Corporate Senior Associate

JMC Legal Recruitment Limited; West of England; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Award-winning progression programme

Wellbeing and work-life balance

Job summary

JMC Legal Recruitment Limited is seeking a Senior Associate for a leading Corporate M&A team outside London. You will lead high-value transactions, manage workstreams, and mentor juniors while building strong client relationships.

You will benefit from a structured progression programme, supportive culture, and hybrid working in the West of England. The role offers exposure to complex deals and international work.

Qualifications

• 5+ years' PQE in Corporate M&A and private equity
• Strong drafting and technical skills
• Commercial, client-focused with high-profile clients
• Experience supervising juniors and managing workstreams
• Ambition and collaborative, balanced environment

Responsibilities

• Lead on M&A and private equity transactions across full deal lifecycle
• Manage workstreams and supervise junior lawyers
• Build direct client relationships and contribute to BD
• Participate in development programmes and leadership training
• Collaborate with team to deliver market-leading advice

Skills

5+ years' PQE in Corporate M&A

Private equity experience

Strong drafting skills

Client relationship management

Mentoring juniors

Job description

Leading National Firm | Corporate M&A Senior Associate | 5+ Years PQE

Join one of the largest Corporate M&A teams outside London, working on complex, market-leading transactions for a stellar client base, while being supported by an award-winning career progression programme designed specifically for senior associates.

The Firm

This is a top-tier independent UK firm, headquartered outside London with a growing national and international footprint. It combines the scale and deal-flow quality of a major practice with a truly progressive, people-first culture.

The firm holds the highest Investors in People Platinum accreditation and has been repeatedly voted the best law firm to work at by its own people.

The environment is professional yet open, collaborative, and free from the postcode-driven hierarchy found in some City firms. Hybrid working is fully embedded, and wellbeing, inclusion, and sustainable careers are not just policies, they are demonstrable and celebrated.

The Team

The Corporate M&A team is one of the strongest outside London, regularly described as going "toe to toe with London firms" and praised for its excellent, highly professional and sound advice. The team handles a broad mix of public and private mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, and equity capital markets work, both in the UK and internationally.

The client list speaks for itself: household names, major financial institutions, and high-growth businesses, with an aggregate yearly deal value exceeding £3 billion. You will work on matters that are complex, high-value, and market-leading.

The Role

As a Senior Associate, you will take a lead role on M&A and private equity transactions, managing workstreams, supervising juniors, and building direct client relationships. You will work across the full deal lifecycle, from due diligence and drafting through to negotiation and completion, on a varied caseload that will stretch you technically and commercially.

Beyond deal delivery, you will play an active part in business development, mentoring, and team growth. Critically, you will also join the firm's dedicated Development Programme, an award-winning, structured pathway designed to equip you with the leadership skills, tailored development planning, and networking opportunities to progress towards Legal Director or Partner.

The Ideal Candidate

• Qualified solicitor with 5+ years' PQE in Corporate M&A and private equity
• Strong technical and drafting skills, with experience managing substantial workstreams and complex transactions
• A commercial, client-focused mindset, comfortable building relationships with high-profile clients
• A collaborative team player who takes satisfaction in developing junior colleagues
• Ambition and drive, coupled with an appreciation for working in a supportive, balanced environment

What's on Offer

• A seat in one of the largest Corporate M&A teams outside London, with high-value, varied deal flow
• A clear and structured progression pathway through a market-leading senior associate development programme
• A genuinely supportive, award-winning culture with a proven commitment to work-life balance and wellbeing
• High levels of flexibility, including hybrid working and part-time options
• Market leading salary and a comprehensive benefits package
• The opportunity to build a long-term career in an environment where quality of work and quality of life go hand in hand