Commercial Associate – Technology & Outsourcing

Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions; Leeds; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading international law firm located in Leeds is seeking a Commercial Associate with at least 1 year PQE in IT and Outsourcing. The role involves advising on complex commercial and technology transactions, with a focus on digital transformation. This firm offers competitive salaries, among the best in the business, and outstanding opportunities for career development in a supportive and collaborative environment.

Benefits

Bonus scheme

Professional development opportunities

Competitive salary

Qualifications

• Minimum of 1 year post-qualification experience in private practice or in-house.
• Strong technical knowledge of commercial law.
• Experience in IT / Technology and Outsourcing.

Responsibilities

• Advise on tech transformations and cloud arrangements.
• Handle complex high-value commercial and technology projects.
• Build deep client relationships.

Skills

Commercial law expertise

Strong client management

Project management skills

Technical knowledge in IT/Technology

Analytical skills

Education

Qualified Solicitor in England and Wales

Job description

Job Description

Commercial Associate Technology & Outsourcing

Location: Leeds

PQE Level: 1 years PQE

Salary: 40000 - 55000 Bonus

Join a Tier 1 Ranked Commercial Team as Associate

Are you a commercially astute lawyer ready to take your career to the next level? Our client, a London headquartered international full‑service law firm with 250 years of heritage and a reputation for award‑winning innovation, is seeking a talented Commercial Associate with experience in IT / Technology and Outsourcing to join their award‑winning Tier 1‑ranked national Commercial team in Leeds.

The firm is looking for an Associate who is hungry for high‑impact work, thrives in a collaborative environment and is eager to lead on complex large‑scale transactions for some of the most sophisticated clients in the market.

This role will contribute directly to the delivery of complex high‑value commercial and technology projects. You’ll be advising on medium to large‑scale transactions across a variety of sectors, particularly where digitalisation, outsourcing and regulatory change converge.

The firm is growing to meet increasing demand for complex regulated technology, data outsourcing and transformation advice and this role supports that strategic ambition.

The Firm

Our client is a London headquartered international full‑service law firm that consistently delivers high‑quality outcomes for clients globally. With 250 years of heritage the firm today supports over 5000 of the world’s most respected organisations, helping them in over 50 areas of business law across more than 100 countries. The firm is known for award‑winning innovation and delivering impact to clients.

The firm has a strong global presence with offices across Asia (Japan, Singapore), Europe (England & Wales, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Poland, Scotland, Spain), the Middle East (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, UAE) plus regional business groups covering Africa, Central & Eastern Europe, India, Korea, Latin America, Nordics, North America, Türkiye, and Ukraine.

Recent major deals include advising on the largest UK IPO of 2025 (£300m market capitalisation), the £36.55bn Sizewell C nuclear power station financing (one of Europe’s most significant infrastructure projects) and the £275m sale of an iconic London landmark to a luxury international hotel group.

The firm is a place where you are valued, encouraged and challenged to fulfil your potential in a supportive and collegiate environment. The culture of improvement, growth and collaboration delivers results, drives innovation and rewards ambition. The firm’s success has been built by people from the widest range of backgrounds, locations and perspectives.

The firm is known for more than just technical excellence – they’re trusted advisors who understand their clients’ sectors, ambitions and challenges. Deep sector knowledge and long‑term investment in relationships make them the go‑to firm for FTSE 100 and equivalent clients across their chosen sectors.

The Team

The Commercial team is a national group with teams across each office working together on national and cross‑border transactions. Nationally the team is ranked in Tier 1 for IT with an enviable client base across private and public sector, responsible for some of the largest, most complex deals in this market.

You can expect to be involved in a range of work types for private sector and public sector clients, including tech transformations, cloud and SaaS arrangements, IT outsourcing, business process outsourcing, facilities management outsourcing, logistics, IT licences and commercial contracts.

This is a high‑performing, cohesive and busy team with excellent prospects for career development, secondments and cross‑border work. The team in Leeds is led by six Partners.

The Role

As an Associate in the Commercial team you will work on complex high‑value commercial and technology projects, advising on medium to large‑scale transactions across a variety of sectors, particularly where digitalisation, outsourcing and regulatory change converge.

You’ll be working on high‑impact matters for some of the most sophisticated clients in the market, contributing directly to the delivery of complex transactions.

Key Responsibilities

• Advising on tech transformations

• Advising on cloud and SaaS arrangements

• Advising on IT outsourcing

• Advising on business process outsourcing

• Advising on facilities management outsourcing

• Advising on logistics

• Advising on IT licences

• Advising on commercial contracts

• Advising on medium to large‑scale transactions across a variety of sectors

• Advising particularly where digitalisation, outsourcing and regulatory change converge

• Advising on complex regulated technology data outsourcing and transformation matters

Sector Experience

• Advising across a broad range of commercial matters

• Sector experience in at least one of: retail & consumer, financial services, advanced manufacturing, tech or health

• Working for private sector and public sector clients

• Working for some of the most sophisticated clients in the market

Project Management

• Managing your own workload

• Good project management skills

• Delivering complex high‑value commercial and technology projects

Client Relationship Management

• Building deep client relationships

• Strong client management skills

• Understanding clients’ sectors, ambitions and challenges

Career Development

• Plenty of opportunity to take on additional responsibility and advance your career

• Mentoring junior team members

• Working collaboratively in a cohesive team environment

• Contributing to the team’s success and reputation

Professional Development

• Engaging with formal training programmes (whether technical or skills based)

• Drawing on mentoring, coaching and leadership programmes available

• Continuous development and learning

• Building your skills as a well‑rounded commercial lawyer

• Excellent prospects for career development

• Opportunities for secondments and cross‑border work if you want them

About You

Essential Requirements:

• Qualified Solicitor in England and Wales

• At least 1 year post‑qualification experience in private practice or in‑house

• Strong technical knowledge of commercial law

• Experience in IT / Technology and Outsourcing

• Strong technical analytical and project management skills

• Commercial mindset and a pragmatic solutions‑driven approach

• Strong client management skills

• Built a demonstrable track record of strong financial performance

• Sector experience in at least one of: retail & consumer, financial services, advanced manufacturing, tech or health

• Ability to manage your own workload

• Good project management skills

• Ability to build deep client relationships

• Experience mentoring junior team members

• Good drafting skills with ability to produce clear and legally effective documents

• Experience engaging with internal and external stakeholders of all levels

• Ability to adopt a consultative and thorough approach to tasks

• Efficient diary and task management skills across a range of matters

• Ability to maintain the accuracy and levels of client service expected within a high‑performing team

• Ability to remain calm and optimistic in time‑sensitive situations or under pressure

• Enthusiastic about the development of your legal skill set and continuous learning

• Strong attention to detail and accuracy

• Commercially focused with good problem‑solving abilities

Highly Desirable:

• Experience advising on tech transformations

• Experience advising on cloud and SaaS arrangements

• Experience advising on IT outsourcing

• Experience advising on business process outsourcing

• Experience advising on facilities management outsourcing

• Experience advising on logistics

• Experience advising on IT licences

• Experience advising on commercial contracts

• Experience advising on medium to large‑scale transactions

• Experience advising where digitalisation, outsourcing and regulatory change converge

• Experience advising on complex regulated technology data outsourcing and transformation matters

• Experience working for both private sector and public sector clients

• Experience working in a large international law firm environment

• Experience working on high‑value complex transactions

• Strong client relationship skills

• Experience with cross‑border transactions

• Experience with secondments

Key Attributes:

• Client‑focused with commitment to exceptional service delivery

• Commercially astute and business‑oriented approach

• Proactive and solutions‑focused

• Strong team player who thrives in a collaborative environment

• Excellent communicator with strong interpersonal skills

• Adaptable and flexible approach to work

• Self‑motivated with strong work ethic

• Committed to continuous learning and development

• Passionate about commercial law and technology

• Ambitious and eager to build a long‑term career

• Resilient and able to work under pressure

• Quality‑focused with imagination and impact in advice

• Hungry for high‑impact work

Whats On Offer

Our client is committed to recognising and rewarding great work with rewards and benefits that are among the best in the business.

Benefits include:

• Competitive salary: 40000 - 55000 Bonus

• Bonus scheme

• International full‑service law firm with 250 years of heritage

• Support over 5000 of the world’s most respected organisations globally

• 50 areas of business law across 100 countries

• Award‑winning innovation and reputation for delivering impact

• Award‑winning Commercial team

• National Commercial team ranked in Tier 1 for IT

• Enviable client base across private and public sector clients

• Team handles some of the largest most complex digital transformation deals in this market

• Leeds team led by 6 Partners

• High performing cohesive and busy team

• Excellent prospects for career development

• Opportunities for secondments and cross‑border work if you want them

• Growing to meet increasing demand for complex regulated technology data outsourcing and transformation advice

• Work on high‑impact matters for some of the most sophisticated clients in the market

• Contribute directly to delivery of complex high‑value commercial and technology projects

• Advise on medium to large‑scale transactions across a variety of sectors

• Work on tech transformations, cloud and SaaS arrangements, IT outsourcing, business process outsourcing, facilities management outsourcing, logistics, IT licences and commercial contracts

• Work for private sector and public sector clients

• Advise where digitalisation, outsourcing and regulatory change converge

• Plenty of opportunity to take on additional responsibility and advance your career

• Mentor junior team members

• Build deep client relationships

• Work together on national and cross‑border transactions

• Formal training programmes (technical and skills based)

• Mentoring, coaching and leadership programmes available

• Clear career progression pathway

• Build long‑term career with the firm

• Become well‑rounded lawyer providing quality commercial advice

• Culture of improvement, growth and collaboration

• Supportive and collegiate environment

• Work on high‑calibre matters with high‑character colleagues

• Access to full‑service firm resources (Corporate Finance, Banking, Projects, Real Estate, Employment, Dispute Resolution, IP, Tax, Competition, Construction and more)

• Employee networks that provide space to discuss differences and celebrate diversity

• Firm that values people from the widest range of backgrounds, locations and perspectives

• Recent major deals: Largest UK IPO 2025 (300m), 36.55bn Sizewell C nuclear financing, 275m London landmark sale

• Global offices across Asia, Europe and Middle East

• Regional business groups covering Africa, CEE, India, Korea, Latin America, Nordics, North America, Türkiye, Ukraine

• Go‑to firm for FTSE 100 and equivalent clients across chosen sectors

• Known for more than just technical excellence – trusted advisors who understand clients’ sectors, ambitions and challenges

• Deep sector knowledge and long‑term investment in relationships

Location

This role is based in the firm’s Leeds office located in the heart of the city’s business district with excellent transport links and access to the city’s amenities, restaurants and cultural attractions.

How to Apply

If you’re a commercially astute Commercial Associate (1 year PQE) with experience in IT / Technology and Outsourcing, hungry for high‑impact work and ready to take your career to the next level with a leading international law firm, we’d love to hear from you. Click apply now or contact 0.

Required Experience

IC

Key Skills Computer Science, Mainframe, Active Directory, Information Technology, ISO, Windows, ASP.NET, Information Security, Linux, Project Management, Computer System, strategic plan, Db2, Dns, Technical Support

Employment Type Full‑Time

Experience: years

Vacancy: 1