Employment Lawyer (Senior Associate) in Southampton

Your new firm is a well-established national law firm with a strong reputation for delivering pragmatic, commercially focused legal advice to businesses and organisations across the UK. The firm is recognised for its collaborative culture, entrepreneurial approach and commitment to supporting both clients and colleagues. With a long-standing presence in the South Coast market, it offers high-quality work, genuine career progression and a flexible, people-focused working environment.

Your new role presents an excellent opportunity for an experienced Employment Lawyer to join a growing and highly regarded Employment team in Southampton. This senior position offers the opportunity to work with a broad client base, including national and regional businesses, owner-managed companies, senior executives, charities and public sector organisations. The successful candidate will advise on a wide range of contentious and non-contentious employment matters, supporting clients through day-to-day employment issues, strategic projects and complex workplace disputes. You will play a key role in developing client relationships, leading on matters, supervising junior colleagues where appropriate and contributing to the continued growth of the practice. The role offers significant autonomy, exposure to high-quality work and the opportunity to shape the future direction of the team.

Key responsibilities:

• Advising employers on a wide range of employment law matters, including disciplinary issues, grievances, redundancies, restructures and dismissals.
• Managing Employment Tribunal claims and complex workplace disputes.
• Supporting clients with employment documentation, policies and procedures.
• Advising on employment aspects of corporate transactions and business change projects.
• Building and maintaining strong client relationships across a variety of sectors.
• Assisting with business development initiatives, networking and profile-raising activities.
• Supporting and mentoring junior team members where appropriate.

What you'll need to succeed:

To be successful, you will be a qualified solicitor in England and Wales with significant employment law experience gained within a recognised employment practice. You will possess strong technical expertise, excellent client management skills and a commercial approach to problem-solving. You'll be confident managing your own caseload, advising on a broad range of contentious and non-contentious employment matters, and developing long-term client relationships. An interest in business development, networking and supporting team growth will also be important.

Applications are welcomed from experienced Senior Associates, Legal Directors or Partners seeking a new challenge within a supportive and ambitious environment.

What you'll get in return:

You will join a collaborative and forward-thinking firm that genuinely invests in its people. Alongside access to high-quality employment work and an established client base, the firm offers a competitive salary and benefits package, flexible and hybrid working arrangements, strong progression prospects and ongoing professional development opportunities. This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious employment lawyer seeking a senior role within a successful and growing national practice, with the chance to take on meaningful client relationships and play a key role in the continued development of the team.

What you need to do now:

If you're interested in this opportunity or would like a confidential discussion regarding the market, please get in touch. If this role isn't quite right, but you are considering a move within employment, commercial or regulatory law, I would still be delighted to hear from you. We would expect a lawyer applying for this position to have developed the appropriate level of knowledge and experience. However, applications from individuals with a broader range of PQE and experience are encouraged.