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 Corporate and Commercial group undertakes various corporate, commercial, tax, banking and employment work at all levels. Our specialist teams combine unsurpassed expertise with a sound understanding of the corporate landscape to provide exceptional solutions for every aspect of our clients’ corporate and business law requirements.
Our Employment team provides commercial, practical advice to employers and senior employees on all aspects of employment law. The team comprises a number of highly skilled litigators and is known for its successful handling of Employment Tribunal litigation, including large complex discrimination cases, and largely undertake our own advocacy in Tribunals. We also have experience of dealing with cases in the Employment Appeal Tribunal, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and European Court of Justice. Our specialist lawyers train and advise managers to handle staff effectively and to deal with disputes where and when they arise, including fighting court and tribunal cases where necessary. We have a strong, local, national and multinational corporate client base, particularly in industry sectors such as education, logistics, food and drink, retail, transport and manufacturing. The team also includes specialist advisors on business immigration and provide that support to many clients in most sectors.
We currently advise over 100 Further and Higher Education institutions across England and Wales, including some of the biggest names in the sector. We are recognised as one of the leading firms advising the sector nationally and are ranked tier one in both Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners UK. Aside from our university and college client base, we also act for a number of sector bodies and regularly participate and speak at sector conferences and events. We advise on constitutional and regulatory matters; corporate governance; freedom of information and data protection; student relations and disputes; and international ventures. |
The role:
We are looking for a Solicitor to join our Birmingham based Employment team, which forms part of the Corporate and Commercial group.
You will provide high quality legal services to clients on all aspects of employment work, both contentious and non contentious, to a variety of corporate/commercial clients, but with a particular focus on our university and college clients.
Your key duties will include:
- attending and conducting client meetings
- taking clients’ instructions
- giving clear advice in correspondence and in person
- drafting documents, letters and contracts tailored to the client’s individual needs
- negotiating with clients and other professionals to secure agreed objectives
- acting on behalf of clients in disputes and representing them in court, as necessary
- instructing Counsel or specialist advocates to appear in court and Tribunal for the client in potentially complex disputes
- preparing papers for court and Tribunal
- being a key team player, in the Employment-Education mini-team, the Birmingham Employment team and the wider cross-office Employment team
- taking a proactive approach to business development
Skills and experience you will have:
- a minimum of one year’s experience in employment law, preferably from within private practice
- experience in advising universities and colleges is desirable although not essential
Key competencies you will need:
- a willingness and enthusiasm to get involved in business development activities, ideally able to demonstrate a proven track record of success in this area
- motivation to take up a challenge at an exciting time
- ideally some connections to and a knowledge of higher and further education sectors
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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. |
