Join Our Team: Associate – Director Services
Location: Farringdon, London
Experience Level: 3 - 5 Years PQE (or other experience)
Reports To: Team Partner
About Us
Francis Wilks & Jones is a dynamic, forward-thinking law firm with a reputation for excellence in commercial litigation, corporate restructuring, insolvency, and specialist director advisory services. Our team includes lawyers from top-tier national and international firms who’ve chosen to work with us for our collaborative culture, high-quality clients, and innovative approach to legal problem-solving.
We’re proud to be market leaders in:
- Director disqualification and defence
- Shareholder and corporate disputes
- Tax and banking litigation
- Insolvency and restructuring
The Opportunity
We’re looking for a talented and ambitious solicitor with experience to join our Director Services team. This is a unique opportunity to work on high-value, complex cases involving HNWIs, SMEs, and private individuals within a team of junior and associate solicitors. You’ll be at the forefront of defending directors in insolvency claims, comprising antecedent claims, breach of duty claims and DLA claims, as well as exposure to disqualification claims, shareholder disputes and other related claims (potentially including tax avoidance matters).
This role is ideal for someone who is looking to grow their career and is keen to take on a new role supporting the growth of the team, working with the current team demonstrating your commercial and potential management skills.
Technical aptitude and a commercial understanding of the legal services environment are essential.Finding solutions for clients in difficult circumstances can be challenging and requires an innovative driven personality, as you will find yourself immediately in a client-facing environment, dealing with all aspects of each case and exposure to more complex defence arguments.In this role, you will not be merely a wheel in the machine.
What We’re Looking For
We’re seeking someone who is:
- Experienced in commercial and insolvency litigation, especially defending directors and SMEs.
- Personnel skills both in terms of your colleagues and the clients, who are often not professional clients and may need a degree of empathy as well as confidence in the role.
- Skilled in handling insolvency claims and (more importantly) defenses and perhaps seeking to transfer the skills acquired on the claimant front.
- Has knowledge of shareholder disputes – just and equitable winding-up proceedings, unfair prejudice petitions and derivative claims (as well as the more comprehensive part, which relates to the pre-action negotiations and, often, settlement).
- Commercially minded – not just technically strong, but able to offer strategic, value-added strategic advice.
- A confident communicator who enjoys direct client interaction.
- A team player with humility, energy, and a growth mindset.
Key Skills & Experience
You’ll ideally bring:
- Technical expertise in insolvency matters and strong knowledge of personal and corporate insolvency procedures.
- Additional experience of director disqualification or shareholder dispute work.
- Litigation expertise: case management, drafting court documents and witness statements, interim applications, disclosure, mediation, and trial preparation.
- Experience with freezing orders, misfeasance claims, TUVs, s.423 actions, and (most importantly) common defences against claims for breach of fiduciary duties.
- A clear understanding of team and personal utilization needs, billing, cash flow and the connection between your work and driving the business forward.
- Any experience acting for or against a litigation funder and the strategic differences (when advising a client) would be very useful.
- Any understanding of alternative fee arrangements (CFAs, DBAs etc.) and litigation insurance would be useful.
Why Join Us?
FWJ are a meritocracy.Lawyers who perform and who demonstrably promote the firm and work hard are immediately recognized and directly rewarded.
At FWJ we have a hybrid working model.
25 Days paid holiday and free day given at Christmas.
Private healthcare via Vitality – includes holiday discounts, gym discounts and even free cinema vouchers and coffee (after the initial induction period)
Critical Illness and Income Protection Insurance.
Wellbeing support for you and your family, medical helpline & legal support.
A bonus scheme which is not unrealistic nor out of reach.
Collaborative culture – ideas are welcomed, and innovation is encouraged.
Regular training and updates on our legal changes and our regulatory environment.
We have regular (and irregular) staff socials and events and believe that a collaborative and friendly environment twinned with self-propelled personalities (whether your interest is in promotion of the business and/or the provision of a quality legal service – hopefully both) is vital to the success of this firm.
It is in our interest to develop you, both technically and in terms of your development within the FWJ hierarchy.There are no ceilings here and your development is a priority for us, as it drives our growth.
Associate - Director Services employer: Francis Wilks & Jones
Francis Wilks & Jones is an excellent employer for those seeking a dynamic and rewarding career in law, particularly in the field of insolvency and disqualification. With a strong emphasis on employee growth, a collaborative work culture, and the flexibility of a hybrid working model, the firm ensures that its solicitors are well-supported and engaged. Additionally, competitive benefits such as private healthcare further enhance the appeal of working in Greater London with this esteemed firm.
