Remuneration & Incentives Associate - Top Tier Team

The Remuneration and Incentives team sits within the wider Employment Department of a top tier team, working closely with the Corporate group on transactional matters and early-stage business support. Applications are welcomed from individuals who have qualified into corporate, employment, or tax departments, provided they bring relevant experience advising on reward issues.

The organisation has seen strong growth in recent years through both organic expansion and strategic acquisitions. Current recruitment reflects a commitment to further growth and the need to build additional capacity to support a diverse and evolving client base. The team operates as one cohesive group of experienced professionals, covering both transactional and advisory work without separating the two streams. Based primarily in London, the team supports clients across the United Kingdom and internationally.

The team provides comprehensive tax and legal advice to companies, covering the design, drafting, and implementation of statutory and bespoke equity incentives, as well as cash-based bonus arrangements for employees, non-executive directors, and consultants. They advise on de-risking and optimising remuneration structures and support evolving reward strategies as businesses develop and expand internationally. Support covers the entire employment lifecycle, from recruitment through to retirement or termination. This includes ensuring award terms align with governance requirements and preparing onboarding offers and exit packages.

In addition to advising employers, the wider employment practice frequently supports individual executives, sometimes in high-profile or contentious situations. The incentives team advises on equity components of compensation arrangements and often adds value by negotiating improved outcomes. The approach is centred on understanding each client’s near-term and long-term objectives, then designing and implementing tailored remuneration and incentive solutions.

The department acts for clients across a broad range of sectors, including entertainment, life sciences, technology, fashion, energy, and private equity. The client base spans FTSE-listed groups, global private and family-owned companies, high-growth ventures, private equity-backed businesses, and employee-owned structures. The team also works closely with management teams on equity arrangements, providing insight into market practices. Advice is also given to individual executives and non-executive directors, including those who are non-resident or internationally mobile.

This is a rare opportunity to join a highly regarded incentives practice. Candidates should bring entrepreneurial energy, professional gravitas, and the ability to succeed in a fast-paced environment. A strong academic background is essential, along with excellent technical ability and a solid understanding of UK tax considerations for typical award structures. Exceptional communication skills, strong organisation, and first-rate client service are required. Given the early responsibility offered, candidates must be self-motivated, enthusiastic, and confident in managing a varied caseload. Successful applicants will inspire trust and build long-term relationships, applying both legal and commercial judgement.

The role involves proactive professional development, including participation in business development activities. Applicants should have one to two years of post-qualification experience and be seeking a varied and rewarding career within a supportive and forward-thinking team.

Attributes include:

• Genuine passion for employee incentives and share plans work.
• Strong background in employee incentives and share plans.
• Experience advising on transactional matters, including take-privates, mergers, acquisitions, and IPOs.
• Strong understanding of tax considerations in relation to employee share plans and employment matters.
• Excellent attention to detail, organisation, and drafting ability.
• Ability to manage a busy and client-facing workload.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively at all levels.
• Capability to work independently and within a collaborative team.
• Confidence in coaching and supervising trainees.
• Personable, resilient, and focused on building relationships.
• Adaptable and proactive in approach.

This top tier team is an independent, international professional services group with law at its centre. It employs more than 1,400 people, including over 650 lawyers, and comprises a collection of consultancy businesses that complement its legal offering. The group has offices in London, Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore, and Hong Kong, serving a global client base and providing cross-border advice across six core practice areas: Corporate, Dispute Resolution, Employment, Innovation, Private, and Real Estate. It also includes several consultancy businesses and an established legal tech investment programme. The group’s learning and development hub serves as a platform for training and thought leadership. Recent strategic growth includes acquisitions within the alternative legal services market and investments in global group actions management capabilities. The organisation is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace, enabling all staff to achieve their potential. It supports agile working and remains open to discussing flexible arrangements.