Associate

Boodle Hatfield has been providing practical advice to businesses and individuals for over 300 years. Our clients come from a wide range of sectors, both in the UK and internationally, and include some of the most well-established owner-managed businesses and property companies as well as fast-growing entrepreneurial enterprises and ultra-high net worth families. Our chief priority is helping our clients achieve their commercial objectives, whatever form their business takes.

Our approach is to become the long-term trusted adviser to leading wealth creators and owners as well as their commercial and investment enterprises. Having a holistic view of our clients' structures and affairs means we can leverage this to provide the most appropriate and commercial advice to them. This approach has enabled us, throughout our 300-year history, to help our clients successfully navigate the continually changing and sometimes challenging markets in which they operate.

With a history like ours, we know we are built to last. But this isn’t the time to rest on our laurels but instead a chance to reflect and build on our heritage. We are merely today’s custodians of the Boodle Hatfield name, and we want to create a legacy that our successors will be just as proud of.

We have a reputation for offering highly skilled and extensive advice/experience to senior executives, investment professionals and businesses on all aspects of employment law - both contentious and non-contentious.  This advice and support regularly span across European and international jurisdictions. 

Our strategic, pragmatic and solutions focused style enables us to support our clients in complex, high-profile, and high stakes employment matters, with a personal and hands-on approach.

The Employment offering sits within the Corporate team within Boodle Hatfield and we also work closely with the Litigation department on relevant matters, as well as the other practice areas at the firm.  Looking ahead, there is a keen focus on growth and bringing in new talent to further enhance the capacity of the Employment function. 

It is an exciting opportunity for a driven candidate to join an already established Partner in driving forward future growth and further success of the Employment team.

We work with clients from a range of sectors including financial services, technology, family offices and family businesses, private households and sport.  We regularly represent senior executives, directors, founders, entrepreneurs, investment professionals and athletes. We also provide day-to-day advice to all types of employers, including those without their own specialist HR teams, on a wide spectrum of employment law issues.

Responsibilities

You will have the opportunity to work on a wide range of employment transactions whilst working with a variety of clients, as noted above.  The employment team is lead by a Partner.  You will also have the opportunity to assist in raising the profile of the employment practice and support on business development initiatives.

You will advise on a mix of contentious and non-contentious employment work and will have direct contact with clients.  You are required to have the ability to listen, understand, and suggest relevant legal solutions for clients' needs.

Particular responsibilities for this role will include but are not limited to:

• A good level of responsibility of files - you will be given responsibility to run tasks within matters autonomously, with supervision and guidance as required;
• Drafting and amending documents as required/instructed, including service agreements, settlement agreements and transactional documents;
• Commercial awareness – an understanding of how legal issues affect business operations and financial interests;
• Keeping up to date with changing employment law regulations and case law to ensure clients are informed of any legal updates;
• Assisting the Partner with providing commercial, pragmatic and risk-based employment advice to a range of clients on a wide variety of employment law matters, including working with overseas lawyers and counsel in litigation matters; and
• Advising on issues including but not limited to:
  • employment contracts, grievances, dismissals, subject access requests, business transfers and outsourcings, employment disputes in the High Court and tribunals, TUPE, redundancy situations and hiring and firing.

Experience and Skills Required

• A minimum of 3 years PQE
• A good team player with a willingness to pick up work and support colleagues during busy periods
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with both team members and clients;
• A commercial approach to client service
• Self-starter with plenty of drive and initiative
• Willingness and interest towards business development
• Works in a highly organised manner
• Ability to utilise the appropriate IT systems
• Excellent academics

Boodle Hatfield is committed to providing equal opportunities in employment through its inclusive and supportive environment. This means that everyone who either applies to or works for the Firm is treated equally, whatever their gender, age, ethnic origin, nationality, marital status, disability, sexual orientation or religious beliefs.  We are fully committed to a working environment in which all people can excel.