Senior Associate - Professional Risks (Data / Information Governance)

Markel; Manchester; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and annual bonus

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Private medical and dental insurance

Excellent pension scheme

Genuine work-life balance

Access to learning and development programs

Job summary

Markel in Manchester seeks a Senior Associate to lead data protection and information governance efforts. This full-time role involves providing expert advice, managing complex cases, and mentoring junior lawyers.

The ideal candidate is a qualified solicitor with extensive experience in data protection compliance and knowledge of UK GDPR. Markel offers a competitive salary, extensive benefits, and a supportive culture focusing on work-life balance.

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor with strong PQE in data protection and information governance.
• Knowledgeable in UK GDPR and privacy regulations.
• Experienced in managing complex and high-risk matters.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert advice on data protection and compliance.
• Manage complex cases and offer strategic guidance.
• Mentor and support junior lawyers in the team.

Skills

Data protection expertise

Information governance

Regulatory compliance

Strong communication skills

Commercial awareness

Education

Qualified solicitor

Job description

Senior Associate – Professional Risks (Data / Information Governance)

Manchester | Full-time | Permanent

Make your impact where expertise meets purpose.

At Markel Law, we believe the work we do matters — to our clients, our colleagues, and the wider world. As part of a Fortune 500 group with a human, people‑first ethos, we specialise in delivering smart solutions to complex problems, helping businesses protect what matters most.

Our Professional Risks team is growing, and we’re now looking for a highly skilled Senior Associate specialising in Data Protection & Information Governance to join us in Manchester.

If you’re motivated by high‑quality work, autonomy, and the opportunity to help shape a thriving practice, this is a role where you can truly make an impact.

Why this role matters

Our Professional Risks team advises a wide range of businesses, professionals, and partners across multiple industries. You’ll take the lead on complex data protection, information governance, and regulatory matters — supporting clients navigating an increasingly challenging and high‑profile risk landscape.

This is a senior appointment, working closely with our Partner & Head of Professional Risk, and offers the opportunity to contribute to the strategic direction and growth of the practice.

What you’ll be doing

• Provide expert advice on data protection, privacy, information governance, and compliance requirements
• Manage complex and high‑value cases, offering strategic guidance to clients in regulated and high‑risk environments
• Act as a trusted adviser on matters involving risk mitigation, regulatory frameworks, and compliance programmes
• Develop and strengthen internal referrer networks, business partner relationships and corporate client engagement
• Contribute to new business initiatives and identify growth opportunities within the data/information governance practice
• Mentor and support junior lawyers within the team
• Support wider Markel Law services, including advice line and online hub content relating to information governance
• Play an active role in thought leadership, client training, and contributing to the team’s commercial strategy

What you’ll bring

• A qualified solicitor with strong PQE in data protection, information governance, regulatory compliance, or professional risks
• Highly knowledgeable in UK GDPR, PECR, data management frameworks and evolving privacy regulations
• Experienced in managing complex, sensitive and high‑risk matters with confidence
• A strong communicator with exceptional drafting, research and negotiation skills
• Commercially astute, with an ability to spot opportunities and build lasting client relationships
• Proactive, collaborative, and keen to support the development of colleagues and the broader practice
• Passionate about delivering high‑quality, pragmatic and commercially focused advice

What you’ll enjoy at Markel

• A competitive salary, annual bonus and comprehensive benefits package
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays (with options to buy/sell)
• Private medical, dental, life assurance, income protection & travel insurance
• Excellent pension scheme
• Genuine work‑life balance
• A supportive, collaborative culture rooted in values, not hierarchy
• Access to high‑quality learning, development and leadership programmes
• The opportunity to contribute to a nationally recognised legal practice in a role where your expertise shapes the future

Markel is a Disability Confident, Committed employer and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds.

If you need reasonable adjustments at any stage, just let us know at [e-mail].

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.

We are also happy to consider candidates who are looking for flexible working patterns.