Senior Employment Lawyer | Leadership Role with Supervisory Responsibilities
Salary: £90,000 - £120,000
Location: Central London
Lead Complex Employment Cases in a Prestigious Legal Practice
Our client, a highly regarded law firm based in Central London, is seeking an exceptional Senior Employment Lawyer to join their Employment and Professional Discipline Department.
This is a senior-level opportunity for an experienced employment law specialist to take on a leadership role, supervising junior fee earners whilst managing a sophisticated caseload of contentious and non-contentious employment matters.
You'll be joining a progressive firm with an outstanding reputation for defending employees' rights and advising institutional clients on complex employment issues.
About the Role
As a Senior Employment Lawyer, you'll play a pivotal role in the department's success, combining high-quality fee-earning work with supervisory responsibilities and practice development. This position offers genuine autonomy, the opportunity to shape the department's strategic direction, and the chance to work on legally significant cases that make a real difference.
Your Key Responsibilities Will Include:
Fee Earning & Case Management:
• Managing a diverse caseload of contentious and non-contentious employment matters for both employee and employer clients
• Handling complex discrimination litigation across all protected characteristics in the Employment Tribunal and appellate courts
• Advising on unfair dismissal, redundancy, TUPE transfers, whistleblowing, and contractual disputes
• Representing clients in professional discipline and regulatory matters before professional bodies
• Advising on partnership law disputes and LLP matters
• Conducting advocacy at Employment Tribunal hearings, preliminary hearings, and full merits hearings
• Providing strategic advice on settlement negotiations and achieving optimal outcomes for clients
• Drafting complex legal documents including pleadings, witness statements, and tribunal bundles
Supervision & Leadership:
• Supervising and mentoring junior solicitors, paralegals, and trainee solicitors within the department
• Providing technical guidance and quality assurance on complex cases
• Conducting regular case reviews and supporting professional development of team members
• Acting as a positive role model and fostering a collaborative team culture
Practice Development & Business Growth:
• Contributing to the department's practice development strategy and its implementation
• Undertaking business development activities including networking, writing articles, and delivering seminars
• Building and maintaining relationships with referral organisations, trade unions, and commercial clients
• Identifying new business opportunities and expanding the client base
• Achieving and exceeding billing targets whilst maintaining excellent client care standards
What We're Looking For
Essential Requirements:
• 10+ years PQE as an Employment Lawyer with a demonstrable track record of excellence
• Extensive experience representing both employees and employers across the full spectrum of employment law
• Proven expertise in discrimination litigation with experience conducting complex tribunal cases
• Strong supervisory experience including managing and developing junior fee earners
• Excellent academic background with a solid professional reputation
• Established client following or strong referral relationships that can contribute to practice growth
• Demonstrated ability to achieve strong private billing with effective financial management skills
• Track record of successful practice development including business generation and client retention
• Thorough knowledge of Employment Tribunal procedures, CPR, and relevant legal frameworks
• Experience with both private funding and Legal Aid arrangements
• Outstanding advocacy skills with the ability to represent clients confidently and persuasively
• Exceptional drafting abilities with attention to detail and strategic thinking
• Strong negotiation skills with a proven track record of achieving favourable settlements
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple complex cases simultaneously
• Proficiency in legal case management systems and IT (MS Office, time recording systems)
Highly Desirable:
• Experience in professional discipline and regulatory matters (SRA, GMC, GDC, NMC, etc.)
• Knowledge of partnership law and advising on partnership disputes
• Experience advising charities, voluntary organisations, and public sector bodies
• Published articles or speaking engagements demonstrating thought leadership
• Experience with high-value or high-profile employment cases
• Understanding of cross-border employment issues and international employment law
What's On Offer
Competitive Senior-Level Package:
• Salary: £90,000 - £120,000 (dependent on experience and portable caseload)
• Performance-related bonus scheme linked to billing targets and practice development
• Hybrid working arrangements with flexibility to balance office and remote working
• Generous annual leave entitlement (25 days plus bank holidays, increasing with service)
• Comprehensive pension scheme with competitive employer contributions
• Private medical insurance or healthcare cash plan
• Income protection and life assurance
• Season ticket loan for commuting costs
• Extensive professional development budget including conferences, specialist training, and CPD courses
• Clear partnership pathway for exceptional candidates demonstrating business development success
• Collaborative, values-driven culture within a firm committed to social justice and equality
• Supportive working environment with experienced partners and a strong team ethos
• Access to legally significant cases that will enhance your professional reputation
• Opportunity to shape department strategy and influence practice direction
• Regular team meetings and knowledge-sharing to support continuous learning
About Our Client
Our client is a well-established legal practice with a national reputation for excellence in employment law and professional discipline. The firm is known for its commitment to access to justice, representing both individuals and institutional clients on complex and high-profile matters. The Employment and Professional Discipline Department handles sophisticated cases whilst maintaining a genuine focus on achieving positive outcomes for clients.
Location: Central London with excellent transport links (Zone 1)
Working Arrangements: Hybrid working model with office-based collaboration (typically 3 days in office, 2 days flexible)
Team Culture: Collegial, supportive environment with regular departmental meetings and social activities
The Ideal Candidate
You'll be an ambitious and commercially astute employment lawyer who combines technical excellence with strong leadership capabilities. You'll have a genuine passion for employment law, a commitment to achieving outstanding results for clients, and the drive to develop both your own practice and support the growth of junior team members. Your ability to build strong client relationships, coupled with your strategic approach to case management, will make you an invaluable asset to the department.
How to Apply
If you're a senior employment lawyer ready to take the next step in your career within a respected, progressive practice, we'd be delighted to hear from you.
For a confidential discussion about this exceptional opportunity, please contact:
Mara Watson
Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions
Email: m.watson@h-fts.com
LinkedIn: Connect with Mara at Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions
Please submit your CV :
* Your relevant employment law experience and key achievements
* Details of your portable caseload or referral relationships
* Your approach to practice development and business generation
* Your supervisory experience and leadership style
All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence. Our client is an equal opportunities employer committed to diversity and inclusion, and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.
Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions is acting as a recruitment agency in relation to this role. We are committed to transparent, ethical recruitment practices and will only submit your application with your express written consent.