Job Description
Job Title: Senior Solicitor
Department: Corporate & Commercial
Salary: DOE, PQE & Following. Circa up to £85,000
Hours: full time.
Location: Newport – Remote
Job Reference: CWS286
OVERVIEW:
We are seeking a senior solicitor, ideally at Legal Director or Partner level, to join a Legal 500-ranked Corporate & Commercial team. This role has become available as a high-performing consultant, who consistently bills six figures, is approaching retirement, creating a rare opportunity for an experienced lawyer to step into a leadership role and inherit a high-quality caseload within a growing practice.
It’s an ideal opportunity for a commercially astute lawyer with a strong transactional background who values flexibility, autonomy, and is looking for genuine partnership progression – without the feel of being part of a corporate machine.
The team advises on a wide range of matters including M&A, disposals, joint ventures, funding rounds, and commercial contracts, with clients ranging from SMEs and entrepreneurs to family businesses and investors across care, hospitality, tech, construction, and real estate.
The firm offers a modern, collaborative culture, sophisticated work with HNW clients, flexible working, strong leadership support, and clear partnership prospects.
DAY TO DAY
* Lead a broad range of corporate and commercial matters, including M&A, restructurings, disposals, joint ventures, and shareholder agreements across multiple sectors.
* Provide strategic advice to a varied client base, including start-ups, scale-ups, family businesses, high-growth companies, and HNW individuals.
* Draft and negotiate a range of documentation, including commercial contracts, finance arrangements, shareholder and IP agreements, and construction-related documents.
* Advise on company law, governance, compliance, and risk management. Work collaboratively with internal teams and international counsel to deliver integrated, cross-border solutions.
* Build long-term client relationships, acting as a senior advisor and main point of contact.
* Mentor junior lawyers and support a positive, high-performing team culture.
* Drive business development and contribute to internal process improvement.
* Deliver pragmatic, commercially focused advice aligned with client objectives.
EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
* A qualified solicitor with ideally 10+ years’ PQE from reputable regional, national, or international firms or senior in-house roles.
* Strong transactional experience with the ability to lead complex corporate deals independently. Commercially astute, providing clear, pragmatic legal advice, with sector knowledge including real estate, care, hospitality, construction, and technology preferred.
* Experienced advising a diverse high-net-worth client base.
* Proven success in building client relationships and generating new business. Ideally you will have a following of clients though this is not essential.
* Excellent communicator with a collaborative, client-focused approach. Familiarity with finance arrangements and construction-related matters is a plus.
* Leadership experience or ambition for management or partnership roles, with a track record in mentoring junior lawyers advantageous.
* Skilled drafter with a commercial approach to complex contracts.
* Friendly, approachable, motivated, and forward-thinking, with the ability to work well with colleagues and clients.
BENEFITS:
* Flexible working. Work from home. Flexible hours.
* Bonus structure
* 25 days holiday + plus bank holidays and an additional day for birthday leave.
* Loads more,
For more details please contact: cait.woodrow-smith @ Simpsonjudge.co.uk
Keywords:
Corporate Law, Commercial Law, Mergers and Acquisitions, M&A, Private M&A, Corporate Transactions, Joint Ventures, Shareholder Agreements, Commercial Contracts, Company Law, Restructuring, Equity Financing, Legal Director, Corporate Partner, Senior Solicitor, Legal 500, Partnership Opportunity, High Net Worth Clients, HNW, SMEs, Entrepreneurial Clients, Business Development, Client Following, In-house Legal, Leadership Role, Succession Opportunity, Real Estate Law, Construction Law, Technology Law, Cross-border Transactions, Finance Agreements, IP Agreements, Contract Negotiation, Regulatory Compliance, Corporate Governance, Team Leadership, Hybrid Working, Flexible Working, Collaborative Culture, Commercially Astute, Strategic Legal Advice, High-Value Deals, Senior Corporate Lawyer, Transactional Work, Legal Team Growth, Modern Law Firm, Career Progression, Law Firm Without Corporate Feel, Autonomy, Partnership Track