Commercial Litigation Senior Associate

Acuity Law; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Acuity Law, a leading UK law firm, is seeking a Commercial Litigation Senior Associate with at least 6 years of PQE to join their Dispute Resolution team in Cardiff. This role involves managing complex disputes, leading cases, and mentoring junior lawyers, offering a clear path to career progression in a collaborative environment.

Benefits

Market-leading salary and benefits package

Flexible working options

Opportunities for career development

Supportive team culture

Involvement in business development initiatives

Qualifications

• 6+ years PQE in commercial litigation at a leading UK law firm.
• Experience in high-value, multi-jurisdictional disputes.
• Strong client relationship management and business development skills.

Responsibilities

• Leading on litigation, arbitration, and ADR processes.
• Managing client relationships and supervising junior lawyers.
• Advising on risk management and dispute avoidance strategies.

Skills

Commercial awareness

Negotiation

Litigation skills

Advocacy

Analytical skills

Education

Qualified solicitor with 6+ years PQE

Job description

About Acuity Law

We are a leading UK law firm renowned for our commitment to excellence, client service, and delivering innovative legal solutions. Our firm is recognised for its collaborative and dynamic working environment, offering high-quality legal advice to a diverse range of clients, from multinational corporations and financial institutions to SMEs, start-ups and high-net-worth individuals. We pride ourselves on fostering professional growth, encouraging innovation, and maintaining an inclusive and supportive culture.

About the role

We are seeking an experienced and commercially minded Commercial Litigation Senior Associate (6+ PQE) to join our highly regarded Dispute Resolution team. This is an exciting opportunity to take on a key role in handling complex, high-value disputes for a diverse client base, including multinational corporations, financial institutions, high-net-worth individuals, and leading UK businesses.

As a senior associate, you will be responsible for leading cases, managing client relationships, supervising junior lawyers, and driving business development initiatives. You will have exposure to a wide range of disputes, including contractual disputes, shareholder and partnership disputes, professional negligence, fraud, and regulatory matters.

This role offers a clear pathway to career progression, exposure to top-tier clients, and the chance to work on high-profile disputes within a collaborative and dynamic team.

About the team

Our Commercial Litigation team is a highly regarded practice, known for handling complex and high-value disputes across multiple sectors, including finance, technology, intellectual property, and professional services. We specialise in corporate and contractual disputes, shareholder and partnership conflicts, professional negligence, fraud claims, and alternative dispute resolution (ADR), including mediation and arbitration.

The team works closely with other practice areas, including corporate, banking, regulatory, and employment, to provide a seamless service to our clients. With a strong track record in resolving disputes efficiently and commercially, we are looking to expand our team with an experienced and ambitious litigator.

We pride ourselves on our collaborative, inclusive, and high-performance culture, where colleagues are encouraged to take on significant responsibility, develop their technical expertise, and contribute to the strategic growth of the practice.

Key responsibilities

Legal Expertise & Case Management

• Advising clients on a wide range of commercial disputes, including contractual claims, corporate disputes, professional negligence, fraud, and contentious regulatory matters.
• Leading on litigation, arbitration, and alternative dispute resolution (ADR), including mediation and negotiation.
• Managing cases through all stages of litigation, from initial strategy and pre-action advice to trial and enforcement.
• Drafting and reviewing key legal documents, including pleadings, witness statements, and settlement agreements.
• Coordinating and managing large-scale disputes, working alongside counsel, expert witnesses, and forensic teams.
• Advising clients on risk management, dispute avoidance strategies, and litigation funding options.

Client & Business Development

• Acting as a trusted advisor to clients, providing commercially astute and strategic legal advice.
• Taking a proactive role in business development, attending industry events, networking, and contributing to the firm’s thought leadership initiatives.
• Developing strong client relationships and identifying opportunities to expand the firm’s disputes practice.

Leadership & Team Development

• Supervising and mentoring junior associates and trainees, providing guidance on legal strategy, technical skills, and career development.
• Contributing to internal knowledge-sharing, training sessions, and best practice initiatives.
• Playing a key role in the strategic direction of the litigation team, helping to drive innovation and growth within the practice.

About you

We are looking for a highly motivated and commercially driven commercial litigation senior associate with at least 6 years PQE. You will have a strong technical background, excellent strategic thinking, and experience handling complex and high-value disputes.

Personal Specification

• 6+ years PQE in commercial litigation, gained at a leading UK law firm.
• Strong experience handling contractual disputes, shareholder and corporate disputes, fraud, professional negligence, and regulatory investigations.
• A track record of working on high-value, multi-jurisdictional disputes and international arbitration is desirable.
• Excellent litigation and advocacy skills, with experience managing cases through all stages of the litigation process.
• Strong negotiation and ADR experience, with the ability to provide commercial and strategic dispute resolution advice.
• A commercial and client-focused approach, with the ability to build and maintain strong relationships.
• Experience leading on business development initiatives, networking, and generating new opportunities for the firm.
• A collaborative and team-oriented mindset, with a passion for mentoring and developing junior lawyers.
• Strong attention to detail, analytical skills, and problem-solving ability, with the confidence to handle complex legal issues independently.

Why join us?

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a highly respected Commercial Litigation team within a top-tier UK law firm, offering high-profile work, career development, and a supportive, team-driven culture.

• High-Calibre Work – Handle complex, high-value commercial disputes for a prestigious client base, including major corporates, financial institutions, and high-net-worth individuals.
• Clear Career Progression – A structured pathway towards partnership, with opportunities to develop leadership and business development skills.
• Client Exposure & Autonomy – Take on significant responsibility, work closely with senior partners and high-profile clients, and lead on strategic dispute resolution.
• Collaborative & Supportive Culture – Work within a highly regarded team that values knowledge-sharing, innovation, and mentorship.
• Business Development & Thought Leadership – Be actively involved in networking, speaking at events, and contributing to articles and legal publications.
• Competitive Package & Flexibility – Benefit from a market-leading salary and benefits package, with flexible working options and a focus on work-life balance.

Next steps

If you are an experienced and commercially focused litigation lawyer looking for an exciting and challenging role within a leading disputes team, we would love to hear from you.

For a confidential discussion, please contact our recruitment team. We look forward to welcoming a talented professional to our growing team.