Partner / Legal Director

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The firm
Birketts is a full service, UK Top 50 law firm. With a heritage spanning 160 years, we have more than 500 lawyers and legal professionals based in Cambridge, Chelmsford, Ipswich, London, Norwich, Sevenoaks and Bristol opening in Autum 2024.

We advise businesses, government and public sector organisations and individuals in the UK and internationally across four principal practice groups: property, corporate services, litigation and private client advisory.

We are defined by our Next Level Law proposition. We work with our clients as a proactive partner, horizon scanning and thinking ahead to the changes, challenges or opportunities that they may face.

Next Level Law is also applied to our people. Our collegiate culture means everyone is encouraged to achieve their next level in everything they do. RollOnFriday recently ranked us as the 5th best law firm to work at in 2024.

With our ambition to succeed, comes a strong desire to make a positive contribution to the communities we serve, and we are committed to delivering the objectives set out in our ESG strategy. Diversity plays an integral part in all that we do, with female partners comprising 40% of our partnership.

Our Bristol location will be our newest office, which is primed for growth to realise the huge opportunities and need for excellent legal advice in the Southwest.
The department
Birketts is recruiting for a talented Partner or Legal Director, ideally with 8+ years PQE to come and join a phenomenally successful, leading corporate division, collaborating specifically with the Employee Incentives team, who are looking for extra resource to take forward ambitious plans in connection with the growth strategy for our new Bristol office.

The Employee Incentives team is led by our Partner Lisa Hayward. This specialist division advises a range of clients from start-ups to internationals, including listed companies. Our work includes advising on:

• The selection, design and implementation of equity and cash incentive arrangements for employees to maximise their engagement.
• HMRC approved and tax efficient share plans including EMI, CSOP, SIP and SAYE.
• Bespoke growth share plans, nil paid plans and LTIPs.
• Employee benefit trusts
• The effect of existing arrangements in relation to terminations and corporate transactions.

The team also has national reputation for advising founders, trustees and executives in relation to Employee Ownership Trusts.
The candidate
We are seeking an individual who has the drive and commitment to assist Birketts in the continued growth and development of our Employee Incentives practice.

This is a great opportunity to be a key member of a highly successful and ambitious Employee Incentives team which forms part of the Corporate Tax Team (ranked as Tier 1 in Legal 500).

You will support growth in Bristol and the development of the Corporate/Corporate Tax teams more generally. This will involve a range of business development activities, including attending BD events, networking, supporting on tenders/pitches and preparing thought leadership content for Birketts publications.

Qualifications / Experience:

• Minimum 8 years PQE
• Good level of experience as an Employee Incentives practitioner
• Experience of managing client relationships at a high level
• A keen interest in team management and development
• Experience of business development and seeking growth opportunities.

Equal opportunities
One of the best things about joining Birketts is our rewards package. At Birketts we are appreciative of the people who work for us and our rewards package is reviewed regularly to reflect that. A competitive salary and benefits package is given but you can also expect a talented team and supportive colleagues, a strong focus on diversity, inclusion and equal opportunities, a programme of wellbeing and mental health support and structured career development and study support.

https://www.birketts.co.uk/recognition-reward-benefits/

Highlighting:

• 30 days holiday (FTE) plus Bank Holidays
• Long Service holiday award - 1 extra week every 10 years continuous service
• Private Healthcare with BUPA (offered after probation is passed)
• Scottish Widows Pension Scheme (5% employer / 5% Employee)
• Staff Profit Share / Salary sacrifice (Pensions, Staff Profit Share)
• Life Assurance - 4 x salary / Permanent Health Insurance
• Paid ESG day (Environmental, Social and Governance)
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Leave
• Subsidised gym membership
• Electric car scheme

Partner benefits discussed at interview stage.

Birketts is a flexible business which has embraced a hybrid working model where our colleagues enjoy a mix of home and office working. We welcome applications from people looking for flexible, agile, and part-time roles and we are happy to explore your preferred working patterns as part of your application.