Partner - Employment Law

Clear Wave Search Ltd; St Albans; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Subsidised wills, trust and conveyANC

Interest-free season ticket loan

Flexible working

Job summary

Clear Wave Search is supporting a respected regional law firm as they strengthen their Employment offering. This Partner / Legal Director role sits in the Employment team at the St Albans HQ, with hybrid working and homeworking.

You will advise a broad mix of employers, HR professionals and senior executives on complex and contentious matters, manage your own caseload, and contribute to business development while mentoring junior lawyers.

Qualifications

• Ambitious employment lawyer with 10+ PQE.
• Broad experience across contentious and non-contentious matters.
• Strong analytical and technical skills.
• Ability to manage your own caseload and handle complex Tribunal litigation.
• Commercial and solutions-focused approach with client relationship skills.

Responsibilities

• Advise on complex and varied employment matters from instruction to resolution.
• Manage HR advisory work, contracts, policies, handbooks and documentation.
• Represent clients in negotiations, mediations and Tribunal proceedings.
• Collaborate with other practice teams and contribute to BD activities.
• Draft contracts, policies, pleadings and settlement agreements.

Skills

Employment law

Client exposure

Tribunal litigation

Commercial awareness

BD capability

Job description

Partner / Legal Director – Employment Law

Full time | Permanent | Hybrid (St Albans & Homeworking)

Clear Wave Search is supporting a respected regional law firm as they continue to strengthen their Employment offering. The firm is well‑established, highly ranked, and known for delivering high‑quality employment law advice and complex contentious work.

They operate as a full‑service practice with strong teams across Corporate & Commercial, Commercial Property, Family, Private Wealth, Real Estate Litigation and wider Dispute Resolution. Their reputation is built on Legal 500 and Chambers recognition, a collaborative culture and a commitment to clear, commercially focused advice for businesses, business owners and senior executives.

The Role

This is a key senior appointment within a growing Employment team. Working out of the client's St. Albans HQ office, you’ll advise a broad mix of employers, HR professionals and senior executives on complex and varied employment matters, taking ownership of work from initial instruction through to resolution.

You’ll manage a diverse caseload including:

• HR advisory work
• Contracts, policies, handbooks and employment documentation
• Disciplinary, grievance, performance and sickness management
• Unfair dismissal, discrimination, whistleblowing and redundancy disputes
• TUPE, restructures and workforce planning
• Senior exits, settlement agreements and restrictive covenant issues
• Data protection matters including DSARs, breaches and confidentiality concerns
• Running your own matters with appropriate autonomy
• Drafting contracts, policies, pleadings, correspondence and settlement agreements
• Providing clear, practical and commercially focused advice
• Representing clients in negotiations, mediations and Tribunal proceedings
• Working collaboratively with Corporate, Commercial Property, Litigation and Private Wealth teams
• Contributing to BD activity, networking and market profile initiatives

About You

You’ll be an ambitious employment lawyer, ideally 10+ PQE, seeking:

• Greater responsibility and direct client exposure
• A supportive environment with high‑quality work
• A role where your contribution is recognised and progression is genuinely achievable

You will bring:

• Broad experience across contentious and non‑contentious employment matters
• Strong technical and analytical skills with excellent attention to detail
• Confidence managing your own caseload and handling complex Tribunal litigation
• A practical, commercial and solutions‑focused approach
• Strong organisational and case management skills
• Excellent communication and relationship‑building skills
• Confidence dealing with clients, counsel, experts and HR professionals
• Business development capability or evidence of a following (level will influence title)

The firm offers:

• Clear expectations, open communication and a genuinely supportive culture
• Meaningful work with ambitious businesses and senior individuals
• A collaborative environment where different perspectives are valued
• Strong mentoring, development and progression opportunities
• Flexible working and a healthy work‑life balance

Benefits include:

• Subsidised wills, trust and conveyancing services
• Interest‑free season ticket loan