Senior Associate/Legal Director – Health

Job Description
Senior Associate/Legal Director – Health & Safety

Salary: £70,000 - £100,000 + Bonus

Location: London

Experience: 6+ Years PQE

 
Join a Leading National Health & Safety Team

Are you an experienced non-contentious Health & Safety lawyer looking to join a City-led international firm's national practice? Our client is seeking a Senior Associate or Legal Director to join their Health & Safety team, working on high-quality advisory work for social housing providers, private-sector landlords and clients across the Built Environment sector. This is your opportunity to work on cutting-edge Building Safety legislation and complex compliance matters whilst building your client relationships and business development profile.

 
About the Role

As a Senior Associate or Legal Director, you'll join the national Health & Safety team which works across four UK offices. The health and safety lead partner is based in Manchester, and the team works flexibly both remotely and between the physical offices, supporting clients and projects throughout the country.

You'll advise on the non-contentious aspects of health and safety law, working with social housing and private-sector landlords, developers, contractors and consultants on statutory compliance, Building Safety legislation, and health, safety and environmental due diligence.

Your Responsibilities Will Include:

• Statutory Compliance: Advising social housing and private-sector landlords on statutory compliance and contractual obligations across a range of risks including fire safety, asbestos, legionella, mould, electrical and gas safety

• Policies & Crisis Management: Inputting into health and safety policies and procedures as well as helping out with crisis management following an accident, incident or near miss

• Insurance Advisory: Advising on insurance cover for legal liabilities and legal expenses

• Contaminated Land: Advising on contaminated land which poses human health risks and potential claims risks for landlords and freeholders

• Building Safety Legislation: Advising numerous landlords, developers, contractors and consultants within the Built Environment sector on all aspects of the Building Safety legislation

• Due Diligence: Providing support with health, safety and environmental due diligence on real estate, commercial and corporate transactions

• Client Relationship Management: Building and maintaining effective client relationships

• Business Development: Active participation in marketing initiatives, including client training sessions

• File Management: Ensuring files are managed in compliance with Lexcel procedures and managing matters independently where appropriate

• Professional Development: Participating in firm-wide and departmental training sessions

This role offers genuine variety across non-contentious health and safety advisory work, with excellent opportunities for career development, client-facing work and business development.

 
About You

Essential Requirements:

• Qualified solicitor with at least 6 years' post-qualification experience in non-contentious Health and Safety work

• Proven ability to take on responsibility, manage and progress matters independently where appropriate

• Strong client focus and commitment to service delivery

• Strong commercial awareness

• Strong technical skills and innovative approach to their application

• Good team player with ability to work flexibly

• Substantial client management experience

• Proven track record in origination and business development

• Solid academic record

• Methodical, disciplined and organised approach

Desirable Attributes:

• Experience advising on Building Safety legislation

• Track record advising social housing providers and private-sector landlords

• Experience with fire safety, asbestos, legionella and other compliance risks

• Experience advising on contaminated land and human health risks

• Track record in health, safety and environmental due diligence on transactions

• Established client relationships within the Built Environment sector

• Experience with crisis management following health and safety incidents

 
What's On Offer

Competitive Remuneration Package:

• Salary: £70,000 - £100,000 (dependent on experience)

• Performance-related bonus

• Comprehensive benefits package

Career Development:

• Career Development Framework setting out clear competencies and progression pathways

• Work with the national Health & Safety team and health and safety lead partner based in Manchester

• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge Building Safety legislation

• Flexible working arrangements (remote and office-based)

• Support clients and projects throughout the country

• Firm-wide and departmental training sessions

• Active participation in marketing initiatives and client training sessions

Professional Environment:

• Work with a City-led international firm with offices across the UK, Middle East and Asia

• Strategic partnership with Interlaw facilitating management of multi-jurisdictional matters

• Leading practices in Corporate, Litigation, Tax, Banking and Finance, Real Estate and Private Wealth

• Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

• Strategic direction shaped by ESG principles guiding firm-wide operations

 
About Our Client

Our client is a City-led, international and national law firm with over 170 partners and 1,000 staff, with offices across the UK, Middle East and Asia. Their global footprint is further enhanced by their strategic partnership with Interlaw which works to facilitate their management of multi-jurisdictional matters.

The Health & Safety team works nationally out of four UK offices, with the health and safety lead partner based in Manchester. The team works flexibly both remotely and between the physical offices, supporting clients and projects throughout the country.

The firm has always been proud of its commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and values the variety of its partnership. They believe it is their people that make them unique, and they expect and respect that you and your talents are too. Their strategic direction is shaped by a desire to grow the business in a way that is responsible and sustainable, with the principles of ESG at its core.

 
Location & Working Arrangements

This role is based in London, with flexible working arrangements including remote working and working between the firm's physical offices. The team supports clients and projects throughout the country, with the health and safety lead partner based in Manchester.

 
How to Apply

If you're an experienced non-contentious Health & Safety lawyer with 6+ years PQE looking to join a leading national team with excellent support, flexible working and genuine career development opportunities, we'd love to hear from you.

For a confidential discussion about this opportunity, please contact: David Hawthorne-Finch d.hawthorne

Please submit your CV in confidence. All applications will be treated with the utmost discretion.

Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions is committed to ethical recruitment practices. We value transparency, integrity, and building trusted partnerships. All candidate information is treated confidentially, and we never share your details without your explicit consent.

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