Associate / Senior Associate (4+ years PQE) in Exeter

We are seeking an ambitious and highly motivated senior lawyer (with at least 4+ years PQE) to join our successful Commercial Litigation team in Exeter.

Our Commercial Litigation team is consistently ranked in the Legal 500 and Chambers directories, and is known for delivering exceptional results across a wide range of complex commercial disputes; including contractual and shareholder disputes, financial and professional negligence claims, judicial review and business risk and regulatory matters. We also have specialist sub-teams covering sectors such as sports law, energy & waste, marine, business risk and regulation and insolvency each of which is headed up by a specialist partner. Our team regularly works with a wide variety of local, national and international clients, ranging from business start-ups and individuals to multi-nationals, institutional investors, major banks and public sector bodies. With an established client base and reputation, this is a great opportunity to join an expanding and successful team, with exposure to high quality work from the outset.

As a naturally ambitious and self-motivated individual, you will have gained a high level of experience in a successful commercial litigation team, giving you exposure to a broad range of commercial dispute matters, or possibly an established sector specialism. Having a client following would be highly advantageous, but not essential. As an excellent communicator, you will excel at gaining the confidence of the clients you are working with, building strong and lasting relationships. Naturally resilient, you will be able to manage competing interests in demanding situations, and be accustomed to working in an efficient and focused way to meet challenging deadlines. You will have the drive to expand your skills and knowledge over time, whilst being ambitious to eventually develop a specialism of your own if you haven't already, whilst proactively working to build a client following. You will enjoy having a high degree of autonomy in relation to the cases you're working on, whilst providing you with development in terms of your legal and wider commercial and management skills.

At Ashfords, we believe in more than just doing great work - we believe in building a great place to work. When you join us, you become part of a team where everything we do is underpinned by our four core values: Be Open, Think Team, Make a Difference and Always Grow. These values shape who we are and how we work - they guide our decisions, influence our culture, and drive the way we support our people, clients and communities. With a clear focus on innovation, community involvement, and supporting a healthy work-life balance, we are committed to building an environment where our people can have a rewarding and meaningful career. Whilst we recognise that every career journey is unique, we will be ambitious for you, giving you the tools, trust, and opportunities to develop your career, your way. Our goal? To help you realise your full potential as part of a forward-thinking team.

We know that our people are at the heart of everything we do and that's why we're committed to supporting your wellbeing, growth and work-life balance. Beyond our benefits package, you'll be encouraged, no matter what your role or career level, to get involved in our Responsible Business programme, where you'll support initiatives such as charity fundraising, environmental causes and our employee led diversity and inclusion groups. You can find out more about our benefits by visiting the Reward & Wellbeing page on our website.

Our recruitment process typically involves two stages, which are designed not only to explore your skills and experience but also to give you a real insight into what it's like to work at Ashfords. Throughout the process, our dedicated Talent Attraction team will be here to support you every step of the way. We believe that building a firm with a wide range of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences drives innovation and strengthens our teams, and we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds. To support your growth, we offer ongoing training and development opportunities to help you reach your full potential so even if you don't feel you match all the requirements of the job role, we'd still love to hear from you. At Ashfords, we're committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, and empowered to succeed.

If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process or would like to discuss anything regarding your application, no contact details are provided in this description. For an informal and confidential discussion about this opportunity, please contact Toby Tompkins, Talent Attraction Manager. Or apply now, and we will be in touch with you as soon as possible.