Legal Director - Litigation & Credit Enforcement Commutable from Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Warwickshire, North Oxfordshire, South East Birmingham, Solihull, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, North Hertfordshire; flexibility offered for the right individual.
The Context An established and growing specialist finance business is seeking to appoint a senior legal professional to take ownership of litigation, recoveries and enforcement across a live lending portfolio. The organisation operates in a fast‑moving, commercially driven environment where legal decisions directly influence financial outcomes. It is not a business where legal operates at a distance; instead, it sits at the centre of decision‑making, working alongside credit and finance to manage risk, protect asset value and resolve complex lending situations.
This appointment represents a key addition to the senior leadership structure, reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer. The role has been deliberately defined with clarity of focus: to lead litigation, enforcement and recoveries with accountability for outcomes, not simply advice. It arrives at a point where the legal function is central to the next phase of growth, with a clear requirement for stronger ownership of litigation outcomes and recoveries performance.
The Role This is a role for a lawyer who is comfortable operating where legal judgment and commercial reality intersect. The incumbent will take full ownership of insolvency litigation and dispute resolution across the portfolio, shaping and executing enforcement strategies in relation to borrower defaults, distressed exposures and recovery scenarios. External counsel will be engaged where appropriate, however responsibility for direction, pace and outcome will remain with the director.
Key responsibilities include:
Direct involvement in formal insolvency situations, working alongside administrators, receivers and insolvency practitioners to protect position and maximise recovery outcomes.
Providing leadership and direction to recoveries and enforcement activity, ensuring that performance is actively managed and continuously improved.
Bringing structure, discipline and commercial clarity to the way enforcement is approached, focusing on achieving the best possible outcomes most efficiently.
Managing complex cases where matters progress beyond initial recovery actions into formal insolvency, requiring careful legal and commercial judgement to optimise outcomes.
Engaging closely with internal stakeholders, particularly credit and finance, contributing directly to decision‑making in time‑sensitive and often complex situations.
This is not a purely advisory position. It is a role defined by ownership, accountability and delivery.
The Individual Qualifications and experience:
Likely to be a Partner, Legal Director or senior disputes lawyer within a regional or national law firm, with a strong grounding in insolvency litigation, restructuring or banking disputes.
Alternatively, may already be operating in‑house within a lending, credit or recoveries environment as Head of Legal, Legal Director or Senior Legal Counsel and are seeking a broader and more influential role.
Experience of handling formal insolvency processes, including working with administrators, receivers or insolvency practitioners, is a distinct advantage.
Demonstrated sound judgement, ability to navigate complex situations and willingness to take responsibility for outcomes.
Commercial awareness, pragmatic approach and comfort operating without the safety net of purely advisory work.
Motivation driven by technical excellence and the opportunity to apply that expertise in a visible and direct impact.
The Environment The business is entrepreneurial, fast‑paced and outcome‑focused. Decisions are made quickly and accountability is clear. Senior individuals are expected to engage directly, contribute meaningfully and operate with high autonomy. For those coming from private practice, the role offers a shift away from billing targets and time recording, without sacrificing complexity or responsibility. For those already in‑house, it offers broader scope, greater ownership and closer proximity to strategic decision‑making.
The Opportunity This is an opportunity to step into a role where legal expertise is not peripheral but central to the success of the business. The director will shape litigation strategy, influence recoveries performance and contribute directly to commercial outcomes. Over time, there is scope for the role to evolve into a broader legal leadership position for an individual who demonstrates capability and ambition.
Remuneration The remuneration package reflects the seniority and impact of the role, with a base salary in the range of £150,000 to £200,000, together with bonus and long‑term incentive arrangements.
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