Legal Director

Sanderson King; Manchester; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

25 days annual leave

Private medical and dental cover

Life assurance

Income protection

Leadership opportunities

Job summary

Sanderson King in Manchester is seeking a Legal Director specializing in Crime & Regulatory law to lead a high-calibre team. The role combines complex investigations with leadership responsibility and strategic input into the practice's growth.

The successful candidate will manage a broad caseload, supervise junior lawyers, and contribute to business development while maintaining the firm’s collaborative, client-focused culture.

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor or barrister in England and Wales with substantial crime and regulatory experience.
• Experience handling inquests, professional discipline, fitness-to-practise or related investigations.
• Ability to supervise, mentor and develop junior lawyers and deliver strategic advice.
• Proven business development, client relationship management and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex inquests and public inquiries and advise on professional disciplinary matters.
• Represent clients in regulatory investigations and fitness-to-practise proceedings.
• Advise on health and safety, environmental, licensing and wider regulatory issues.
• Supervise and mentor junior lawyers and contribute to strategic development of the practice.
• Develop client relationships and support business development and thought leadership.

Skills

Crime & regulatory law

Leadership

Client relationships

Inquests

Education

Solicitor or Barrister in England & Wales

Job description

Manchester City Centre | Flexible Working | £65,000–£85,000 + Bonus + Excellent Benefits

This isn't your typical law firm opportunity.

You won't find a culture built around internal politics, unnecessary hierarchy or the idea that working the longest hours somehow makes you the best lawyer.

Instead, you'll find genuinely interesting, high-quality work, talented people who enjoy working together and a collegiate, supportive environment where your expertise is valued and your contribution makes a real difference.

We're supporting a progressive, well-established national law firm that's continuing to invest in its Manchester office and is now looking to appoint a Legal Director specialising in Crime & Regulatory law.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced regulatory lawyer who wants to combine complex, intellectually challenging casework with genuine leadership responsibility and the opportunity to influence the future direction of an established practice.

The firm has a highly regarded Crime & Regulatory team, recognised by both Legal 500 and Chambers, advising businesses, professionals, insurers and organisations on some of their most sensitive and high-stakes legal matters.

With ambitious plans for continued growth, this appointment represents an opportunity to play an important role in the development of the Manchester practice and wider national team.

The opportunity

You’ll join an established and highly regarded Crime & Regulatory practice handling a broad range of complex investigations, proceedings and advisory matters.

The team acts for insured and non-insured clients across a diverse range of sectors, providing specialist advice where regulatory scrutiny, professional reputation and significant commercial consequences are often at stake.

You’ll combine responsibility for your own complex caseload with the supervision and development of other lawyers, while working closely with senior leadership on the strategic direction and commercial development of the practice.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading complex inquests and public inquiries, including sensitive and high-profile matters involving public bodies, businesses and professionals.
• Advising and representing clients in professional disciplinary proceedings and fitness-to-practise investigations.
• Handling police gross misconduct investigations and associated regulatory proceedings.
• Advising on health and safety, environmental, licensing and wider regulatory compliance matters.
• Supporting clients facing investigations or enforcement action by regulatory bodies, including the CQC and Ofsted.
• Undertaking advocacy where appropriate, particularly in relation to inquests and professional disciplinary matters.
• Providing strategic, commercially focused advice to businesses, insurers, professionals and individuals.
• Supervising complex matters handled by junior colleagues, providing technical guidance and ensuring consistently high standards of client service.
• Developing and mentoring junior lawyers, contributing to the long-term capability and succession planning of the team.
• Building and strengthening relationships with insurers, corporate clients, professional organisations and wider referral partners.
• Supporting business development, marketing initiatives, thought leadership and opportunities to expand the practice.
• Contributing to the financial performance, profitability and strategic development of the Crime & Regulatory team.

Importantly, this isn't simply a senior fee-earning position.

You’ll have a genuine opportunity to influence how the practice develops, help shape its future growth and play a visible role in supporting and developing the next generation of lawyers.

Who we're looking for

We’re particularly interested in speaking with experienced Crime & Regulatory lawyers who have developed strong technical expertise and are now looking for an opportunity offering greater autonomy, leadership responsibility and strategic influence.

You may already be operating as a Legal Director or Partner, or be an established Senior Associate ready to take the next step in your career.

Ideally, you’ll bring:

• Qualification as a Solicitor or Barrister in England and Wales, with substantial experience in crime and regulatory law.
• Strong technical expertise in complex inquests, professional discipline, fitness-to-practise proceedings or related regulatory investigations.
• Experience advising clients across a range of regulatory disciplines, ideally including health and safety, police misconduct, environmental or professional regulation.
• The ability to manage complex and sensitive matters independently, exercising sound judgement and providing commercially focused advice.
• Experience undertaking advocacy, particularly within inquests or professional disciplinary proceedings.
• Confidence supervising, mentoring and developing less experienced lawyers.
• Strong client relationship management skills and an interest in business development.
• Commercial awareness, including an understanding of financial performance, fee generation and practice profitability.
• A collaborative leadership style and genuine enthusiasm for helping develop a growing legal practice.

Experience of insurance-backed instructions, insurer relationships or advising clients in complex regulatory environments would be particularly advantageous.

Above all, we’re looking for someone with the technical credibility, commercial judgement and ambition to help take an already successful practice to its next stage of development.

Why consider it?

We’ve worked closely with the firm for some time and have successfully helped them appoint a number of lawyers and legal professionals.

What has consistently stood out is the culture.

There's high-quality work, a strong pipeline of instructions and an established client base, but without some of the politics and unnecessary hierarchy associated with more traditional law firms.

People collaborate, share ideas and genuinely seem to enjoy working together.

The Crime & Regulatory practice benefits from established insurer relationships, internal referrals and a nationally recognised reputation, providing an excellent platform for someone who wants to develop their own profile and contribute to the growth of the team.

The business also benefits from the financial strength and resources of a substantial international group, while retaining the accessibility and entrepreneurial feel of a specialist legal practice.

For the right individual, this is an opportunity to combine the technical challenges of complex regulatory work with the autonomy and influence of a genuine leadership position.

You’ll work closely with senior colleagues, contribute to strategic decisions and have a meaningful voice in how the team develops.

What's on offer

• Salary circa £65,000–£85,000, depending on experience, plus annual bonus.
• Flexible working arrangements and a supportive approach to work-life balance.
• 25 days' annual leave plus bank holidays, with the option to buy or sell additional days.
• Private medical and dental cover.
• Life assurance, income protection and wider benefits.
• High-quality training, professional development and leadership opportunities.
• Genuine scope to influence the growth and strategic direction of an established Crime & Regulatory practice.
• Access to an established client base, insurer relationships and a strong pipeline of interesting work.
• The stability and resources of an international group combined with a collaborative, people-first culture.

Location

Manchester City Centre

Position

Legal Director – Crime & Regulatory

All enquiries will be handled in the strictest confidence.