Associate

Boodle Hatfield LLP is a highly successful London law firm with a heritage spanning almost 300 years advising wealthy families, property investors, landed estates, entrepreneurs and family businesses. Today, much of our work has an international dimension as many internationally mobile clients turn to us to help them structure and preserve their wealth or to advise them on their property investments and business activities in the UK. 

The Firm operates through five departments - private wealth, property, corporate, litigation and family – and has a strong focus on key sectors including Arts and Luxury assets; Middle East, Family Offices, Family Businesses and Entrepreneurs from offices in London (Bankside and Mayfair) and Oxford. 

We have a modern and agile approach which enables us to balance maintaining long standing relationships with clients and an entrepreneurial attitude to attracting new clients.

The Litigation team is known for its expertise in commercial, property and art litigation and consists of 3 Partners and 7 Fee Earners. We have the breadth and depth of experience and expertise to resolve clients’ problems, whether domestic or international.

Our commercial specialists guide our clients on issues around contract disputes, professional negligence, partnership disputes and civil fraud. Our art experts are leaders in the field in arts law and highly ranked in band 2 in Chambers and band 1 in Legal 500 for art and cultural assets.

Our highly trained and skilled team have a successful track record of delivering solutions across a full range of sectors and industries, including Arts & Luxury Assets; Agrochemicals; Family business; Hotels & Leisure; technology.

They often advise on cross-border disputes and regularly work with Middle East families on their commercial interests in the UK, in particular with disputes relating to joint ventures. The strategy often has a multi- jurisdictional element and involves advice from lawyers in other jurisdictions.

As much of our work is for international clients, Boodle Hatfield remains the London member of TAGLaw, a global alliance of high quality, independent law firms with more than 4,000 lawyers worldwide.

The team are recruiting for a 14 month fixed term contract to cover maternity leave.

The successful candidate will be employed in the commercial litigation team and the role will involve some time spent on art disputes. This can involve disputes over title/ownership, authenticity and provenance, misattributed or damaged artwork, restitution claims and breaches of contract arising from private art sales.

The primary role will be to assist the team with commercial litigation. Particular responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Contractual disputes – Advising on breaches of warranty and/or contract and disentangling complex commercial agreements to protect our clients’ position.
• Corporate disputes – Advising individuals on shareholder disputes, partnership disputes and breaches of fiduciary duty including issues relating to unfair prejudice in the context of shareholder disputes.
• Misrepresentation claims – Expertise in what does and does not constitute misrepresentation in commercial agreements and in the remedies available to our clients whether they find themselves making or resisting a claim.
• Professional negligence – Acting for our clients’ interests against financial advisors, auction houses and other professionals.
• Cross border disputes – advising in complex, high value disputes that may involve several parties with cross border and international aspects.
• Fraud & Asset Tracing – We advise on cases of undue influence and forgery and tracing and freezing misappropriated assets that have been laundered, moved on to a third party, or moved abroad.

Frustration and Force Majeure in relation to contracts have been hot topics this year due to the Covid outbreak and we have been involved in a significant arbitration this year where we alleged the contract had been frustrated for non Covid reasons.

The role will be pressurised from time to time and candidates will need to be grounded and able to use their own initiative and be quick-thinking and flexible in their approach to their work.  We are looking for someone who will be able to deal with clients, their advisers and others, in a professional and courteous manner.  This will include meeting such individuals face-to-face on occasions.

• Minimum of 3-5 year PQE;
• A good team player with a willingness to pick up work and support colleagues during busy periods; 
• Ability to manage multiple files and meet deadlines whilst maintaining exceptional attention to detail;
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with both team members and clients;
• Excellent client handling skills;
• Confidence in giving advice, listening to clients and being commercial;
• Self-starter with plenty of drive and initiative;
• Works in a highly organised manner;
• Ability to utilise the appropriate IT systems;
• Excellent academics, minimum 2.1 and A,B, B at A Level ;
• Experience must have been gained in a reputable London or regional firm.

If you would like further details about any positions we are currently recruiting for, please contact a member of the Recruitment team on recruitment@boodlehatfield.com.

Boodle Hatfield can offer you a competitive rewards package and excellent development opportunities in an inclusive and supportive environment.  We are fully committed to creating a working environment in which all people can excel.

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.