderson King:
elliott@sandersonking.co.uk