Senior Associate / Legal Director - Ipswich, Norwich or Chelmsford

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.

This is an exciting opportunity to join one of the UK's leading Private Wealth Disputes teams. Birketts' Private Wealth Disputes practice is recognised as a market leader, with Band 1 ranking in the Chambers High Net Worth 2025 guide for Private Wealth Disputes in East Anglia and individual team members recognised among the leading practitioners in the field. The team is also ranked in Tier 1 for Contentious Trusts and Probate by Legal 500, reflecting its work in handling complex, high-value, and often precedent-setting disputes involving trusts, estates, inheritance claims, professional negligence, and Court of Protection matters dealing with matters in the UK and internationally.

The role holder will be responsible for maintaining and growing client relationships, ensuring the delivery of high-quality legal services and contributing to the strategic direction and success of the firm. You will be commercially astute, technically excellent, and confident in managing complex transactions and an enthusiastic team. You will be expected to:

• Play a key role in the growth and development of the team
• Build and maintain strong client relationships
• Contribute to thought leadership and sector-focused marketing initiatives
• Lead and mentor a team of junior lawyers, fostering a collaborative and supportive work environment
• Participate in networking events, conferences and other business development activities to promote the firm's services

Please note that this job profile is not an exhaustive list of duties but merely an outline of the key components of the role. You may be required by your line manager to take on additional responsibilities when requested.

Birketts has designed a 'Talent Management Framework' which provides a career structure that will help us develop, retain and reward talented people. The role requires:

• Bringing specialist legal expertise, aligning advice with clients' commercial objectives, directing research effectively, and drafting clear, accurate complex documentation
• Demonstrating strategic business development, winning new clients, driving high-profile pitches, building a strong regional profile, and identifying cross-selling opportunities across the firm
• Managing matters and client relationships to a high standard, maintaining regular contact, meeting expectations, and demonstrating deep understanding of clients' businesses and strategic objectives
• Ability to mentor junior team members and contribute to team development
• Building credibility and trust through strong relationships, continuous professional development, and championing positive change
• Proactively managing risk and compliance tasks, following best practice, maintaining practical Lexcel knowledge, and seeking feedback to drive continuous improvement
• Strong attention to detail to produce work documentation which is consistently of a high standard
• Professional integrity and a commitment to providing excellent client service

Birketts is a flexible business which has embraced a hybrid working model where our colleagues enjoy a mix of home and office working. This role attracts a split of 60% office days and 40% working from home days per week. 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:

• 30 days holiday (FTE) plus Bank Holidays
• Long Service holiday award - 1 extra week every 10 years continuous service
• Private Healthcare with BUPA (offered after probation is passed)
• Scottish Widows Pension Scheme (5% employer / 5% Employee)
• Staff Profit Share and Individual Performance Bonus Scheme
• Salary sacrifice (Pensions, Staff Profit Share)
• Life Assurance - 4 x salary / Permanent Health Insurance
• Paid CSR Day
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Leave
• Subsidised gym membership
• Electric car scheme
• Dress for your Day Policy

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. Our policy is unequivocal: we do not tolerate discrimination based on age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, or sexual orientation. We pride ourselves on being an inclusive organisation that actively promotes equality of opportunity for all, valuing the right mix of talent, skills, and potential. We welcome applications from a diverse range of candidates, and selection for roles is based solely on individual merit.

We are committed to fair and inclusive recruitment practices. The use of AI should enhance, not compromise, your application. We encourage candidates to demonstrate critical thinking, commercial awareness, and a genuine interest in our firm.