Senior Associate or Legal Director - Employment - London OR Reading

Senior Associate or Legal Director – Employment

Location: London or Reading (cross‑office exposure)

A highly regarded, specialist employment law firm is looking to appoint an Senior Associate or Legal Director, depending on experience. The role can be based in London or Reading with opportunities to work across offices to support collaboration, development and varied client exposure.

The Team

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• Established Employment team across multiple UK offices
• Strong collaboration with Immigration, Pensions, Regulatory and Corporate specialists
• One‑firm approach with no rigid partner teams
• Lawyers regularly work together across offices and client types

The Role

The role offers a balanced mix of employee and employer work (both contentious and non‑contentious).

Employee Work

• Advising senior executives, partners and managers
• Grievance and disciplinary issues
• Performance management
• Unfair dismissal, discrimination and whistleblowing
• Employment Tribunal and High Court litigation
• Team moves and settlement agreements
• Advising well‑known clients across sectors such as tech, retail, pharma and financial services
• Drafting and advising on contracts and policies
• Strategic and management issues
• Reorganisations and business transfers

Culture and Progression

• Real responsibility and autonomy once capability is demonstrated
• Monthly 1:1s with Team Leaders
• Regular performance and career progression discussions
• Entrepreneurial and hands‑on environment
• Expectation that lawyers manage their own admin and file organisation effectively

Role Requirements

• Minimum of 5 PQE in Employment law
• Strong experience in claimant or respondent work, or both
• Employment Tribunal and High Court litigation experience
• Excellent attention to detail
• Strong organisational and prioritisation skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Confident handling sensitive and confidential documents
• Proactive and solutions‑focused approach
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Excellent client care
• Comfortable managing a busy and fast‑paced workload

Benefits

• Generous annual leave including extra day for birthday
• Tax‑free element to bonus
• Private Medical
• Life Assurance

About Lex Exec

Lex Exec is a specialist legal recruitment consultancy focused on working with ambitious lawyers and high‑quality law firms across London and the South East. We operate discreetly and thoughtfully, advising on roles that align with long‑term career progression, values and personal priorities.