Senior Knowledge Counsel – Pensions

We would love to hear from experienced pension lawyers who would be interested in joining our Knowledge Counsel team providing technical support to our market-leading pensions department.

About Us
CMS is a Future Facing firm with more than 80 offices in over 45 countries and 5,800+ lawyers worldwide. We combine deep local market understanding with a global perspective. We are passionate about building strong relationships with our clients, our people, and the communities we work in.

We take a bold, dynamic, and agile approach to ensure our clients are able to face the future with confidence. We are driven by emerging technologies such as generative AI and readily embrace the possibilities it opens up for developing new and better ways of working. Our aim is to inspire, impact and support our clients and our people, helping them to maximize their potential and thrive.

About The Role
We have the largest and most highly regarded specialist pensions law team in the UK, with top tier rankings in both Chambers and the Legal 500. It currently comprises 19 partners and nearly 60 other fee earners across London, Manchester and Edinburgh.

Our team is supported by four experienced Knowledge Counsel, all based in London. Our Knowledge Counsel work together to update the team on the latest developments, lead our extensive training programme, assist internally with day-to-day technical queries (direct client contact is not an expectation) and produce client updates and precedents. Our Knowledge Counsel are crucial to the success of our pensions department and provide top quality technical support.

We are looking for a new member of our London-based Knowledge Counsel team to work 4 or 5 days a week as a replacement for one of the team who is looking to retire. The individual will be proactive, self-motivated and highly organised. They will bring opinions and ideas to the table, working collaboratively with other members of the Knowledge Counsel team and with the wider pensions group.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced pensions lawyer to join our market leading team. You will be involved in a wide range of technical matters covering the full breadth of the UK pensions market. You will be joining a supportive and collaborative department providing exceptional service.

About You
We will invest in your ongoing training and development to support your professional goals and help you to thrive in your role from day one. To be successful in this role, it would be great to have the following skills and experience:

• A qualified solicitor, with at least 10 years PQE
• Recognised for your technical knowledge and analytical skills
• Capable of gaining the confidence of fee earners at all levels (trainee to partner)
• An interest in, and enthusiasm for, the pensions market
• Excellent relevant experience from a recognised pensions law team
• Outstanding communication skills including presentation skills
• High levels of accuracy and attention to detail
• Excellent drafting skills for both internal and external publications
• An ambition to succeed with a commitment to delivering top quality service
• Well organised with effective prioritisation skills
• A good understanding of best use of IT and other support functions to enhance advice and services
• Willing to work from our London office at least 50% of the time

*What's in it for you?*
We want to reward you today and help you plan for tomorrow. We appreciate that everyone is different, therefore we have designed a benefits system that offers choice and flexibility based on individual needs and lifestyles. To name a few, these include:

• Competitive basic salary (reviewed annually)
• Flexible, hybrid working policy
• Generous bonus scheme
• Up to 25 days holiday (rising to 28 days with service)
• Holiday exchange scheme
• Private medical insurance
• Enhanced parental leave

If you would like to read more information regarding our range of benefits, please visit our Rewards & Benefits page on our website.

*Equal opportunities*
At CMS, we place diversity and inclusion at the centre of our culture and the heart of our organisation. As a firm we recognise, celebrate, and embrace the diverse talent our society has to offer because we know that to solve big problems, we need the best and brightest minds available to us. In support of this goal, we commit to actively breaking down barriers which stand in the way of those from diverse backgrounds and play our part in levelling the playing field.

As a Future Facing Firm, we strongly believe that a career in law should be open to people from all walks of life, because not only does diversity of thought and experience make our firm a stronger and more sustainable business, but it also makes it a more rewarding place to work.

When recruiting, we prioritise attracting talented people and we actively promote a flexible working environment which enables all our team members to thrive. If you see a role you are interested in, but don't feel you meet 100% of the criteria we encourage you to still consider making an application. We also welcome applications from those who may be looking to return to the workforce after a career break.

We are proud to say our leadership in creating an inclusive working culture has been celebrated and recognised externally, including being listed for a number of years in the Times Top 50 Employers for Women and the Social Mobility Index.

We are a Level 2 Disability Confident Employer, and we actively encourage applications from people with disabilities, whether visible or invisible. We are committed to promoting equality of opportunity throughout our recruitment process and in every element of the employee life cycle. If you require assistance, or if you would like to discuss any accessibility requirements or adjustments as part of the recruitment process, please contact a member of the Talent Acquisition team at - who will be happy to support you.

*Ready to apply? Here are the next steps.*
We look forward to receiving your application online via the CMS careers site . Please contact our Talent Acquisition team if you have any questions.

Please note that CMS have a preferred agency panel in place. Only applications submitted via the portal at the point of instruction will be accepted from agents. Applications from individuals are welcomed through CMS' standard applications process.