Associate

Shakespeare Martineau is a leading law firm that combines creativity, commerciality and clarity. We work with blue-chip companies, leading organisations, high street brands and individuals across the country.

Our multi-disciplinary team delivers a broad range of specialist legal services, and particularly stands out for its expertise across sectors including, but not limited to: energy, education, banking and financial services, investment funds, healthcare and advanced manufacturing. 

We’re proud of our people’s varied backgrounds and expertise. Our different qualities stand out and make us interesting to our clients.

We firmly believe in working hard and being ambitious. We look to recruit and develop talented people to achieve their potential - and who will contribute to achieving ours too.

Here you can fulfil your ambitions, whatever they are and however rapidly you want to achieve them. Together, and individually, we create exceptional results.

Our Litigation & Dispute Resolution group has a long-standing experience of working with some of the most successful and influential businesses in the UK and also internationally. Our specialist teams combine expertise with a sound understanding of the commercial landscape to provide exceptional solutions for every aspect of our clients’ corporate requirements.

We provide advice on all aspects of traditional contentious and transactional/advisory insolvency work to Insolvency Practitioners and Lenders, whilst developing a fast-growing reputation for corporate- side advice in turnaround situations and distressed investment scenarios. We exploit our sector expertise within the firm including, in particular, banking and financial services, education and energy to ensure that real value is added to assignments undertaken by the team.

The role:

We are looking for a Solicitor, Associate or Legal Director to join our Birmingham-based Restructuring & Insolvency team. 

You will be working directly for the Restructuring & Insolvency Team Leader and will be involved in all areas of insolvency matters.  This comprises both corporate and personal, and both contentious and non-contentious; although the role will be biased towards non-contentious corporate.  It will also involve a high degree of client contact.

Your key duties will be:

• working alongside senior lawyers to provide assistance on a broad range of recovery matters and insolvency
• acting for Lenders and Insolvency practitioners to provide fast, pragmatic and commercial advice
• working closely with businesses, directors and individuals facing financial difficulties
• running cases efficiently and cost-effectively within strict service level agreements, as required by the client
• working with marketing strategies to attract new clients and developing relationships with current clients
• handling queries and enquiries efficiently

Skills and experience you will have:

• between 3-6 years’ (dependent on role) previous experience in a similar role
• previous non-contentious experience must include:

           - advising on restructuring solutions

           - managing AMA processes

           - advising on sale of businesses out of distressed situations

           - providing general advice to lenders and insolvency practitioners in the full range of insolvency situations is key

• previous contentious experience must include:

           - advising on antecedent transactions and directors conduct would be particularly useful

• a high degree of legal analytical skills
• strong advocacy skills
• drafting skills such as SPA’s, court applications, detailed letters of advice to clients, statements and briefs to counsel
• finding practical and innovative solutions to a range of problems
• a proven track record of business development
• strong IT skills

Key competencies you will need:

• a commercial approach to property as a security asset
• to be personable and have experience of dealing with a broad range of clients
• to be willing to attend marketing/networking events and contribute to marketing publications to develop the profile of the team
• a high degree of initiative and the ability to cope in a demanding environment
• excellent organisational and prioritising skills
• the ability to work in a busy team
• excellent communication skills

About you – you will be:

• highly enthusiastic, willing to the extra mile and be happy to go beyond the job description
• respectful towards others and have a positive, willing and ‘can do’ attitude
• keen to learn, interested in driving your own career progression and be proactive in taking ownership of this

Due to the nature of the work undertaken, confirmation of employment will be subject to a variety of checks which will be carried out once an offer of employment is accepted. Details of the checks can be found here.

Shakespeare Martineau is a committed equal opportunities employer. We seek to attract, develop and retain talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures. We value and respect individuality and encourage a culture within our business where people can be themselves and be valued for their strengths and experiences. Everyone who either applies to or works for the firm is treated equally, regardless of their gender, age, ethnic origin, nationality, marital status, sexual orientation or religious beliefs.