Commercial Litigation Senior Associate

JMC Legal Recruitment; West Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Top of market salary

Structured path to partnership

Job summary

JMC Legal Recruitment is partnering with a Tier 1 ranked Commercial Litigation team in Leeds to recruit a Senior Associate with 5-8 years PQE. The role offers exposure to high-value, complex disputes and a clear pathway toward partnership.

The firm combines London-level expertise with the Leeds market, offering a top salary and a supportive environment that recognises quality of life. You will handle a broad caseload and mentor junior lawyers.

Qualifications

• Solicitor with 5–8 years PQE in commercial litigation.
• Strong technical grounding across a broad range of disputes.
• Ability to manage matters with autonomy and client relations.

Responsibilities

• Run matters with autonomy and oversee junior lawyers.
• Handle high-value disputes including contracts, shareholder, and professional negligence.
• Engage with clients and contribute to business development.

Skills

Commercial Litigation experience

Autonomy in matter management

Business development mindset

Education

Solicitor qualification (England & Wales)

Job description

Commercial Litigation Senior Associate | 5-8 Years PQE | Tier 1 Ranked | Leeds

A standout opportunity for an experienced Commercial Litigator to join one of the UK's most highly regarded disputes practices in Leeds, working on complex, high-value litigation at a firm that punches at the top level.

The Firm

Tier 1 ranked for Commercial Litigation and consistently recognised at the very top of the legal directories, the firm handles some of the most complex and high-profile cases in the market for an impressive client base spanning major corporates, high-net-worth individuals, financial institutions and international businesses.

What sets this firm apart is the calibre of its people. The Leeds team houses some of the most highly regarded disputes partners in the region, many of whom have come directly from leading London practices and made a deliberate choice to bring that City-level expertise to the Leeds market. The result is a team that operates to the very highest standard, handles work of genuine national significance and does so within an environment that values quality of life alongside quality of work.

Targets here are realistic and achievable, which is a genuine differentiator in the disputes market. The firm is not in the business of burning out its best lawyers. It invests in them, supports them and pays them accordingly, with a top of market salary that reflects the standard of the work and the calibre of the people it attracts.

The culture is collegiate and collaborative despite the high-pressure nature of litigation at this level. Lawyers are given real responsibility early, mentored properly and supported to develop into genuine market leaders in their field.

The Role

You will join a Tier 1 ranked Commercial Litigation team in Leeds, working on a broad and varied caseload of complex, high-value disputes for an impressive and diverse client base.

At Senior Associate level you will carry real responsibility, running matters with a good degree of autonomy whilst working closely alongside partners on the most significant and complex instructions.

The caseload is varied spanning contractual disputes, shareholder and partnership disputes, professional negligence, fraud and asset recovery, financial services litigation and more. The firm's reputation means it regularly attracts instructions that sit at the very top end of the market, giving you exposure to disputes of genuine national and international significance.

The Ideal Candidate

• Commercial Litigation Solicitor with 5 to 8 years PQE
• Strong technical grounding across a broad range of commercial disputes
• Confident running matters with increasing autonomy and managing client relationships directly
• Commercially minded with an interest in business development and building a profile in the market
• Ambitious and looking towards partnership over the longer term

What's on Offer

• A senior role within a Tier 1 ranked, dedicated litigation practice
• The chance to work alongside partners who have chosen Leeds over London and brought the very best of both with them
• Complex, high-value work spanning a broad range of commercial disputes
• Realistic and achievable targets within a firm that genuinely values its people
• Top of market salary and a comprehensive benefits package
• A clear and structured pathway towards partnership for the right candidate