New Job Opening: Head of Employment Law Department in London, UK

Job Description

Partner / Head of Employment Law 

Location: Central London

Salary: c.£110,000 – £140,000+ DOE/PQE

Are you a distinguished Employment Solicitor seeking to step into a senior departmental leadership role within a top-tier, award-winning London practice? Our client is a premier, multidisciplinary law firm renowned for its exceptional reputation, high-profile instructions, and commitment to legal excellence. Experiencing sustained expansion, they are seeking an ambitious Partner or Head of Department (10+ PQE) to lead, grow, and strategically direct their highly regarded Employment Law Practice in Central London.

The Opportunity

In this pivotal executive leadership position, you will take full operational and strategic control of an established Employment team known for handling complex, high-value, and often high-profile instructions. Balancing top-tier fee earning with departmental management, you will oversee a balanced caseload representing both high-net-worth individuals/senior executives and institutional/commercial employers across contentious and non-contentious matters. Designed for a visionary practitioner seeking genuine autonomy, high market visibility, and long-term equity potential, this role offers an unrivaled platform to shape the firm's employment offering.

Key Responsibilities & Requirements

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  Qualifications & PQE: Qualified Solicitor (England & Wales) with typically 10+ years’ post-qualification experience (PQE) leading an employment practice within a respected City, West End, or top regional firm.

  
  


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  Dual-Spectrum Expertise: Proven track record acting for both respondents/employers and claimants/senior executives across complex contentious litigation and strategic non-contentious advisory work.

  
  


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  Litigation & Discrimination Mastery: Extensive experience managing complex Employment Tribunal and High Court disputes, with specialist expertise in complex discrimination, whistleblowing, restrictive covenants, and executive dismissals.

  
  


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  Leadership & Practice Management: Demonstrated ability to supervise, mentor, and develop fee earners, driving operational efficiency, team cohesion, and high-performance standards.

  
  


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  Business Development & Market Standing: A self-motivated approach to practice growth, with a strong network of professional referrers and, ideally, an portable following or proven history of client acquisition.

  
  

Package & Working Structure

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  Competitive Remuneration: £110,000 – £140,000 base salary per annum (commensurate with PQE, market profile, and client following) plus an executive performance bonus structure.

  
  


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  Agile Working: Flexible/hybrid working arrangements supported alongside modern, state-of-the-art office facilities in Central London.

  
  


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  Comprehensive Benefits: Enhanced employer pension contributions, private medical and dental cover, life assurance, payment of professional membership fees, generous annual leave, and dedicated CPD/leadership training allowances.

  
  


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  Career Trajectory: Clear, transparent pathway to Equity Partnership with direct involvement in firm-wide management and strategic planning.

  
  


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  Culture & Support: High-performing, progressive, and inclusive working environment supported by experienced paralegals, legal secretaries, and dedicated marketing teams.

  
  

How to Apply

To discuss this opportunity in complete confidence or request a full candidate briefing pack, 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, and candidate details are never shared without prior express consent.