Head of Litigation - Gillingham

Purpose of the Role

To undertake high-quality, complex litigation work while playing a key role in the leadership, supervision, and continued development of the Firm’s litigation practice. This is a senior appointment designed to strengthen and support the ongoing growth and resilience of the Firm’s litigation offering. The role is suitable for a highly experienced Associate or Senior Associate or someone with equivalent experience and expertise, including the capability to supervise other litigation lawyers, contribute to strategic thinking, and play an influential role in maintaining high standards of client service, technical excellence, and team development in line with the Firm’s values.

Key Responsibilities

• Client Work and Technical Excellence
  • Conduct a broad range of contentious matters on behalf of clients to a high professional standard.
  • Manage a broad range of litigation cases with appropriate autonomy and sound professional judgment.
  • Maintain a profitable and well-managed caseload in line with agreed financial and billing targets.
  • Provide clear, pragmatic, and commercially focused advice to clients.
  • Ensure all matters are progressed efficiently, cost‑effectively, and in accordance with client expectations and professional obligations.
• Practice Areas
  • The successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate expertise in at least two of the following areas:
  • Property litigation
  • Employment
  • Insolvency
• Supervision and Team Leadership
  • Supervise, support, and mentor junior litigation solicitors, trainees, and other lawyers.
  • Act as a senior technical resource within the litigation team.
  • Review work, provide constructive feedback, and support ongoing professional development.
  • Assist with work allocation, supervision structures, and capacity planning within the team.
  • Support recruitment, induction, and retention of litigation staff where appropriate.
• Strategic and Operational Contribution
  • Work collaboratively with partners to support the development and sustainability of the litigation practice.
  • Contribute to planning discussions, service development, and improvements to systems and workflows.
  • Share knowledge and best practice across the Firm through training, mentoring, and informal leadership.
  • Participate in internal meetings, working groups, and selected Firm committees as appropriate.
• Business Development and Profile Building
  • Play an active role in marketing, networking, and business development initiatives.
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, referrers, and professional contacts.
  • Support the Firm’s profile as a trusted, forward‑looking, and people‑focused regional practice.
• Financial Management and Risk
  • Maintain strong financial control of matters, including billing, WIP, and cash flow management.
  • Bill in accordance with agreed charging structures and Firm procedures, meeting or exceeding financial targets.
  • Ensure compliance with all regulatory, risk management, and file management requirements.
  • Minimise professional risk and uphold high standards of ethical and professional conduct.

Requirements

• Qualifications and Regulatory
  • Qualified Solicitor or equivalent, entitled to practise in England and Wales.
  • Qualified and authorised to undertake reserved legal activities under the Legal Services Act 2007.
• Experience
  • Ideally 10 years’ PQE or more in litigation, or equivalent experience and expertise.
  • Candidates with fewer than 10 years’ PQE will be considered where they can demonstrate comparable depth of experience, technical capability, and leadership responsibility.
  • Proven experience of handling complex litigation matters with a high degree of autonomy.
  • Demonstrable experience supervising, mentoring, or managing other lawyers.
• Skills and Attributes
  • Strong technical litigation skills with excellent attention to detail.
  • Confident, approachable leadership style with a collaborative and supportive mindset.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Strong commercial awareness and sound professional judgement.
  • High level of personal organisation with the ability to manage competing priorities effectively.
  • Strong IT capability, including case management systems and Microsoft Office applications.
  • Professional, personable, and aligned with the Firm’s values and client‑care ethos.

What the Firm Offers

• A senior and influential role within an established and respected regional firm.
• High-quality, varied litigation work for a diverse client base.
• A supportive, people‑centred culture that values collaboration, development, and long‑term sustainability.
• Genuine scope to shape practice development and contribute at a strategic level.
• Clear progression opportunities based on contribution, capability, and alignment with the Firm’s values.