Associate

Farrer & Co is an independent law firm, with a rich history. A lively commercial practice (with clients ranging from universities to media companies and sports bodies to banks) has grown in conjunction with a long-standing highly regarded practice of advising individuals, private families and charitable institutions.

We look to be the market leader in our chosen areas of expertise, advising clients on the contentious and non-contentious legal, business and personal issues they face.

Our reputation and success is based on the goodwill of numerous close client and intermediary relationships.  Being trusted advisers, acting in our clients' long-term interests and paying careful attention to quality and personal service, is the core of our strategy.                                                                     

Our clients tell us they value us for our integrity, good judgement and professional excellence. They describe us as 'a likeable bunch' too.

We provide advice on the full range of employment issues advising (i) senior executives, particularly in financial services, listed companies and private-equity backed businesses, and (ii) employers from the financial services, law firms, sports, corporate, media, retail, education, visitor attractions and charity sectors. We pride ourselves on excellent client service and on providing pragmatic, swift solutions, which come off the fence.

We are, and have been consistently, ranked Band 1 in Chambers and Partners for our well-established, market leading senior executive practice.  We have a reputation for providing sensible, commercial advice to individuals across the City and routinely act for directors of major public companies and other private businesses on high-profile and interesting matters.

This role will report to one or more Partners and will work within the Employment team which sits within a wider Commercial Department alongside the Corporate, Banking & Financial Services, IP & Commercial and Charities teams. The successful candidate will provide employment advice to senior executives from a wide variety of sectors and to employer clients including within financial services and a wide range of other sectors.  

We are looking for someone who can, with supervision, run matters with a high degree of autonomy. The successful applicant must be enthusiastic about developing long-standing relationships with clients and intermediaries. They should have a genuine long-term interest in working with individuals operating at the highest level in business and in playing a key role in continuing to grow our senior executive practice, where there are likely to be career development opportunities. 

Advising senior executives on:

• entry into new jobs including negotiating service agreements and incentive arrangements;
• issues during employment (including individuals facing investigations into misconduct, particularly regulatory issues, and facing other problems at work, including pursuing grievances);
• directors’ duties and disputes at board level;
• leaving employment (for example, on negotiating settlement terms or advising on the enforceability of restrictive covenants);
• where necessary, on litigation, including in relation to team moves and in the employment tribunal.

Advising employers on:

• the drafting of contracts, policies and procedures;
• day to day issues, such a disciplinary and grievances and smaller redundancy procedures;
• bigger projects, within a team, such as larger collective redundancy consultations;
• advising on the management of employment tribunal litigation;
• providing support to the team's commercial and corporate teams (for example, in relation to employment due diligence or the TUPE provisions of sale or outsourcing agreements).

Business development, including:

• Networking with intermediaries, contributing to thought-leadership on issues facing individuals in business and assisting in the organisation of events, particularly focussed on small numbers of key intermediaries;
• Speaking at client training events;
• Writing articles for the team's blog (on a rostered basis).

• High level of technical knowledge across the employment work performed by the team.   
• Efficient communication skills and the ability to communicate advice to the person receiving it.
• The ability to deal with many matters at any one time.
• The organisation skills to keep files in order and to move transactions to completion effectively.

• Thorough knowledge relating to the practice area.  
• Efficient communication skills and the ability to communicate advice to the person receiving it.
• The ability to deal with many matters at any one time.
• The organisation skills to keep files in order and to move matters through to conclusion.
• Applicants should combine high intellectual calibre with a pragmatic and commercial approach to the law.
• An enthusiasm for team work and an ability to assume responsibility and deal efficiently with a varied and often demanding workload are key requirements.
• The candidate will be expected to become an integral part of an established and highly regarded team.

Minimum 2.1 degree and a training contract undertaken in a mid-sized or City firm. This position would suit an individual with a background in working for corporates who wishes to use that experience to develop an outstanding practice advising individuals at the highest level.   

Hours of work are 09:30am-5:30pm but it is essential to be committed, flexible and prepared to work beyond the normal office hours when necessary and in response to team and client demand.