Associate in Cambridge

We are looking for an experienced Regulatory Lawyer to join our growing regulatory team. Based in Cambridge, or one of our East offices, you’ll be joining our national Insurance, Risk and Regulatory team as an associate or senior associate. This is a varied and high quality role, advising both organisations and individuals across a broad range of regulatory matters. You’ll work on both contentious and non-contentious issues, supporting clients through compliance, risk management, investigations and enforcement. This opportunity suits a lawyer with strong technical expertise, sound judgement, and the ability to deliver clear, commercially focused advice in a fast-paced and evolving regulatory landscape.

Our Insurance, Risk & Regulatory (IRR) team is recognised for its expertise across a wide range of complex regulatory matters. We work collaboratively across offices, supporting clients on high-profile and sensitive cases, often at critical points for their business. You’ll be joining a supportive, collegiate team with a strong reputation in the market and a genuine focus on development and progression.

You’ll manage a broad and interesting caseload, including:

• Regulatory Investigations: Acting for clients in investigations and prosecutions brought by the Police, HSE, Local Authorities, Fire Authorities, the Environment Agency, CQC and other regulators.
• Health & Safety: Advising on criminal and regulatory matters, including corporate manslaughter, gross negligence manslaughter and statutory breaches.
• Fire Safety: Supporting clients on compliance, investigations and prosecutions across sectors including residential and care settings.
• Food Safety: Assisting clients facing investigations or prosecutions relating to food safety, hygiene and labelling.
• Environmental Law: Advising on permitting, waste, contaminated land, nuisance, chemicals and producer responsibility.
• Product & Consumer Regulation: Supporting clients on product safety, labelling, advertising, sustainability and green claims.
• Inquests & Public Inquiries: Preparing submissions, supporting witnesses and representing clients.
• Privately Funded Defence: Assisting on enforcement matters, internal investigations and crisis response.

You’ll also play an active role in:

• Building and managing client relationships.
• Supporting business development and profile raising activity.
• Supervising and developing junior team members.

Qualified solicitor, or barrister, with at least 5 years’ PQE in regulatory law, experience across areas such as health & safety, fire, environmental, food or product regulation, proven ability to manage a varied caseload independently, experience working with regulators, Local Authorities, insurers and enforcement bodies, advocacy experience in the Magistrates’ and Crown Courts (or equivalent), a genuine interest in developing expertise across regulatory disciplines.

Ideally you will have had experience in privately funded criminal defence, public enquiries or licensing (including HMO licensing).

Exposure to high-profile, complex and strategically important work, a supportive, collaborative and inclusive team environment, clear opportunities for career progression and professional development.

If you’re looking to build your career within a well-regarded regulatory team handling diverse and impactful work, we’d love to hear from you.

Benefits of working with us:

• Income Protection
• Private Medical Insurance
• Sight tests / Glasses discounts
• Bonus scheme
• Electric vehicle scheme
• International secondments for 0-5 PQE
• Scottish Widows Pension Scheme
• 28 days annual leave (plus public holidays)
• Happy People / Perks at Work benefits portal
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Life Assurance
• 1/3 gym membership contribution
• Flu vaccinations

HCR suits people who love a challenge and want to work in an environment where careers thrive on the back of hard work and personal merit. Our people enjoy feeling part of something bigger than themselves, and whilst our clients drive our development, it is our people who bring their energy, enthusiasm, and entrepreneurial mindsets together to solve problems and help our clients succeed.

Our people tell us they enjoy working on good quality, interesting matters from a wide variety of our clients, because they get the experience they want to develop their careers. We will give you responsibility early, the mandate to make things happen and we’ll back your good ideas. Our “Passion for People” lives and breathes every day throughout the firm as our peoples’ energy and sense of fun create a warm environment in which to thrive.

HCR’s growth constantly creates opportunities for people who want to go places and make a difference, your career plan can become part of our growth plan. At HCR you can expect to work with friendly, energetic, ambitious people, who love getting stuck into a client problem, and enjoy celebrating a good outcome. Our people value the sense of community provided by the individual personality of each office and the collegiate approach across all our service and sector teams.

As a Times Best Law firm, among the UK Top 50, we provide the full range of services that you would expect to organisations, business leaders and individuals. However, in our mission to give everyone the opportunity to experience a different kind of legal service we take an entrepreneurial approach. We’re flexible and responsive to the needs of our clients, delivering the best outcomes for them.

We have more than 1000 lawyers and support staff, including more than 180 partners, and have been awarded the Law Society’s Lexcel quality mark in recognition of our compliance and client care standards.

With 13 offices in England and Wales our well-established presence stretches from west to east, ensuring clients can access a full-service legal offering no matter where they’re located. We’ve expanded significantly across all our regions, and are well-respected as a regional firm with a strong London and international presence.

As HCR is an equal opportunities employer, we don’t just accept differences, we celebrate them. We want to attract a diverse and ambitious workforce that reflects all backgrounds and skills to create a workplace that is supportive and inclusive, recognises and nurtures talent, and which works together to achieve the best outcome for our clients.

Please let us know of any changes we can make at any point that will help support your application. If this opportunity sounds of interest to you, please make an application and submit your CV.