Lead Lawyer (Recoveries) in Bolton

Keoghs LLP is one of the leading insurance law firms in the UK and the most dynamic in its sector. We now have an exciting opportunity for a talented insurance lawyer within the Property Risks & Coverage Team. This role will be based in one of our regional offices in Bolton, Birmingham or Bristol and will specialise in handling a range of high-value subrogated property recovery files, typically in excess of £100K. We can be agile on location.

You will handle a case load of Property Risks matter files which will deal with a wide range of perils (fires, floods, impacts, product liability) from a selection of the team’s well-known insurers. In addition, this is a role which involves the line management of a mini team so someone with people leadership skills will succeed in this role. This is a technical and at times client-facing role for a well-rounded lawyer, so you will have a keen interest in building client relationships through the delivery of training and mentoring as well as in delivering first-class legal solutions to complex problems. The team regularly delivers training seminars and workshops to various insurer clients and the ideal candidate will have an interest and proven track record in client development and show a willingness to assist in the preparation and delivery of seminars on technical legal issues.

Key Responsibilities

• Initial review/report to include consideration of funding
• Investigating evidential matters, gathering evidence in order to establish cause of action
• Conducting investigations with third parties
• Instructing counsel and experts
• Legal research
• Drafting generally
• Attending conferences and trials with counsel
• Dealing with routine correspondence
• Liaising with lay and insurer clients
• Engaging in settlement negotiations including consideration of and the drafting of Part 36 offers
• Preparing pre-action and interim applications
• Driving the litigation process
• Assisting with ADR (including mediation)
• Court appointments
• Conducting advocacy by telephone and in person
• Ensure compliance with the SRA

From a people perspective, you will support the BUD in:

• The management of a mini team in terms of service delivery and personal professional development which will include technical supervision;
• Ensuring that all members of the mini team have appropriate objectives in place and are measured against them in accordance with Keoghs performance management processes;
• The recruitment and retention of personnel into the wider PRC team in order to maintain profitability and the ideal operating model; feeding into the PRC talent pipeline;
• The effective, fair and transparent application of Keoghs people processes and procedures;
• Communicating in a clear, concise and engaging way to promote morale & motivation and in the giving of feedback.

From a sales/BD perspective you will support the sales pipeline in:

• The day-to-day management of a nominated account(s);
• The preparation and delivery of client MI;
• The preparation and delivery of client training events.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Qualified solicitor or equivalent with relevant technical capability
• Minimum of 3 years Claimant property litigation experience
• Experience of running a case load
• A working knowledge and understanding of delivery of client KPIs

Required Soft Skills:

• An ability to prioritise workload
• Ability to pay attention to detail
• Ability to work with case management systems
• The personal skills to deal with such work as major and expensive litigation involving liaison with senior claims handlers

Benefits

• Davies Incentive Plan
• 25 days holiday per year which increases with level of service (opportunity to buy & sell 3 days)
• Family Cover
• Private Medical Insurance (Bupa) - will automatically be at single cover level but can opt into family option within first month of joining.
• Simply Health Care Cash Plan
• WeCare – 24/7 online GP, mental health support and virtual wellbeing covering a whole host of topics to do with health, mental health, wellbeing & healthy living and financial & legal wellbeing
• Death in Service
• Critical Illness Cover
• PHI/Income Protection (Private health insurance)
• Pension Contribution based 5% Employee / 3% Employer
• Employee Resource Groups
• Employee Volunteering Programme
• Cycle to Work Scheme*
• Tech Scheme*
• Season Ticket Loan*
• Gym Flex*
• Access to Online Discount Sites
• Discounted Gourmet Society Membership
• Discounted Tickets for Merlin Attractions nationwide
• Discounts at local retail outlets

* after successfully completing probation