Legal Director

Weightmans is a Top 45 law firm with offices throughout the UK. Having been recognised as the leading legal employer at the annual Britain's Top Employers awards 2021 and achieved record rankings in Chambers UK, we are immensely proud of the work we carry out for our clients and the culture we provide to our people.

Our national Litigation department provides litigation and advisory services to the insurance industry and commercial clients. We act on behalf of (re)insurers, professional practices, corporations and regulatory bodies. We have significant experience of working with the construction, financial, broking and legal sectors, in particular. Members of our department regularly deal with high-profile and sensitive issues with far reaching implications, and litigate cases in which landmark decisions are reached. We resolve disputes via litigation, arbitration, adjudication, mediation and regulatory ombudsman services.

We are recruiting for a Legal Director whose main focus will be to work with the lead partner for Cyber, Property and Terrorism risks (“PCT”), to grow our already very successful practice in this area.

We will consider applications from candidates who are  an experienced coverage lawyer who would like to develop into a cyber role.

Over the past 10 years our PCT team has gone from strength to strength and is now the go-to for many insurers and their commercial policyholders needing help when guarding against or recovering from the impacts of this closely-related triumvirate of risks affecting key business assets.

Whatever physical or non-physical perils or catastrophes our clients may face, we have an excellent track record in crisis response, defending claims, advising on coverage and finding solutions for them throughout the UK and all over the world. From the mundane all the way through to matters of the highest profile and public interest, our experience and expertise is second to none. 

Ed Lewis leads the team of more than 25 lawyers nationally and has deep experience across all three risk classes, unifying our expertise and approach in a manner that is purposely consistent with the focus of the UK government’s national security strategy. From fires, earthquakes, storms and floods, to ransomware, Grenfell Tower, the World Trade Centre and the attacks on London and Westminster bridges, we have guided clients through some of the most demanding and challenging tragedies of the modern era. We were particularly honoured in 2019 to have been chosen as the legal editors of Pool Re and BIBA’s guide to terrorism insurance, following the scheme’s overhaul in that year and the wider scope of cession now permitted to it by participating commercial property insurers.

Most recently, the last 12 months have been a particularly busy period for the PCT team due to the prolific effects of Covid19. It saw the team advising not just in relation to thousands of claims manifesting directly due to the effects of the disease on high-street trading, but equally as many arising from the contingent, systemic consequences of the actions taken to protect lives, e.g. enforced home-working, accelerated take up of digital communications and the mothballing of commercial premises. We have also been heavily engaged advising several insurers and market organisations at a strategic level on their response to the pandemic generally. It has been an exceptional year but one in which we are proud to have achieved numerous, simply stunning results for our clients.

In order to support the further development and growth of our PCT offering to our current and prospective clients and further strengthen our presence within the market, we are now looking to recruit a Legal Director. The role holder will:

• Report directly to the lead partner for PCT
• Work with the lead partner to expand our current offering and help shape new services and products
• Maintain/Develop relationships with existing and prospective clients
• Manage a full case-load (this is likely to be a mix of incident response, defence litigation and coverage advice, although the ultimate composition will depend on the successful candidate’s particular experience and preference – to be discussed and agreed with the lead partner)
• Undertake day-to-day supervision of other members of the team (up to Principal Associate level) allocated to work on their cases

• Circa 7yr+ PQE solicitor
• Experience in all three risk classes preferred but at least in Property and Cyber
• Familiarity with the insurance market including Property and Cyber insurance wordings, reporting arrangements, reserving philosophies, and the dynamic between broking, underwriting and claims
• Currently working, or have recently worked, at a recognised practice in this field of expertise
• Should have market contacts with a track record in developing client relationships and winning direct instructions

Please note:

• Any reference to experience or PQE in our adverts or job descriptions is to be used as a guideline only. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and with different levels of experience who can demonstrate that they fulfil the requirements of the role.

• The successful candidate appointed to this role will be subject to our standard background checking process, and any offer of employment made is conditional upon successful completion of those checks. Further details can be obtained from the Recruitment team.

• We're committed to diversity and inclusion and to creating an environment where everyone can reach their full potential.  For more information please click  on the following link:

https://www.weightmans.com/about-us/diversity-and-inclusion