Managing Associate (5-6 PQE)

Mishcon de Reya LLP; Greater London; On-site; GBP 95,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Mishcon de Reya LLP seeks a Managing Associate for its busy International Arbitration group in London. You will support Partners in case management and business development, mentoring colleagues and handling high-stakes arbitrations.

The role requires 5–6 years of PQE, a strong English law background, and a proactive commercial mindset to develop client relationships and grow the practice.

Qualifications

• English law qualification required with a track record in contentious English law matters.
• Postgraduate qualification in international arbitration or related field preferred.
• Experience in international arbitration at a recognised law firm is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Manage all client work allocated by Partners and colleagues within the Group.
• Lead and supervise junior team members; ensure timely delivery of matters.
• Develop client relationships and assist in business development efforts.
• Direct case strategy and coordinate with Partners on complex arbitrations.
• Maintain clear communication with clients and internal stakeholders.

Skills

Case management

Oral advocacy

Business development

Client relationships

Mentoring

Commercial thinking

Education

English law qualification

Postgraduate qualification in international arbitration

Job description

The Department

Our International Arbitration team act both as counsel and as arbitrators in matters involving all of the major arbitral institutions. We have conducted over a dozen investor-state arbitrations before the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). We have also conducted many commercial arbitrations, subject to a variety of governing substantive and procedural laws, before the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce (SCC), the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) and many other institutions, as well as ad hoc arbitrations under the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules.

The Department

Our International Arbitration team act both as counsel and as arbitrators in matters involving all of the major arbitral institutions. We have conducted over a dozen investor-state arbitrations before the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). We have also conducted many commercial arbitrations, subject to a variety of governing substantive and procedural laws, before the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce (SCC), the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) and many other institutions, as well as ad hoc arbitrations under the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules.

We work on matters for parties all over the world with particular expertise in disputes in Africa and Asia/South Asia, but also in other regions including Eastern Europe, Russia and the CIS, the Middle East and the Caribbean. By way of example, we have represented clients in arbitrations seated in London, Paris, New York, Stockholm, Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, New Delhi, Jakarta, Nairobi, Dar Es Salaam, Johannesburg, and many other places, working with local counsel where appropriate.

Our work spans a range of sectors, including energy, mining, construction, finance, telecommunications, shipping, real estate and life sciences. Our lawyers are experienced in arbitration-related English High Court litigation and proceedings before other state courts, including injunction applications, investigatory and discovery efforts, and enforcement of arbitral awards.

Duties And Responsibilities

We are looking for a Managing Associate to join our busy and growing International Arbitration group and can provide full support to the Partners in case management and business development, while helping to mentor other colleagues. Candidates will ideally have 5-6 years of PQE, strong academics, solid international arbitration experience across a broad range of industry sectors, and be confident in managing client relationships, workloads and priorities. We are looking for proactive applicants who are ambitious and have lots of drive and enthusiasm. Candidates should be commercial, creative legal thinkers wanting to develop a business, who are able to approach matters both from a legal as well as a commercial perspective. Sound commercial acumen is therefore a necessity, as well as the ability to 'think on your feet'.

In the context of the above, successful candidates are expected:

• To manage all client work allocated by the Partners and other solicitors within the Group and sometimes across the wider Department.
• Excellent case management skills and can run client matters (or parts of larger matters) with minimal assistance from Partners.
• Client focused with an ability to command the trust and confidence of our clients who expect a first class service.
• Ability to lead and supervise more junior members of the team under supervision from the Partners.
• An interest in mentoring and supporting junior team members with their professional development both formally (through internal training sessions) and informally.
• Comfortable with undertaking business development both internally and externally.
• A proven track record in meeting standard hours for time recording and consistently contributes within their group.
• Demonstrates the ability to secure repeat work from internal and/or external clients by technical ability.
• To maintain clear communication links with colleagues in the Firm.
• To ensure good working relationships with colleagues, clients and external organisations.
• Use knowledge, AI and other technology to develop business opportunities, add value to key client relationships, and bring efficiencies to client service delivery.

Skills/Experience

• English law qualification is a requirement, along with a proven track record of advising on English law matters in a contentious practice.
• Ability to effectively manage cases on a day-to-day basis, and lead and supervise more junior team members.
• Dedicated international arbitration practice from a recognised law firm as an associate is preferable.
• Experience of conducting oral advocacy before an international tribunal is preferable.
• Personable and confident, able to build relationships with partners / key stakeholders.
• Desire to build a practice and utilize contacts for business development.
• Postgraduate qualification in international arbitration, international law or international dispute resolution is preferable.

Please note that this job profile is not an exhaustive list of duties but merely an outline of the key components of the role. You may be required by your line manager to take on additional responsibilities when requested.

About Mishcon De Reya LLP

The Mishcon de Reya Group is an independent international professional service business with law at its heart, employing over 1450 people with close to 670 lawyers. It includes the law firm Mishcon de Reya LLP and a collection of leading consultancy businesses that complement the firm’s legal services. We have grown rapidly in recent years, showing more than 40% revenue growth in the past five years alone.

Based in London, Cambridge, Oxford, and Singapore, with an association with Karas So LLP in Hong Kong, the firm services an international community of clients and provides advice in situations where the constraints of geography often do not apply. The work we undertake is cross-border, multi-jurisdictional and complex, spanning six core practice areas: Corporate ; Dispute Resolution ; Employment ; Innovation ; Private ; and Real Estate .

In times of such far-reaching and profound change we want to be the law firm that enables our clients - and our own people - to shape the world's possibilities. We are here to help our clients benefit from new economies, new geographic centres of wealth, the new global movement of people and capital, and the impact of new technologies and new knowledge. Through Mishcon Future , we work to shape a better world through innovation, creating value for clients at every stage of the innovation life cycle and for society.

Our purpose remains rooted in our founding values. We take pride in the diverse range of people who make up the firm and are proactive in driving change and continuous improvement across the spectrum of equality, diversity and inclusion. Mishcon Academy , our in‑house place of learning, development and new thinking for our people, clients and contacts and our innovative impact strategy, including a commitment to be a net zero carbon business , also play a central strategic role in the direction of the firm. In 2020 we launched Mishcon Purpose , a first‑of‑its‑kind sustainability practice providing Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) advice and purpose‑driven insight to clients.

The Mishcon de Reya Group comprises standalone businesses MDR Brand Management , MDR Cyber , MDR Discover , MDRi , MDR Lab , MDR One , MDR Mayfair (in London, Singapore and Dubai) and MDRx . Earlier this year , the Group announced its first strategic acquisition in the alternative legal services market, flexible legal resourcing business Flex Legal. It also acquired a majority stake in Somos, a global group actions management business.

We strive to create a fully diverse and inclusive workplace where all our people are empowered to fulfil their potential. We are proud of our agile working culture and are always happy to talk flexible working.