Employment Associate

Buchanan; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

Health cash plan

Dental and life assurance

Critical illness cover

Matched pension contributions up to 7%

Holiday trading

Job summary

Buchanan, a leading international law firm headquartered in London, seeks an Employment Associate (3-6 PQE) to join its London team. The role offers a genuinely varied seat across contentious and advisory work, including cross-border matters with the firm's European network.

You will work directly with clients, handling disputes, investigations, restructurings and corporate transactions with an emphasis on practical, commercially-focused advice.

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor in England & Wales or another common law jurisdiction.
• 3-6 years PQE with strong respondent-side employment law experience.
• Solid grounding in restructuring, investigations and litigation.
• Confident, client-facing communicator with drafting and case management skills.
• Commercially aware, proactive, and able to handle multiple priorities.
• Able to support and develop junior team members.

Responsibilities

• Handle complex workplace disputes and employment litigation, including ET3 preparation and schedules of loss.
• Lead workplace investigations, document review and report drafting.
• Advise on disciplinary, grievance processes, redundancies, TUPE and senior exits.
• Support strategic transformation projects: restructurings, outsourcing and organisational change.
• Work cross-border with employment lawyers across Europe.
• Advise on employment aspects of corporate transactions.

Skills

Respondent-side employment law

Client-facing communication

Case management

Commercially aware

Managing multiple priorities

Mentoring juniors

Education

Solicitor qualification (England & Wales or other common law jurisdiction)

Job description

Join a genuinely pan-European employment practice known for pragmatic, commercially-focused advice

A leading international law firm headquartered in London is looking for a respondent-focused Employment Associate (3-6 PQE) to join its London team. The practice advises a broad client base ranging from multinationals and household-name brands to fast-growing businesses, and is known for combining technical excellence with practical, commercial employer-side advice.

This is a genuinely varied employment law seat, covering the full spectrum of contentious and advisory work:

• Complex workplace disputes and employment litigation, including ET3 preparation, schedules/counter-schedules of loss, and advocacy support
• Workplace investigations fact-gathering, document review and report drafting
• Advisory work across disciplinary/grievance processes, redundancies, TUPE, employment status and senior exits
• Strategic transformation projects, including restructurings, outsourcing and organisational change
• Cross-border employment matters, working alongside employment lawyers across the firm's European network
• Employment aspects of corporate transactions

Why This Is For You

• Genuinely pan-European platform. Rare opportunity to work cross-border as standard, collaborating with employment specialists across a wide European office network rather than an isolated London desk.
• Broad, senior-facing exposure. Direct client interaction from an early stage, including client calls and meetings alongside senior lawyers, not just background support.
• Strong benefits package, including private medical insurance, health cash plan, dental and life assurance, critical illness cover, matched pension contributions up to 7%, and holiday trading.
• Central London office with excellent transport links and standout views, a short walk from Bank/Monument.
• Genuine inclusion commitment, with accessibility adjustments available throughout the recruitment process and beyond (extra time for assessments, accessible formats, alternative interview formats, quiet rooms, and physical/technological accessibility support).
• Structured but flexible development. A defined career pathway with genuine scope to explore areas of particular interest beyond the core track.

What They Are Looking For

• Qualified solicitor in England & Wales or another common law jurisdiction
• 3-6 years PQE, with strong respondent-side employment law experience
• Solid grounding in restructuring, investigations and litigation
• Confident, client-facing communicator with strong drafting and case management skills
• Commercially aware, proactive, and comfortable managing multiple priorities under pressure
• Able to support and develop junior team members