Job Description
Lead / Senior Employment Solicitor
Location: Cardiff (hybrid working available)
Experience Level: 5+ PQE (or equivalent experience)
Salary: £60,000 - £70,000 (negotiable subject to desirable experience)
A growing, multi-disciplinary professional services group is seeking a Senior Employment Solicitor to join its legal team as the lead employment lawyer. The wider business brings together legal, corporate finance, tax and communications specialists to support clients across the full business lifecycle, from growth and investment to exit.
This is a key leadership role for an experienced employment practitioner who is looking for autonomy, influence and the opportunity to shape and grow an employment offering within an established advisory platform.
The successful candidate will act as the primary employment specialist within the legal team, working closely with colleagues across corporate, commercial and IP disciplines, and advising a diverse client base across multiple sectors.
Role Overview
You will advise across a broad spectrum of employment matters, combining contentious, non‑contentious and transactional work. As the most senior employment lawyer in the team, you will play a pivotal role in developing the practice and supporting wider business growth, with scope to build a team over time.
Key areas of work include:
* Managing Employment Tribunal matters
* Advising on and drafting settlement agreements and structured exits
* Leading TUPE processes in both business transfer and outsourcing contexts
* Drafting and negotiating employment contracts, service agreements and HR policies
* Advising in‑house counsel clients alongside commercial and IP colleagues
* Supporting corporate transactions with employment advice
This role will particularly suit someone who enjoys being a trusted adviser, working closely with clients, and influencing how an employment practice develops within a broader commercial environment.
Key Responsibilities
Employment Advisory & Documentation
* Run Employment Tribunal matters independently from inception to conclusion
* Draft, negotiate and advise on individual and collective settlement agreements
* Advise on TUPE transfers, including due diligence, consultation and contractual provisions
* Support clients through restructures, reorganisations and redundancy processes
* Draft employment contracts, service agreements, handbooks and HR policies
* Provide day‑to‑day employment advice on disciplinary, grievance, performance and absence issues
* Ensure legal compliance and promote best practice
Corporate & Commercial Support
* Work closely with the corporate team on employment aspects of M&A transactions
* Undertake employment due diligence and prepare detailed reports
* Collaborate with commercial and IP teams on reverse due diligence exercises
Practice Growth & Leadership
* Act as the lead employment lawyer within the team
* Build strong client relationships and contribute to business development
* Monitor legislative developments and provide updates and guidance to clients
* Participate in networking, seminars and thought leadership activities
* Mentor junior lawyers and support the development of the wider team
Skills & Experience
Essential
* Qualified solicitor with 5+ years’ PQE in employment law
* Proven experience running Employment Tribunal cases independently
* Strong TUPE experience
* Confidence advising on and drafting settlement agreements
* Excellent drafting skills across contracts, policies and advisory materials
* Commercially minded with strong client relationship skills
* Ability to manage competing priorities autonomously
Desirable
* Experience supporting corporate transactions
* Interest in growing and shaping a practice area
* Experience mentoring or supervising junior colleagues
Any experienced employment lawyer within the Cardiff / South West area interested in this opportunity should contact Sam Higgins at Simpson Judge on 07770 109301 or at sam.higgins@simpsonjudge.co.uk.