New Job Opening: Employment Law Senior Associate in London, UK

Job Description

Employment Senior Associate

Location: London

Salary: £110,000 – £130,000+ DOE/PQE

Are you a high-performing Senior Employment Associate seeking a strategic role that combines high-value contentious/non-contentious practice with an active platform for business development across the media, entertainment, tech, and sports sectors? Our client is a premier, top-tier London law firm renowned for its collegiate, vibrant culture and stellar market presence in creative and entrepreneurial industries. They are seeking an ambitious Senior Associate (6–7 PQE) to play a key leadership role in their expanding Employment practice.

The Opportunity

In this high-visibility position, you will lead complex contentious and non-contentious employment matters for an exceptional client base, advising corporate employers, tech startups, and senior executives/founders. Beyond delivering top-tier legal advice on executive departures, High Court restrictive covenants, Employment Tribunal litigation, and TUPE restructures, you will play an active role in driving practice growth, leading business development initiatives, and cultivating key client relationships. Candidates with experience or interest in the Film, TV, and Theatre sectors will find an exceptional platform to scale their profile.

Key Responsibilities & Requirements

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  Qualifications & Experience: Qualified Solicitor (England & Wales) with 6–7 years’ + PQE in employment law gained within a respected national, City, or top-tier employment practice. Excellent academic record and high-quality background essential.

  
  


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  Contentious & Advisory Mastery: Comprehensive expertise managing complex Tribunal litigation, High Court injunctions/team moves, whistleblowing, discrimination, executive exit negotiations, and strategic corporate advice (TUPE, reorganisations, and redundancy).

  
  


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  Sector Expertise (Desirable): Prior experience advising clients within Film, TV, Theatre, Media, or Tech sectors is highly advantageous.

  
  


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  Business Development & Leadership: Proven track record or strong aptitude for business development, client pitching, networking, and mentoring junior associates within a collaborative team structure.

  
  


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  Commercial Leadership: Outstanding interpersonal and negotiation skills, with the confidence to advise board-level directors and senior executives on high-stakes, sensitive employment issues.

  
  

Package & Benefits

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  Base Salary & Bonus: £110,000 – £130,000 per annum (dependent on PQE and experience level, aligned with London market rates) plus a performance-related bonus scheme.

  
  


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  Career Development: Clear, transparent promotion criteria to Legal Director and Partner, with bespoke business development backing and leadership coaching.

  
  


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  Work-Life Balance: Supported hybrid working model in modern central London office premises, promoting flexibility within a collaborative, non-hierarchical culture.

  
  


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  Health & Wellbeing: Comprehensive private medical insurance, workplace pension scheme, life assurance, income protection, and extensive wellness perks.

  
  

How to Apply

To explore this opportunity in confidence and discuss next steps, please contact David Hawthorne-Finch directly:

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  Email: [email protected]

  
  

Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions is acting as an employment agency for this vacancy. All applications and enquiries are treated with the strictest confidence.