Commercial Solicitor / Lawyer / Corporate Law - 1 PQE

Job Title: 1 PQE Corporate / Commercial Solicitor

Location: Manchester

Salary: £40,000 pa reviewed annually

The firm was set up in 2011 in London and opened its Manchester office at the end of 2016. They are highly sought after as the number 1 advisor for startups and high growth businesses based in the UK and seeking to move to the UK.

The firm provides legal advice on a range of corporate, commercial, employment, venture capital and tax issues as well as a significant amount of business consultancy and advice above and beyond standard legal work. The firm advises clients from a range of business sectors including tech, fintech, hospitality and retail. They are also asked to speak at many startup events around the UK and Europe and regularly host lectures and seminars.

The firm is a dynamic and rapidly expanding firm providing expert advice and guidance to high growth companies. The firm offers a stimulating, innovative and supportive environment to staff who are encouraged to get involved in a range of practice areas as well as business development and supporting the local business community.

They are a vibrant team of exceptionally talented and driven individuals. Members of the legal team are forward thinking and innovative and tend to be more involved in business development at an early level of qualification than at other firms. Associates are encouraged to interact with clients and to actively promote the firm within their extended networks.

Job Role:

The ideal candidate will be a 1 PQE solicitor with experience in commercial/corporate work. The work that the firm does is very commercial and innovative and so an entrepreneurial spirit is essential. The successful candidate will work directly with clients and will be expected to manage his own work and those of paralegals working for him.

The role itself is very broad including drafting commercial documentation, advising on investment rounds, structuring employee option and incentive schemes and specialising on tax incentive schemes specific to investors in startups. The firm is not expecting applicants to have had experience in all of these areas, but the successful candidate will in time be involved in all of these sectors to a greater or lesser extent.

The successful candidate will act for founders and startups to help them set up and grow their businesses. The role will involve supervising trainees and paralegals and assisting the managing partner with drafting, reviewing and commenting on the firm's work.

The candidate must demonstrate the ability to play a pivotal role in transactions with evidence of having handled matters for clients (albeit with supervision).

Good communication, client care and organisational skills as well as accuracy and drafting ability are all required.

As one of the first hires in the firm's new office in Manchester, the successful candidate will be given a high level of responsibility and client contact. The candidate will be heavily involved with networking and marketing and will be expected to take a lead in business development in Manchester.

Key Responsibilities:

• Taking instructions from clients.
• Drafting creatively, clearly and accurately, making use of precedents where appropriate.
• Research, due diligence and information management.
• Communicating and negotiating on behalf of client, leading where appropriate.
• Building rapport and establishing credibility with client.
• Continually seeking to improve level of service to client.

Skills, Experience & Qualifications:

• The candidate must have excellent document drafting skills and demonstrate strong communication and analytical skills along with a high level of commercial awareness.
• The candidate must be entrepreneurial and enthusiastic about working with startups and high growth businesses.
• The candidate will be expected to demonstrate specific corporate experience and experience in organising and managing deals.
• A strong academic history is essential.

Special Aspects:

• Hours 09:30h to 18:00h from Monday to Friday but it is essential to be flexible and prepared to work beyond the normal office hours when necessary.
• 25 Days Holiday plus Bank Holiday.
• Starting Date as soon as possible (flexible).
• 1 PQE Corporate/Commercial Solicitor Salary will be as follows: £40,000.00 pa reviewed annually.

Candidates with the experience or relevant job titles of; Solicitor, Corporate Lawyer, Lawyer, Commercial Solicitor, Associate, Company Lawyer, Junior Associate, Business Solicitor, Corporate Law, Commercial Law, Corporate Solicitor may also be considered for this role.