Senior Associate – Professional Risks

Markel; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Holiday allowance

Pension plan

Private medical

Dental cover

Life assurance

Income protection

Travel insurance

Career progression

Hybrid working

Job summary

Markel Law in Manchester is seeking a Senior Associate to join our growing Professional Risks team. This is a rare opportunity to handle high‑quality insurance work, influence a developing practice and gain exposure to London Market instructions, all within a supportive, flexible hybrid pattern.

You’ll lead complex cases, mentor juniors, and contribute to business development while balancing client needs with practical, commercial solutions.

Qualifications

• Experienced insurance or professional risks lawyer with strong technical ability.
• Excellent communication skills and client-focused approach.
• Interest in business development and team growth.
• Ability to supervise junior colleagues and contribute to BD

Responsibilities

• Handle a diverse caseload of insured and uninsured professional risks matters.
• Advise on professional indemnity, liability, and coverage issues.
• Lead cases, set strategy, reserves and delivery plans.
• Supervise and mentor junior lawyers and support staff.
• Contribute to internal referrals and relationship building, with London Market focus.

Skills

Insurance law

Professional indemnity

Liability insurance

London Market experience

Mentoring juniors

Business development

Client communication

Job description

Senior Associate – Professional Risks
Manchester | Hybrid working

Shape the future of a growing Professional Risks practice

Markel Law is continuing to invest in its Professional Risks team, and we’re looking for an accomplished Senior Associate to join us in Manchester as part of a planned and exciting expansion.

This is a rare opportunity to take on high quality, technically challenging insurance work, play a visible role in the development of a ranked team, and gain exposure to London Market instructions — all while benefiting from the culture, flexibility and balance of a growing national firm.

Why this role?

You’ll join a Legal 500 Tier 2 Professional Risks team working closely with Markel UK and Markel International, handling a broad range of professional indemnity, liability and coverage matters.

The role offers:

• Autonomy and influence — genuine input into the growth and direction of the team
• London Market exposure, without the expectation of London working patterns
• A varied, high‑quality caseload spanning small claims to multi‑million‑pound disputes
• Clear scope to mentor junior lawyers and contribute to wider business development

If you’re looking to step into a senior position where your expertise is valued and your voice is heard, this is an opportunity to do exactly that.

The work you’ll be doing:

As a Senior Associate in the Professional Risks team, you’ll:

• Handle a diverse caseload of insured and uninsured contentious and non‑contentious matters
• Advise on professional indemnity, public liability, property damage, D&O and cyber risks
• Work on complex coverage issues and disputes, primarily from a defendant’s perspective
• Act as the day‑to‑day lead on cases, setting strategy, reserves and delivery plans
• Supervise and support junior lawyers and administrators, helping them develop their careers
• Play an active role in business development, internal referrals and relationship building
• Support the team’s growth, with a particular focus on London Market work

Who we’re looking for:

You’ll be an experienced insurance or professional risks lawyer who enjoys combining strong technical work with collaboration and commercial thinking.

You will ideally have:

• Experience handling professional indemnity and/or liability insurance claims (defendant‑side)
• Exposure to policy coverage advice and disputes
• A background in insurance‑focused or defendant litigation teams (London Market experience is advantageous but not essential)
• Confidence managing your own caseload across a wide range of values and complexities
• Strong communication skills and a client‑focused approach
• An interest in business development and team growth
• The capability and enthusiasm to support and supervise junior colleagues

Why Markel Law?

Markel Law is an independent, SRA‑regulated legal business, part of Markel Corporation — a Fortune 500 company with over 60 offices worldwide.

What sets us apart is our people‑first culture. We believe great legal work happens when people feel supported, trusted and empowered.

What’s in it for you:

• Competitive salary plus annual bonus
• 25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays (with buy/sell options)
• Excellent pension, private medical and dental cover
• Life assurance, income protection and travel insurance
• A clear platform for career progression and professional development
• The chance to help shape a growing, high‑profile practice

Interested?

If you’re an Associate or Senior Associate in professional risks or insurance disputes looking for a role where you can make a genuine impact, we’d love to hear from you.

Are you ready to play your part?

At Markel, we are all about the people, celebrating the value of a diverse workforce that brings experience and expertise from a wide variety of backgrounds and life circumstances. Whatever your background, if you feel you meet the requirements of this role then we want to hear from you. We are also happy to consider candidates who are looking for flexible working patterns.

We will ensure that individuals are provided with any reasonable accommodations to be able to participate in the job application or interview process and to perform essential job functions if successful. Please contact us via email at [e-mail] or call us at 0161 507 5827 to request any accommodations or adjustments that may be needed, including alternative formats of documents or information on how to apply offline.

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