Senior Associate - Cargo

Clyde UK Services Company; Guildford; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Clyde & Co in the UK is seeking a Senior Associate to join the Cargo team in Guildford or London. The role requires handling marine recovery and cargo disputes, advising on international carriage and liability issues, and supporting clients across shipping, insurance and logistics sectors.

You will manage a varied caseload, supervise junior lawyers, and contribute to business development while delivering strategic, pragmatic advice in cross-border matters.

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor in England & Wales with post-qualification experience.
• Significant cargo, marine recovery and transportation liability experience.
• Strong analytical and negotiation skills.

Responsibilities

• Managing a varied caseload of marine recovery and cargo claims from inception to resolution.
• Advising on cargo loss and damage in international carriage by sea, road, rail and air.
• Handling transportation liability claims involving carriers and logistics providers.
• Drafting pleadings, witness statements, settlement agreements and other legal docs.
• Managing litigation, arbitration and ADR processes and supervising juniors.

Skills

Cargo claims experience

Marine recovery

International disputes

Client relationship management

Education

Qualified solicitor in England & Wales

Job description

Role: Senior Associate

Department: Cargo

Location: Guildford or London

The Team 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 arising worldwide. Our work includes cargo recovery claims, transportation liability disputes, hull and freight matters, salvage security issues, general average claims, and CMR road transit recoveries. Our extensive international network and understanding of cross-border legal and commercial issues enable us to provide clients with strategic, commercially focused advice and maximise recovery prospects in multiple jurisdictions.

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.
• An interest in business development and contributing to the growth of a leading marine practic

The Firm

When you work at Clyde & Co, you join a team of 500 partners, 2,400 lawyers, 3,200 legal professionals and 5,500 people in nearly 70 offices and associated offices worldwide. Our values are the principles that guide the decisions we make, unite us in our endeavours and strengthen our delivery, for both our clients and our firm. We work as one, excel with clients, celebrate difference and act boldly. We are committed to operating in a responsible way by progressing towards a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the communities and clients it serves. We are devoted to providing an environment in which everyone can realise their potential, using its legal and professional skills to support its communities. We do this through pro bono work, volunteering and charitable partnerships, and minimising the impact it has on the environment, including through our commitment to the SBTi Net-Zero standard and the setting of ambitious emissions reduction targets.

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. Therefore, we welcome and encourage all applications from suitably qualified individuals, regardless of background or identity.

We’re a global law firm working with businesses at the heart of global trade and commerce. But we’re so much more than that. Our collective drive, our pursuit of excellence and our ambition to do our best for our clients, and each other has fuelled our growth for over 90 years. Find out more about our firm. It’s an exciting time to work with us. With challenging cases, impactful client projects, growing teams and new offices, you’ll work in a fast-paced environment with rewarding outcomes. Collectively, we strive towards our shared goal of consistently delivering exceptional outcomes and bringing the best out in each other.

Explore where you could work with us. Our early careers programmes differ from any other law firm, because of our rich learning experience coupled with our opportunities to work directly with clients. In return, we ask you to bring your ambition and collaborative mind to support the firm’s continued success and growth.

Here, you’re in good company. With over 5,500 individuals with offices in every time zone, our drive for success is continuous, reaching across the globe. Our people stay with us because we invest in strong relationships and value shared success. Learn more about life with us.