Professioinal Negligence Senior Associate

Your new companyOur client is a leading and highly regarded legal services organisation that are continuing growth within their Complex Litigation function, which has created an opportunity for a Professional Negligence Senior Associate to join its Bristol office.

Renowned for delivering high-quality, customer-focused legal solutions, the business has strong insurer relationships and a consistent flow of complex work. It promotes a collaborative, inclusive culture where leadership, autonomy, and continuous development are actively encouraged. With a modern approach to hybrid working and a clear commitment to employee wellbeing, this is an excellent environment for experienced lawyers ready to step into a senior leadership role.

Your new role Joining the Professional Negligence team you will play a key leadership role combining technical legal expertise with operational oversight.

You will be responsible for supervising and mentoring team members, promoting best practice and ensuring the delivery of high-quality legal advice, while also managing a targeted caseload of complex, multi-track professional negligence disputes. Matters may include claims involving professional advisers and misrepresentation, often funded through legal expenses insurance.

Key responsibilities include:

Leading, mentoring and developing junior lawyers, embedding high standards of technical excellence and client care
Supervising case handling to ensure accuracy, efficiency and commercial outcomes
Managing a small caseload of complex professional negligence and misrepresentation claims
Conducting early case assessment and shaping dispute strategy
Ensuring compliance with legal expenses insurance policy requirements and regulatory standards
Driving performance against SLAs, KPIs and financial targets
Supporting departmental strategy, change initiatives and continuous improvement
Using management information to monitor performance and identify opportunities for optimisation
Promoting a culture of collaboration, knowledge sharing and excellence in customer outcomes This is a hybrid role, with a requirement to attend the Bristol office for part of the working week.

What you'll need to succeed

You will have:

Qualified as a Solicitor or Chartered Legal Executive (CILEX) (or equivalent)
Strong experience handling professional negligence disputes, ideally within a supervised or senior capacity
Proven experience of technical supervision, mentoring or team leadership
Experience working in an SRA-regulated environment
Strong commercial awareness and ability to manage complex litigation strategically
Excellent communication, stakeholder management and client care skills
The ability to prioritise effectively and work under pressure managing multiple demands
Strong analytical skills, including identifying legal and operational risks
A proactive approach, with the confidence to lead, influence and drive performance

This role will suit a senior litigator or existing Senior Associate looking to combine high-level legal work with meaningful leadership responsibility.
What you'll get in return

In return, you will receive:

A competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package
Hybrid and flexible working arrangements
High-quality, consistent complex litigation work from established insurer clients
A clear leadership role with genuine influence on team and departmental performance
A supportive, high-performing and inclusive culture
Ongoing professional development and clear progression opportunities
What you need to do now

If you are a Professional Negligence Lawyer seeking a senior leadership opportunity in Bristol, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Apply now or contact Sheldon Carlisle at Hays Legal for a confidential discussion about this opportunity.

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