Senior Associate

Department: Disputes Division
Location: Any UK Office or Fully Remote
Duration: 12 Month Fixed Term Contract 
Reports to: Partner 
PQE: 6+

Reference no: 7160

Team and Role

We are looking for lawyers with strong contentious experience to support our redress scheme project on a 12 month fixed term basis. The role is within Dentons' Disputes practice, which is a large contentious group with team members in London, Milton Keynes and Scotland. 

This position is a 12 month fixed-term contract aligned to specific project work and is expected to conclude upon its completion.

Dentons represents a range of leading public sector clients, including His Majesty's Government (HMG), and we currently act on a number of large, high-profile redress schemes for the Department for Business and Trade. These schemes are focused on ensuring full and fair redress for postmasters affected by the Horizon IT scandal. Dentons holds a range of independent roles within the schemes, including coordinating various independent panels that issue binding redress decisions.

This role is a unique opportunity to have a positive impact through one of the most significant public redress programmes in recent UK legal history, working on complex and high-profile claims that require careful analysis, sound judgement and effective stakeholder engagement. The role would involve a wide variety of work.

Given the unique nature of these large redress schemes, we are willing to consider applicants from a range of contentious legal backgrounds including (but not limited to) litigation, employment, regulatory, investigations and arbitration.

This role offers the opportunity to work on matters of national importance alongside experienced practitioners in a collaborative and supportive environment.

Responsibilities

Senior lawyers will play a leading role in the delivery of the schemes, including:

•    supervising and supporting legal and operational teams, while working closely with Dentons' legal project managers;
•    engaging with stakeholders across government, panel members and postmasters' legal representatives;
•    identifying and addressing scheme-wide legal and operational issues;
•    ensuring consistency, quality and efficiency across decision-making processes;
•    supporting governance, escalation and strategic matters connected with the schemes; and
•    managing the most high-profile and/or complex claims.

Required skills and experience

•    Qualified solicitor status in England and Wales (or equivalent common law jurisdiction).
•    Strong general contentious or disputes experience. 
•    Experience gained within the public sector or complex claims management a benefit, but not essential.
•    Strong academic record.
•    Experience in leading teams a benefit, but not essential.
 

Personal attributes

•    Responsible for own work and can work independently.
•    Dedicated to exceptional client service.
•    Focused on developing junior members of the team.
•    Excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills.
•    Good interpersonal and communication skills.
•    Good judgement and resilience.
•    Strong initiative and drive.
•    Keen to learn new skills.

Firm Profile

Across more than 80 countries, Dentons helps you grow, protect, operate and finance your organisation by providing uniquely global and deeply local legal solutions. Polycentric, purpose-driven and committed to inclusion, diversity, equity and sustainability, we focus on what matters most to you. www.dentons.com

Inclusion and Diversity

We are committed to building an inclusive culture here at Dentons where our people can thrive, regardless of their background or circumstance. As well as being the right thing to do, it makes good business sense too. A richness of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives helps us best serve our clients and the communities in which we operate. You can find out more about inclusion and diversity at Dentons here: Inclusion and Diversity

Dentons is committed to providing equal opportunities for all. We welcome applications from everyone including of any age, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, nationality, neurotype, disability, or with parental or caring responsibilities. We are also “Happy to Talk Flexible Working” and welcome conversations about flexible working arrangements.

Dentons is a Disability Confident employer. Candidates with a disability may choose to apply under the Disability Confident Scheme. We will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role. Where application volumes are high, we may offer interviews to those who best meet the minimum criteria, consistent with our approach for all candidates.

During the application process, all applicants have the opportunity to tell us about any adjustments or support they require so they are able to perform at their best. Any information you share with us during the application process is treated in confidence.

If you have any questions about this or the role criteria, please email [email protected]. 

NO AGENCIES PLEASE

If you are interested in applying for this position, we welcome direct applications via our careers page, but if you have any questions beforehand, please email  [email protected]. Enquiries only please – applications will not be accepted via email.

Please note that we will not accept unsolicited CVs sent to the business, nor will we accept any associated terms of business.