Solicitor - Marine Law

Lester Aldridge; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Generous holiday allowance

Pension scheme and life assurance

Private health cover

Professional development

Job summary

Lester Aldridge, a leading South Coast firm, seeks a Solicitor (2-5 PQE) to join its Marine team in Southampton. The role focuses on marine and shipping matters, with opportunities in commercial litigation, asset finance and related fields for an international client base.

You will run your own matters, manage client relationships, mentor junior lawyers and contribute to business development, delivering practical, commercial advice across contentious and non-contentious marine work.

Qualifications

• 2-5 years PQE in marine or related commercial practice.
• Experience in vessel finance, shipping, or disputes is desirable.
• Ability to manage matters with supervision and develop client relationships.

Responsibilities

• Manage a varied caseload of marine transactional and contentious matters with increasing autonomy.
• Advise on vessel acquisitions, disposals, charterparty matters and marine finance transactions.
• Act on Admiralty Court, arbitration, and other dispute resolution processes.
• Draft and negotiate a wide range of legal documents including finance docs and sale/purchase agreements.
• Lead client communications and maintain strong relationships; supervise juniors and support staff.
• Identify cross-selling opportunities and contribute to business development and marketing initiatives.
• Provide commercially pragmatic advice tailored to clients' objectives and stay updated on maritime regulatory developments.

Skills

Marine law

Commercial litigation

Client management

Drafting

Negotiation

Business development

Job description

Solicitor (2-5 PQE) – Marine Law – Southampton

We're looking for an ambitious and commercially minded Solicitor (with a minimum of 2-5 PQE) to join our highly regarded Marine team based here in Southampton.

This is an exciting opportunity for a lawyer with experience in marine, shipping, commercial litigation, asset finance or a related field to work on a broad range of high-quality marine matters. The role offers exposure to both complex transactional work and significant disputes, often involving international clients and cross-border issues.

About the Role

As part of our specialist Marine team, you'll advise a diverse client base that includes vessel owners, financiers, charterers, marine insurers, brokers and other participants across the maritime sector.

You'll be entrusted with running your own matters, managing client relationships and contributing to the continued growth of the practice. Working alongside experienced marine lawyers, you'll play a key role in delivering commercially focused advice across a broad spectrum of contentious and non-contentious marine work.

Your Responsibilities Will Include:

• Managing a varied caseload of marine transactional and contentious matters with increasing autonomy.
• Advising clients on vessel acquisitions and disposals, marine finance transactions, charterparty matters, marine insurance issues and maritime disputes.
• Acting on Admiralty Court proceedings, arbitration matters and other complex dispute resolution processes.
• Drafting and negotiating a wide range of legal documentation, including finance documents, sale and purchase agreements, charterparty-related agreements and dispute documentation.
• Taking responsibility for client communications and maintaining strong client relationships.
• Supervising and supporting more junior solicitors, trainees and paralegals where appropriate.
• Identifying opportunities for cross-selling and collaborating with colleagues across the wider firm.
• Contributing to business development initiatives, networking activities and marketing campaigns.
• Providing commercially pragmatic advice and solutions tailored to clients' objectives.
• Keeping abreast of legal, regulatory and commercial developments affecting the marine sector.
• Ensuring compliance with firm policies, regulatory requirements and risk management procedures.

What We're Looking For:

• Qualified Solicitor with approximately 2-5 years' PQE.
• Experience gained within marine law, shipping law, commercial litigation, asset finance, banking and finance or another relevant commercial practice area.
• Strong technical capability across complex transactions, disputes, or ideally a combination of both.
• Proven ability to manage matters with an appropriate level of supervision.
• Excellent drafting, negotiation and analytical skills.
• Commercially aware with the ability to deliver practical, client-focused advice.
• Strong relationship-building skills and confidence dealing directly with clients and intermediaries.
• Interest in and aptitude for business development and networking.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a collaborative team whilst managing competing priorities.
• Enthusiasm for developing specialist expertise within the maritime sector.
• Flexibility to support international work, including occasional travel where required.

What We Offer:

• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.
• Generous holiday allowance plus bank holidays.
• Pension scheme and life assurance.
• Private health cover.
• Exposure to a high-quality and internationally recognised marine practice.
• A clear pathway for career development and progression.
• Ongoing technical and professional development.
• Opportunities to build your profile within the marine and shipping sector.
• A supportive, collaborative and inclusive working environment.

If you're an ambitious solicitor looking to develop your career with one of the South Coast's leading Marine teams, working on a genuinely varied mix of transactional and contentious matters, we'd love to hear from you.