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We have been voted as the leading UK regional law firm to work for in the South East by the Best Company Survey published by the Sunday Times in 2006 and best law firm to work for in the South East for three years in a row.
Role Description
Commercial Lawyer (solicitor or CILEX) NQ-3 years PQE within our Commercial and Technology team.
This vacancy is for a junior solicitor with client-facing experience, either gained in house or in a commecial role at a well-regarded private practice firm.
Work type
Many of our clients are in the technology and digital media, transport & logistics and hospitality & leisure sectors.
We advise on and handle the management of all types of intellectual property, the licensing of which underlies most TMT contracts. Through our distinct “brand guardianship” service, we manage and maintain portfolios of trademarks, designs and domain names. We also have a contentious IP practice and support clients in the enforcement of their rights in the event of infringement.
In summary, the commercial team’s work covers:
- Commercial contracts, frequently with an international aspect
- Technology contracts (including Saas agreements, website and app development and hosting agreements)
- Digital media and ecommerce
- Marketing, advertising and sponsorship
- Data protection
- Data licensing and commercialistion
- Intellectual property: management, commercialisation, protection and enforcement
- Advising on strategic business projects e.g operations, structuring, investment planning, international expansion
Our clients include global and international companies with regional headquarters based in the UK or mainland Europe; mid-market UK companies and fast-growing and entrepreneurial businesses. In particular, we provide legal services to the UK/EMEA operating entities of US-owned companies. For many clients we act as external, and often sole, legal counsel providing day-to-day advice on commercial contractual matters and data protection.
Much of our work involves drafting and advising on a broad array of commercial agreements. For a number of clients we provide an external counsel resource providing day-to-day advice on contractual negotiations with suppliers and customers. We also undertake project-based tasks and risk assessment/management of proposed contracts.
With strong TMT connections, we are well known for the work we do in the field of business process outsourcing; software as a service and hosted solutions, as well as software development and licensing. We have a strong media and publishing practice and work for a number of online publishers providing a quasi in house legal service covering the broad spectrum of commercial legal needs. We also have data protection experts and provide specialist data protection advice to our clients.
Experience required
The successful candidate can expect to gain broad experience supporting on a diverse range of matters across these areas. They will also run their own files where appropriate and with the support of senior lawyers in the team. Work typically includes contract drafting and negotiation, advisory services in relation to data protection and intellectual property matters, and transactional support and guidance for corporate clients.
To provide this service our lawyers need to be commercial and pragmatic. We have a number of long standing client relationships and it is important that lawyers in the team have excellent communication skills coupled with a desire to get to know their client’s business. The successful candidate will enjoy direct client contact advising on a full range of matters and will at an early stage be encouraged to build client relationships in a supportive environment. The training and development of our lawyers is important particularly given the breadth of our work. Lawyers are encouraged to develop their legal knowledge and expertise and to contribute to regular training and know how sessions.
We also work closely with the corporate team in relation to sale/purchase preparations and with the firm’s dispute resolution team in relation to IP right infringement claims, e.g. counterfeit goods and breach of confidential information. The successful candidate can expect to gain exposure of such matters, liaising with the wider firm’s wider business services team.
- Excellent knowledge of contract law
- Previous experience advising on contractual risk and negotiating contracts with the aim of achieving commercial solutions for clients.
- Sound understanding of the range of commercial issues, including data protection and intellectual property.
- An interest in digital media, data and IT contracts will be an advantage.
- Drafting experience
Succesful candidate attributes
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to provide clear & concise advice in plain English and to articulate complex legal concepts in a comprehensible manner for lay business people
- Excellent skills in legal analysis with aptitude to apply them to commercial reality to deliver pragmatic advice
- A keen desire to understand clients’ businesses and goals and to build long term client relationships
- Commercial awareness, initiative and a solution-orientated approach, with adaptability to meet challenges of constantly shifting client priorities to fulfill their objectives
- Self-assurance and maturity to interact directly with clients as well as with counter parties and their advisors
- Ability to work as part of a team alongside other lawyers, even in a remote environment and to ask for help when needed
- Enthusiasm and an enquiring mind with the desire to expand knowledge of law
Benefits
In return the team offers:
Exposure to a broad and interesting range of clients, matters, and issues across the breadth of commercial practice and often with an international flavour. An opportunity to develop legal skills and knowledge and to work in a genuinely friendly, supportive and collaborative working environment. A culture of genuine work-life balance and flexibility to divide working days between the office and home
- Discretionary bonus scheme
- 25 days holiday option to purchase up to 5 more
- Pension scheme with a 4% employer contribution and the employee contributes 4%
- Life Assurance - 5 x final salary
- Private medical cover
- Season ticket travel loan
- Private medical cover for employee
- Travel season ticket loan scheme available
Other non-contractual benefits include:
- An additional days holiday for your birthday
- A Weekly wellbeing hour
- 8 hours per annum for charity work
- Cash back medical plan
- Discounted retail benefits
- Bring your dog to work
Team structure
The senior lawyers combined experience includes digital, media, technology, retail, automotive, engineering and telecoms, including ‘front line’ experience in-house and in industry. They service a diverse stable of domestic and international clients.
The commercial & technology team works closely with the corporate team to create synergies and support best client service but each has its own distinct practice.
There is a combined team of 16 across corporate and commercial:
- 3 x Partners
- 4 x Senior Associate Solicitors
- 4 x Solicitors
- 3 x Paralegal / Secretary
- 1-2 x Trainee Solicitor
Other information
We enjoy excellent working conditions and a diverse, forward-thinking, friendly team which offers flexibility on work location, balanced with the needs of the wider team and candidate’s own development. We pride ourselves on giving high quality legal advice and in order to do this we need lawyers with excellent legal knowledge. We are therefore committed to the development and training of our lawyers and offer the opportunity for lawyers to develop their legal skills through