Hill Dickinson LLP is a leading and award-winning international commercial law firm with offices in Birmingham, Hong Kong, Leeds, Limassol, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Monaco, Newcastle, Piraeus and Singapore. With more than 1000 people including 200 partners and legal directors, the firm delivers advice and strategic guidance spanning the full legal spectrum, from non-contentious advisory and transactional work, to all forms of commercial litigation. Hill Dickinson acts as a trusted adviser to a wide portfolio of clients across a wide range of specialist sectors: from transport and logistics and international trade, through to retail, insurance, marine, health, education, manufacturing, public sector and banking and financial services. Job role: Associate - Commercial, TMT and IP Hours : Monday to Friday, 09:00 - 17:30 (37.5 hours per week) Hill Dickinson are proud to be named as a Top Ten Employer for Working Families 2024 and so, we are happy to consider flexible working opportunities to help you balance your work and home life. Team: Commercial, TMT and IP Location: Liverpool or Manchester Benefits: At Hill Dickinson we understand that incentives go far beyond a good salary, so we have created a comprehensive benefits package tailored around our people. Here are some examples of what we offer: Annual leave starting at 25 days Birthday privilege day and Christmas shutdown Holiday buy, sell and carryover scheme 2 charity volunteering or pro bono days Optional private medical insurance via BUPA Annual fitness allowance Flexible pension scheme ISA saving scheme and independent financial advice Electric or hybrid vehicle lease scheme Medicash EAP with access to counselling Enhanced family leave policies Access to 10 days fully subsidised emergency or back-up care per year Life assurance Group income protection Annual travel season ticket loan Hybrid working and dress for your day policy Bespoke training and development opportunities Financial contribution towards home working equipment Role overview Introduction to the role: We are looking for an Associate to join our Commercial TMT and IP team in either of the Manchester or Liverpool office. They will be a trusted member of the Team reporting to the Team Leader/Partners James Lonsdale, Mark Fitzgibbon and Paddy Dwyer. James joined the firm in 2022 and is also based out of the Manchester office. Mark has been with the firm since 2010 and is primarily based in Manchester but works across all UK offices. Paddy joined the firm in 2025 and is based out of the Liverpool office. Our client base spans a broad spectrum of sectors – the private sector (spanning all types of goods and services sectors including retail, technology, manufacturing and sports)), the public sector (NHS / health, local government, higher education, and utilities), and the third sector (charities, not for profits, CICs, housing associations etc) which makes for a very varied and rewarding mix of work. Introduction to the team: The team currently comprises 3 Partners, 2 Legal Directors, 3 Associates and 2 Trainees; located across Manchester and Liverpool, covering a wide breadth of purely non-contentious commercial, IP and IT work. James Lonsdale is a commercial lawyer with expertise in IT and outsourcing projects, IP licensing and large commercial agreements. Mark Fitzgibbon is a commercial lawyer with a broad range of experience in advising clients on supply chain contracts but also runs a successful specialist public procurement practice. Paddy Dwyer is a commercial lawyer with expertise in outsourcing, supply chain analysis and strategic advice relating to distribution channels. Individually all members of the team have a broad range of experience across commercial, IT and IP drafting, negotiation, and advisory work. We cover a wide range of commercial supply-chain situations and advise on tactical structuring and positioning, contract drafting and negotiation, acting as a single cross-office team, with a single combined budget (individual targets being aggregated into our overall team budget annually). We have monthly team meetings, annual and ad hoc social events, training, and BD related planning activities. Key responsibilities: Experience of working as part of a larger “project” delivery team spanning multiple disciplines To handle an array of commercial supply-chain contracts, distribution terms and conditions (sale and purchase), franchise, agency, contract manufacturing, IT contracts, outsourcing, and IP licensing, as typical examples; which would include strategic planning advice, drafting appropriate documentation/ contracts and negotiating the same on behalf of clients. Supporting corporate transactional work at various stages of each transaction. Being familiar with and advising upon the application of the Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK GDPR within the context of commercial contracting arrangements. Having a knowledge and familiarity with ownership of IP rights in the context of regular commercial trading relationships. Advising on Business to Consumer terms. What are we looking for: Important criteria: Qualified Solicitor (or equivalent) Good level of general commercial awareness and attention to detail Driven to create workable solutions for the commercial issues in the best interest of the clients Good level of experience of drafting and negotiating documentation referred to above Demonstrates an understanding of clients’ needs and expectations Experience of advising clients on general commercial legal compliance issues Good understanding of contract law An appetite to further develop your expertise It would be beneficial for you to have some of the following: Excellence in service delivery and quality of services provided through technical and service excellence Ability to work as part of a team and independently. Time management skills showing ability to prioritise tasks Excellent legal and commercial research skills Ability to play a proactive part in business development activity individually and collectively If you don't meet all of the criteria above but feel that you could add real value to Hill Dickinson, we encourage you to submit an application and if successful, we can help you develop along the way. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Hill Dickinson is committed to providing fairness and equal opportunity for all regardless of age, gender, gender identity, ethnic origin, disability, sexual orientation, marital or transgender status, nationality, religion or belief. We understand that our power as a firm comes from empowering our people and that it is only by encouraging and enabling individuals to be themselves at work that we can truly benefit from their rich and varied strengths. Hill Dickinson is an equal opportunities employer. All applications received by the firm will be considered based on their merit alone and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of background and from all routes to qualification, with both the SRA and CILEx. Disability Support We are a Disability Confident employer, which means if there is anything that we can do to make your visit easier, so you are able to perform at your best, please let us know. You can contact the HR team at hrteam@hilldickinson.com should you require any adjustments to the application or interview process. Values Trust – Respect – Innovation – Collaboration At Hill Dickinson, we welcome applications from individuals that are looking to return to the law as well as all routes to qualification, with both the SRA and CILEx. All successful candidates will be subject to our standard pre-employment screening, including a basic criminal record check via Disclosure and Barring Service. Any offer of employment made is conditional upon completion of all checks. Due to the high response levels we receive for some vacancies, we may expire any of them prior to the advertised closing date and advise you to submit your application as soon as possible.