Commercial Litigation Solicitor

Simpson Judge; Slough; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

25 days annual leave

Discretionary bonus

Private medical cover

Job summary

Simpson Judge is seeking a Commercial Litigation Solicitor for a London-based boutique on a fixed-term contract. The role targets 5+ years PQE and strong experience in high-value disputes, including international arbitration, with day-to-day management of contentious matters.

Hybrid working is offered, with 25 days’ annual leave and a discretionary bonus. The candidate will need excellent communication, an international outlook and a proactive, commercially minded approach to dispute resolution.

Qualifications

• 5+ years PQE in commercial litigation
• Experience handling high-value disputes
• Experience with international element of disputes
• Knowledge of CPR and English court procedures
• Commercial arbitration experience desirable
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong attention to detail and autonomy
• Foreign language skills a plus

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day running of contentious matters under Partner supervision
• Draft pleadings, correspondence and witness statements
• Prepare instructions to Counsel
• Conduct legal research
• Manage disclosure and case documentation
• Prepare for and attend hearings and meetings
• Liaise with clients and other parties
• Meet deadlines and progress matters efficiently
• Assist with court filings and procedural requirements
• Support junior lawyers and paralegals

Skills

PQE 5+ yrs

Commercial litigation

High-value disputes

International element

CPR knowledge

Arbitration experience

Court filings

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Autonomy

Foreign language skills

Job description

Location: London

5PQE +

Contract: Fixed-Term Contract

Working Pattern: Full Time, Monday–Friday

Salary: DOE

The Firm

We are working with a Legal 500 recognised boutique international law firm, based in London and specialising in high-value, complex disputes for an international client base.

The firm has an excellent reputation for handling sophisticated contentious matters, including cases that have reached the Supreme Court, as well as disputes featuring in The Lawyer's annual list of top cases to watch.

The team has a genuinely international outlook and works on matters where the issues are often complex, high-value and commercially significant.

The Opportunity

The firm is looking to appoint an experienced Commercial Litigation Solicitor on a fixed-term basis to join its established disputes team.

The successful candidate will have strong experience in commercial litigation and, ideally, international arbitration, and will be expected to contribute to the day-to-day management of complex contentious matters from the outset.

This would suit a solicitor who enjoys high-quality, intellectually challenging disputes work and is comfortable working in an international environment.

Key Responsibilities

You will be involved in:

• Managing the day-to-day running of contentious matters under Partner supervision
• Drafting pleadings, correspondence and witness statements
• Preparing instructions to Counsel
• Conducting legal research
• Managing disclosure and case documentation
• Preparing for and attending meetings and hearings
• Liaising directly with clients and other parties
• Managing deadlines and progressing matters efficiently
• Assisting with court filings and procedural requirements
• Supporting more junior lawyers and paralegals where required

Ideal Candidate

The firm is looking for a solicitor with:

• 5+ years' PQE
• Strong experience in commercial litigation
• Experience working on high-value disputes, ideally matters exceeding £5m
• Experience handling disputes with an international element
• Good knowledge of the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) and English court procedures
• Experience dealing with court filings and litigation processes
• Commercial arbitration experience is highly desirable
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong attention to detail
• A proactive and commercially minded approach
• The ability to take responsibility for matters and work with a high degree of autonomy
• An international outlook and, ideally, foreign language skills

What the Firm Offers

• Competitive salary depending on experience
• Fixed-term contract
• Hybrid working, including one day per week working from home
• 25 days' annual leave
• Private medical cover following probation
• Flexible working
• Enhanced maternity benefits
• Discretionary bonus
• Bi-annual appraisals and salary reviews
• Supportive and collaborative team environment

The Ideal Profile

This is an opportunity for a disputes solicitor who wants to work on sophisticated, international matters rather than a high-volume litigation caseload.

The ideal candidate will be comfortable handling high-value commercial disputes, have strong technical litigation skills and ideally bring experience in international arbitration.