Associate - Incentives/ employment in City of London

We are seeking a 4–6 PQE Associate with deep experience in Incentives work, a strong technical grounding and commercial awareness. You will focus primarily on incentive arrangements including executive compensation, employee share plans, management equity and related tax and governance issues for clients including listed companies, regulated businesses (including those in the financial sector), multinationals, private equity houses and portfolio companies.

About the Team

Our People and Reward (P&R) department advises on all aspects of contentious and non‑contentious employment, pensions and incentives law on a national and multi‑jurisdictional basis. The global practice comprises 23 partners and approximately 100 lawyers across Europe, Asia and the US, and the London team includes six partners and around 25 associates. We advise on strategic and reputationally significant matters and collaborate closely with colleagues across corporate, tax, regulatory and disputes teams.

This role is part of the Incentives team within the P&R department in London. The team advises on the design, implementation and operation of share schemes, executive remuneration and other incentive arrangements, alongside related tax, corporate governance, securities law and regulatory considerations. In addition, you will have the opportunity to be involved in the wider work the P&R team undertakes, including advising on executive employment matters.

Work will include:

• Designing and implementing bespoke share plans, cash‑based incentives and long‑term incentive arrangements.
• Advising on adoption and operation of tax qualifying share plans.
• Advising on tax, corporate governance and regulatory considerations relating to executive pay and share plans.
• Supporting clients on public and private M&A, restructurings and capital markets transactions.
• Reviewing and updating remuneration policies and guiding clients through shareholder expectations and governance norms.
• Advising on management equity arrangements for private equity transactions.
• Advising on operation of malus and clawback.
• Optional involvement in executive employment matters.

Key Responsibilities:

• Draft clear, succinct and technically precise incentive plan documentation and employee‑friendly communication materials.
• Negotiate incentive and remuneration issues independently or alongside partners.
• Manage matter delivery and mentor junior associates and trainees.
• Participate in client training, seminars and knowledge‑sharing initiatives.
• Build strong client relationships and deliver commercially focused advice.
• Maintain robust financial management including WIP, billing and deadlines.

Requirements:

• Qualified lawyer with 4–6 years’ PQE in incentives, executive compensation or share plans.
• Strong technical grounding in tax, corporate, securities and employment law as it relates to incentive arrangements.
• Experience advising on incentive aspects of M&A, restructurings or capital markets transactions.
• Experience within a top‑tier incentives practice at a global firm.
• Interest and experience in business development and thought leadership.
• Strong team ethos and willingness to share knowledge.

Inclusion:

Freshfields is an equal opportunities employer and all applications received by the firm will be considered by the firm on the basis of their merit alone and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of background. All offers of employment will be conditional on the candidate having/securing the right to work in the UK and providing the firm with evidence of that right (as required by the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006) prior to employment commencing. Freshfields is committed to promoting equality and diversity and to developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds make important and positive contributions to our business and how we service our clients.