Associate in Ipswich, Suffolk

Birketts is a full service, UK Top 50 law firm. With a heritage spanning 160 years, we have more than 700 lawyers and legal professionals and over 600 staff based in Bristol, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Ipswich, London, Norwich and Sevenoaks. We advise businesses, government and public sector organisations and individuals in the UK and internationally across four principal practice groups: Real Estate, Corporate Services, Dispute Resolution and Private Client.

We are defined by our Next Level Law proposition. We work with our clients as a proactive partner, horizon scanning and thinking ahead to the changes, challenges or opportunities that they may face. Next Level Law is also applied to our people. Our collegiate culture means everyone is encouraged to achieve their next level in everything they do.

The role sits in the Corporate Team within the Corporate Services Division. The Corporate Team is a nationally recognised and highly regarded team which includes over 60 fee earners, and 19 partners, many of whom are recommended in the latest Legal 500 rankings, often in the Hall of Fame category. The Team is enjoying substantial growth, resulting in the need for extra resource to take forward ambitious plans for the future.

The Team’s size and expertise mean we advise entrepreneurs, private equity and venture capital funds, financial institutions, owner-managed and privately owned businesses, as well as international investors and public companies, all at different stages of the business life-cycle from start-ups through to mergers and acquisitions, buy-outs and buy-ins, development capital fundraisings, EOT transactions, institutional sales/purchases, and management buyouts, to refinancing and exits. We are also highly experienced in international corporate transactions and work with a range of overseas law firms on cross-border transactions.

The work you will be doing includes:

• Assisting the team to advise clients on acquisitions, mergers and disposals of companies and businesses (including international transactions), investments, joint ventures and restructurings as well as shareholder agreements and general corporate governance.
• Drafting, negotiating and agreeing primary and ancillary documentation for corporate transactions.
• Undertaking legal research.
• Providing support to the fee earners in the Corporate Team.
• Managing your own transactions and files.
• Liaising with other Team members on larger and more complex transactions.
• Liaising with members of other teams in the firm, on due diligence and other aspects of transactions.
• Interacting directly with clients.
• Attending and participating in meetings with clients, intermediaries and other law firms.
• Attending business development events.
• Providing an efficient, professional and friendly service to clients.

What we are looking for:

• A corporate solicitor, with experience of working on corporate transactions, ideally within a regional, national or City corporate team.
• A good knowledge of Company law, and the ability to use precedents and know-how resources.
• Experience of corporate transactions.
• Strong attention to detail to produce documentation which is consistently of a high standard.
• Commercial awareness.
• A flexible approach to work to ensure client deadlines are always met.
• The ability to communicate regularly with clients and intermediaries.
• The ability to work with other team members, and to delegate to, and supervise trainees and junior team members.
• The ability to record time promptly and accurately.
• Ownership of personal financial performance, demonstrating accountability and a commercial mindset.
• Awareness of, and attention to, regulatory requirements such as client onboarding requirements and anti-money laundering requirements.
• A willingness to adopt and explore AI and technology innovation in line with the Team’s technology strategy.
• An interest in and an aptitude towards business development.

Birketts has designed a 'Talent Management Framework' which provides a career structure that will help us develop, retain and reward talented people. As an Associate, we typically expect candidates to have between 3-6 years PQE.

We welcome applications from people looking for flexible, agile, and part-time roles and we are happy to explore your preferred working patterns as part of your application.

As a Birketts colleague, you will be eligible to receive a wide range of benefits including 25 days holiday (FTE) plus Bank Holidays, Private Healthcare with BUPA, Scottish Widows Pension Scheme, Staff Profit Share and Individual Performance Bonus Scheme, Life Assurance, Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Leave, and more.

At Birketts, our culture is driven by ambition and a commitment to positively impact all the communities we serve. We are dedicated to the success, development, and wellbeing of our colleagues, helping them achieve their goals and seize the opportunities that come with our growth. Birketts is committed to being an Equal Opportunity Employer.