Senior Associate - Employment, Pensions & Immigration
Location: Guildford (hybrid role office based 2-3 days per week)
Practice Area: Employment
Salary: c£78.5K plus profit share, bonuses and extensive benefits package
Role & Responsibilities
You will play a senior role within a growing and collaborative team of employment, pensions, and immigration professionals, working across a mix of complex employment work for predominantly employer clients, including household names and high-profile corporates.
Your responsibilities will include:
1. Advising on the full spectrum of employment law, including restructures, redundancy, disciplinary, grievances, and senior departures
2. Supporting on corporate deals, providing commercial and pragmatic employment law advice in the context of M&A, joint ventures, and outsourcing
3. Drafting and negotiating a range of employment documentation, including contracts, policies, and settlement agreements
4. Representing clients in tribunals and court proceedings, and handling mediation or pre-action disputes
5. Advising directors and senior individuals on their exit arrangements and post-termination obligations
6. Collaborating with pensions and immigration specialists on cross-disciplinary matters
7. Participating in business development, marketing initiatives, client seminars, and thought leadership
8. Taking ownership of client relationships and contributing to team leadership and mentoring junior colleagues
You’ll benefit from a flexible working model (typically 2–3 days in office per week) and the option of part-time working—many lawyers in the team currently work four-day weeks.
Lawyers - Private Practice,Employment,Employment Law,Immigration Law,Pension
Key Requirements
We are seeking an experienced and commercially minded Senior Employment Associate with a strong background in contentious and non-contentious employment matters. This is an exciting opportunity to join our highly regarded Employment, Pensions & Immigration Team, consistently ranked among the best in the region.
Ideal candidates will demonstrate:
9. At least 5 years’ PQE (we may consider candidates slightly above or below this range in exceptional cases)
10. A strong track record in advising employers on a wide variety of HR and employment law matters
11. Experience of employment litigation, dispute resolution, and tribunal proceedings
12. Experience advising senior executives on exits, terminations, and settlement agreements
13. Familiarity with providing employment support on M&A and corporate transactions
14. Excellent drafting skills, technical accuracy, and commercial awareness
15. A high level of responsiveness, reliability, and interpersonal communication skills
16. An interest in business development and the ability to nurture strong client relationships
17. Strong academics and a commitment to delivering client service excellence
Desirable (not essential):
18. Experience advising on TUPE and drafting TUPE clauses
19. Knowledge of employment agency regulations and agency worker compliance
20. Exposure to business immigration and right to work compliance
21. Familiarity with pensions issues or regulatory employment matters in the financial services sector