Commercial Litigation Senior Associate

JMC Legal Recruitment; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A specialist litigation firm in the UK is seeking a Commercial Litigation Solicitor with over 5 years of PQE. This role offers exceptional flexibility and a sustainable approach to practice, free from traditional pressures like billing targets. Responsibilities include handling a variety of disputes, managing cases end-to-end, and acting as an adviser to clients. The position allows for fully remote working or a hybrid model, aiming for long-term work-life balance while maintaining quality litigation. Competitive, six-figure salary available based on experience.

Benefits

Six-figure salary

No billable hour targets

Fully remote work available

Long-term work-life balance

Qualifications

• 5+ years' PQE with strong experience in commercial litigation.
• Comfortable handling complex disputes and advising clients directly.
• Confident working autonomously within a collaborative team structure.

Responsibilities

• Handling a wide range of commercial litigation including High Court claims.
• Managing matters end-to-end, from pleadings to trial preparation.
• Acting as a trusted adviser to clients with ongoing relationships.

Skills

Commercial litigation experience

Handling complex disputes

Advising clients directly

Autonomous work

Strategic thinking

Education

5+ years' PQE

Job description

Commercial Litigation Solicitor | 5+ PQE | South West or Fully Remote

A rare opportunity for an experienced commercial litigator to join an alternative disputes practice, operating outside the traditional law-firm model. This role offers high-level contentious work, exceptional flexibility and a sustainable approach to practice, without billing targets, client origination pressure or City-firm hours.

What You’ll Be Doing

You will play a senior role within a specialist litigation team acting as outsourced in-house counsel to clients operating at scale, with work spanning advisory, strategic and heavily contentious matters.

• Handling a wide range of commercial litigation, from lower-value disputes through to complex, multi-million-pound High Court claims
• Advising retained clients on live disputes, risk management and litigation strategy as issues arise
• Working closely with barristers and senior colleagues in a barrister‑led model, with early exposure to strategy, advocacy and tactical decision‑making
• Managing matters end-to-end, including pleadings, applications, ADR and trial preparation
• Acting as a trusted adviser to clients with ongoing relationships, rather than one-off instructions
• Supporting junior lawyers within the team and contributing to the overall strength of the commercial litigation function

About You

This role will suit a commercially minded litigator who enjoys disputes work but is looking for a more flexible, sustainable way of practising.

• 5+ years' PQE with strong experience in commercial litigation
• Comfortable handling complex disputes and advising clients directly
• Background from a regional, national or City firm welcomed
• No sector background required; curiosity and commercial judgement matter more than prior specialism
• Confident working autonomously within a collaborative team structure
• Someone seeking long‑term balance without stepping away from high-quality litigation

What’s on Offer

This is a role designed to remove many of the pressure points associated with traditional private practice.

• Six‑figure salary available, flexible depending on experience
• No billable hour targets and no client origination requirements
• Work allocated via retained clients rather than fee‑chasing
• Fully remote working available, with the option of being South West based or hybrid working if preferred
• Full‑time role preferred, but a four‑day week will be considered for exceptional candidates
• Exposure to meaningful, heavyweight litigation without City hours or commute

The Firm

You will be joining a specialist litigation practice operating under a hybrid barrister‑solicitor model, acting as long‑term legal partner to clients across a single, highly active sector. The firm works on a retained basis rather than traditional hourly billing, allowing lawyers to focus on quality advice, strategy and outcomes rather than time recording.

The team is deliberately lean, highly experienced and has operated a remote‑first model for many years, long before flexible working became mainstream. The result is a practice that combines serious disputes work with genuine autonomy, trust and work‑life balance.

Apply now or contact Harrison for a confidential discussion.