Commercial Contracts Associate - Manchester

Think Legal Recruitment; Greater Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A national law firm in Manchester is seeking a Commercial Contracts Associate with 2–5 years' PQE to join their team. This role involves drafting and negotiating contracts and advising clients on commercial agreements. The firm offers a competitive salary, a hybrid working model, and excellent career development opportunities.

Benefits

Flexible working model

Competitive salary

Structured career development

Inclusive working environment

Qualifications

• 2–5 years’ PQE in commercial, IT or IP-focused practice.
• Experience in drafting and negotiating commercial agreements.
• Strong skills in advising on IT, data protection, and IP issues.

Responsibilities

• Advise clients on full lifecycle of commercial arrangements.
• Draft and manage contracts for customers and suppliers.
• Support partners on larger transactions while managing own matters.

Skills

Drafting contracts

Negotiating agreements

Client relationship management

Commercial mindset

Job description

Commercial Contracts Associate – Manchester

Location: Manchester
Salary: Competitive + excellent benefits
Experience level: 2–5 years’ PQE

A leading national law firm is seeking a talented Commercial Contracts Associate to join its highly regarded team in Manchester. This is an exciting opportunity to work on high-quality, complex matters for major UK and international clients across a variety of sectors including retail and consumer, technology, financial services, sport, aviation, digital, manufacturing, and healthcare.

The Role

As a key member of the Commercial Contracts team, you will:

• Advise clients throughout the full lifecycle of commercial arrangements
• Draft, negotiate, and manage a wide range of contracts on both the customer and supplier sides
• Support partners and senior associates on larger transactions while managing your own matters
• Advise on general commercial, IT, data protection, and intellectual property issues

The team handles a broad mix of work including IT and business process outsourcing, SaaS and cloud arrangements, logistics, and IP protection and exploitation.

This is a collaborative, high‑performing group with an excellent reputation and a strong record for career development, including opportunities for client secondments.

About You

You will ideally bring:

• 2–5 years’ PQE gained in a commercial, IT, or IP‑focused practice (private practice or in‑house)
• Solid experience drafting and negotiating commercial agreements
• A strong commercial mindset and the ability to deliver pragmatic, solutions‑driven advice
• Excellent communication and client relationship skills
• A genuine interest in technology, IP, and commercial contracting

The Opportunity

This is a fantastic chance to join a Tier 1‑ranked commercial team known for its top‑tier work, supportive culture, and clear routes for progression. You’ll enjoy a balance of autonomy, collaboration, and exposure to cutting‑edge work for household‑name clients.

The firm offers:

• A flexible, hybrid working model
• Competitive salary and benefits package
• Structured career development and mentoring
• A collaborative and inclusive working environment

For more information or a confidential discussion, please contact Louisa at Think Legal Recruitment on [e-mail].