Employment Associate

Baker McKenzie; London; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A global law firm in London is seeking Associates to join its Employment Practice. The role involves high-quality work on transactions, litigation, and HR advisory. Candidates should have 4-7 years PQE, excellent academics, and strong interpersonal skills. The firm values diversity and offers a supportive working environment with awards for innovation in the legal sector.

Benefits

Ranked best firm to work at

Awards for innovation and client management

Qualifications

• Qualified lawyers with 4-7 years PQE from a leading employment practice.
• Excellent academics and strong training are required.
• Candidates should have substantial employment experience.

Responsibilities

• Leading UK M&A transactions and advising on TUPE.
• Handling client queries related to various employment issues.
• Managing Employment Tribunal claims and providing litigation advice.

Skills

Excellent academic records

Strong training

Substantial employment experience

Good commercial mindset

Team player

Excellent client relationships

Education

Qualified lawyer

4-7 years PQE

Job description

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We are looking for Associates to join our market-leading Employment Practice. Our Employment team works with our clients on the full range of domestic and international employment issues. We collaborate with a broad range of blue-chip and global clients across sectors including financial services, TMT, healthcare, transport, consumer products, publishing, and retail. This is an exciting opportunity to join an expanding and leading London team working on high-quality, varied, and interesting work, including global projects and transactions, high-profile domestic advisory work, complex litigation and investigations, and strategic HR advisory work. We welcome applications from candidates with excellent academics and broad employment experience from a top-tier Employment practice.

The Team

Our London team comprises over 45 dedicated employment lawyers. We work closely with our Employee Benefits lawyers and Pensions Department. Our practice involves working with HR and in-house legal teams on daily employment queries. Our lawyers have recognized technical expertise in areas such as discrimination, collective rights, workplace change (including TUPE, mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, outsourcing, collective consultation, trade union issues, and EWCs), employment tribunal litigation, appellate courts, High Court litigation, investigations, and data privacy.

We are known for providing commercial, cost-effective, decisive, and pragmatic advice. Our first-tier ranking in legal directories reflects our commitment to delivering the best results for our clients. We invest in developing our team, maintaining expertise, and working closely with clients. Our broad client base allows us to offer diverse perspectives and well-rounded advice across sectors. Our practice is ranked Band 1 in both Chambers UK and Legal 500, and we are part of the only Band 1 ranked employment practice in Chambers Global worldwide.

Key Skills and Experience Required

We seek qualified lawyers with 4-7 years PQE, excellent academics, strong training, and substantial employment experience from a leading employment practice.

The successful candidates will have a good commercial mindset, be strong team players, and able to build excellent client relationships.

Possible matters include:

Transactions

• Leading UK M&A transactions, including due diligence, drafting and negotiating employment provisions, and advising on TUPE and related consequences.
• Advising on global or multi-jurisdictional carve-out transactions, working with local teams on employment-related implementation, relocations, changing terms, restructuring, and employee relations.
• Advising on UK and global outsourcing, TUPE application, mitigation, and drafting operational clauses and indemnifications.
• Advising on redundancies, procedural requirements, pooling, selection, and consultations in individual and collective contexts.
• Handling day-to-day client queries: disciplinary procedures, grievances, sickness, performance, whistleblowing, contracts, policies, and data protection. Also advising on terminations and settlement agreements.

Multi-jurisdictional Projects

• Leading on global or regional HR projects and transactions.

Litigation

• Managing Employment Tribunal claims, including form preparation, witness statements, merits, and settlement considerations.
• Providing advice on restrictive covenants and High Court litigation.

Why Join Us?

Baker McKenzie is a global law firm with 13,200 people across 74 offices in 45 countries. Founded in 1949, we advise many of the world's most successful organizations. Our culture promotes collaboration, support, and high standards. In London, our largest office, we offer the experience of a leading firm in a friendly, supportive environment.

Recent awards include:

• Ranked in the 2024 UK A-List of best firms to work at
• Included in The Times 2024 list of Best Law Firms
• Ranked in the FT Most Innovative Law Firms in Europe 2024
• Listed in The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers 2024-2025
• International Employment Lawyer - Elite Firm 2025
• Multiple awards for innovation, client management, and pro bono initiatives

We welcome direct applications. Please review our Applicant Privacy Notice. Baker & McKenzie is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We value individuals from all backgrounds and strive to provide an inclusive and accessible experience for all candidates.