Senior Associate - Cargo

Clyde & Co; Greater London; On-site; GBP 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Clyde & Co in London (and Guildford) seeks a Senior Associate to lead a busy cargo practice within our marine team. You will manage a varied caseload of recovery and cargo claims, advise on international carriage issues and coordinate across carriers, insurers and brokers.

The role offers significant client contact, mentoring of junior lawyers and opportunities to contribute to business development and growth of the marine practice.

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor with post-qualification experience in marine/cargo.
• Experience handling international cargo claims and cross-border disputes.
• Strong drafting, negotiating and client relationship skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage a varied caseload of marine recovery and cargo claims from inception to resolution.
• Advise clients on cargo loss and damage claims across sea, road, rail and air.
• Oversee litigation, arbitration and ADR, with mentoring of junior lawyers.
• Build client relationships and contribute to business development.
• Draft pleadings, witness statements, and settlement agreements.

Skills

Qualified solicitor

Cargo/marine

Cross-border disputes

Client management

Negotiation skills

Education

England & Wales qualified solicitor

Legal practice qualification

Job description

Overview

Our Cargo team is one of the largest and most respected marine practices globally. We advise a diverse client base across the shipping, marine insurance and logistics sectors on recovery and liability matters worldwide.

Role

Senior Associate in the Cargo department, based in Guildford or London.

Key Responsibilities

• Managing a varied caseload of marine recovery and cargo claims from inception through to resolution.
• Advising clients on cargo loss and damage claims involving international carriage by sea, road, rail and air.
• Handling transportation liability claims involving carriers, freight forwarders, logistics providers and warehouse operators.
• Advising on freight, demurrage and hire disputes.
• Managing recovery actions and subrogated claims on behalf of insurers and insured clients.
• Handling CMR road transit recovery claims and related liability disputes.
• Drafting pleadings, witness evidence, settlement agreements and other legal documentation.
• Managing litigation, arbitration and alternative dispute resolution processes.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with clients and brokers.
• Supporting business development initiatives and contributing to the continued growth of the marine practice.
• Supervising and mentoring junior lawyers within the team.

Skills & Experience

• Qualified solicitor in England & Wales with strong post‑qualification experience, ideally gained within a leading marine, shipping or insurance practice.
• Significant experience handling cargo, marine recovery and transportation liability matters.
• Strong understanding of the legal and commercial issues affecting the shipping, logistics and marine insurance sectors.
• Experience advising on international cargo claims and cross‑border disputes.
• Knowledge of freight, demurrage and hire disputes would be advantageous.
• Experience managing client relationships and running matters with an appropriate level of autonomy.
• Strong analytical, drafting and negotiation skills.
• Commercially focused with the ability to provide pragmatic and strategic advice.
• Enthusiastic team player with excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Interest in business development and contributing to the growth of a leading marine practice.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Clyde & Co is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. Our values encourage us to support fairness, celebrate diversity and prohibit all forms of discrimination in the workplace to allow everyone to excel at work.