Partner

Birketts LLP; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Birketts LLP in Ipswich is seeking a senior partner to join the Corporate team, leading high‑value transactions and guiding the practice's growth across the region.

The successful candidate will advise on mergers, acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures and restructurings, mentor junior lawyers, and develop key client relationships while driving business development and cross‑selling opportunities.

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor in England & Wales with 10+ years PQE in corporate/M&A.
• Recognised technical expert who provides clear, tailored advice on complex legal issues.
• Drives efficient time recording, pricing, cash flow and GP delivery.
• Leads business development, pitches and cross-selling opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Advise on mergers, acquisitions, disposals, JVs and restructurings.
• Develop and manage client/referrer relationships for Ipswich office.
• Mentor and supervise junior team members.
• Lead high‑value, cross‑border corporate transactions and strategies.

Skills

Corporate/M&A expertise

Leadership

Business development

Client management

Pricing & profitability

Excellent communication

Risk management

Legal tech proficiency

Education

Qualified solicitor in England & Wales

10+ years PQE in corporate/M&A

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Time recording software

Case management software

Outlook

Digital dictation

Job description

About Birketts

Birketts is a full service, UK Top 50 law firm. With a heritage spanning 160 years, we have more than 700 lawyers and legal professionals based in Bristol, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Ipswich, London, Norwich and Sevenoaks. We advise businesses, government and public sector organisations and individuals in the UK and internationally across four principal practice groups: Real Estate, Corporate Services, Dispute Resolution and Private Client.

We are defined by our Next Level Law proposition. We work with our clients as a proactive partner, horizon scanning and thinking ahead to the changes, challenges or opportunities that they may face.

Next Level Law is also applied to our people. Our collegiate culture means everyone is encouraged to achieve their next level in everything they do. RollOnFriday recently ranked us as the 5th best law firm to work at in 2024.

With our ambition to succeed, comes a strong desire to make a positive contribution to the communities we serve, and we are committed to delivering the objectives set out in our ESG strategy. Diversity plays an integral part in all that we do, with female partners comprising 40% of our partnership.

The team you will join

This role sits in the Corporate Team within the Corporate Services Division.

The Corporate Team is a nationally recognised and highly regarded team which includes over 60 fee earners, and 19 partners, many of whom are recommended in the latest Legal 500 rankings, often in the Hall of Fame category. The Team is enjoying substantial growth, resulting in the need for extra resource to take forward ambitious plans for the future.

The Team’s size and expertise mean we advise entrepreneurs, private equity and venture capital funds, financial institutions, owner-managed and privately owned businesses, as well as international investors and public companies, all at different stages of the business life-cycle from start-ups through to mergers and acquisitions, buy-outs and buy-ins, development capital fundraisings, EOT transactions, institutional sales/purchases, and management buyouts, to refinancing and exits. We are also highly experienced in international corporate transactions and work with a range of overseas law firms on cross-border transactions.

The Corporate Team includes specialist private equity, venture capital, reorganisations, capital markets and incentives/EOT sub teams, and also benefits from working closely with other service lines in the Corporate Services Division, such as the Banking & Finance, Corporate Tax, Company Secretarial and Commercial and Technology teams.

The Team enjoys the resources of two dedicated professional support lawyers, as well as know-how resources such as FromCounsel and Practical Law, and document automation products such as Clarilis. The Team has a Corporate Innovation Group, evaluating and developing innovation ideas and the adoption of new technologies, including AI, to improve efficiencies and the client experience.

We play a leading role in several firm wide sector specialisms, including our Energy and Infrastructure Team, Food and Beverages Team, Independent Healthcare Team, Private Equity Team, Hospitality & Leisure Team, Transport & Logistics Team, and Automotive Team, amongst others.

The work you will be doing

We are looking to recruit a Partner into the Corporate team who has the drive and commitment to assist Birketts’ in the continued growth and development of our firmwide corporate practice and to become an essential core member of the Corporate Team.

The ideal candidate will hold a pivotal role in advising clients on complex corporate transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures, and corporate restructurings. This senior‑level position demands deep legal expertise, commercial acumen, and leadership skills to manage high-value and complex deals and mentor and supervise junior team members.

A key aspect of the role is the development and management of new and existing client and referrer relationships and taking an active role supporting the partners in the team in the management and supervision of the Ipswich office Corporate Team. Prior knowledge or experience of the Suffolk/East Anglia market is not a pre‑requisite, however the successful candidate will be expected to become integrated into the market over time.

This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated initiative‑taker to join a successful and friendly Corporate Team, based in our Ipswich office, in a growing firm which enjoys an excellent reputation.

What we are looking for

• A qualified solicitor in England & Wales with 10+ years PQE in corporate/M&A law.
• Recognised technical expert who provides clear, tailored advice on complex legal and commercial issues.
• Drives efficient time recording, profitable pricing, strong cash flow, and team gross profit delivery.
• Leads business development and high‑profile pitches, builds a strong market presence, wins new clients, and drives cross‑selling opportunities.
• Delivers exceptional project and client management, consistently meeting expectations through strong communication and deep client understanding.
• Builds trust through strong relationships, continual professional development, clear communication of vision, and championing positive change.
• Demonstrates strong risk management, supports junior staff, upholds Lexcel standards, and maintains high compliance and file review performance.
• Strong attention to detail to produce work documentation which is consistently of a high standard.
• Professional integrity and a commitment to providing excellent client service.
• To be competent in using Microsoft Word, Excel, time recording software, case management, Outlook and digital dictation.

Inclusivity and Culture

At Birketts, our culture is driven by ambition and a commitment to positively impact all the communities we serve. We are dedicated to the success, development, and wellbeing of our colleagues, helping them achieve their goals and seize the opportunities that come with our growth.

Birketts is committed to being an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our policy is unequivocal: we do not tolerate discrimination based on age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, or sexual orientation.

We pride ourselves on being an inclusive organisation that actively promotes equality of opportunity for all, valuing the right mix of talent, skills, and potential. We welcome applications from a diverse range of candidates, and selection for roles is based solely on individual merit.