Procurement Lawyer - Legal Director or Partner in Southampton

Looking for an opportunity to be recognised as an expert in your field? This is it. Our procurement team already has a market leading reputation – supporting a significant number of national clients with complex advice related to procurement regulation. Our clients range from central and local authorities, and other key public sector clients including those in education, housing and health, energy, rail and other utilities. We also advise a wide range of private sector clients supplying to the public sector. Our advice crosses advisory, transactional and disputes, which makes this team pivotal to the services we offer across the firm.

We are looking for a highly regarded procurement lawyer, with a significant track record of advising clients in this area, to lead and further develop our procurement offering. Joining a team of passionate, brilliant lawyers, this is a genuine opportunity to step into a leadership role with a high profile in our business. You will help us provide specialist procurement law advice on a range of projects, across a range of sectors, including large scale PPP projects, major outsourcing initiatives, joint ventures, regeneration projects and challenges (in conjunction with our procurement litigation specialists). You'll advise on a broad range of issues relating to the Procurement Act 2023, provide bespoke risk advice on all aspects of procurement processes, conflict assessment and where appropriate provision of contentious support, including procurement challenges.

This role offers real opportunities for career progression for the right individual – we would expect to appoint at Legal Director and above, and the role may be suitable for the right individual looking for their first Partnership role. As part of our national Public Law and Projects team, the successful candidate would ideally be based in either Leeds or Newcastle, but we are also open to conversations with candidates interested in being based out of any of our national offices. All locations offer an opportunity to develop professionally and personally, play an important role in growing our business, and to support the management and development of our team. Additionally, because of the unique nature of the broad ranging impact of this area of law, this role also offers opportunity to work with exceptional colleagues regionally, nationally and internationally - in the US and beyond.

What you will need to be successful in this role:

• We're looking for an individual with a demonstrable track record in the provision of procurement legal advice.
• Significant experience of advising on the non-contentious aspects of procurement processes, including the provision of training and tools for clients is essential, and some experience of contentious aspects would be a real bonus.
• A reputation for technical excellence, exceptional client management skills, and a business growth mindset.
• A commitment to developing and nurturing the talent of junior lawyers.
• An understanding of how the provision of legal services should be delivered at a top 20 law firm, including revenue prioritisation, a commercial mindset and effective and efficient matter management.
• To be an admitted lawyer in the UK or similar jurisdiction.
• An enterprising mindset and self-motivation to be successful.

What makes it great to work here?

We see things differently and our approach reflects that in all areas of our business. We are a team of over 1300 lawyers and technical specialists that continue to deliver trail blazing work for our exceptional clients. We're investing in technology, setting legal precedents and challenging perceptions. But in addition to that we are proud to have created a unique open and person centric culture that we think sets us apart from other firms. Our award winning Responsible Business and ESG agenda, our embedded DE&I initiatives led by our Board sponsored DE&I group and our support of the Mindful Business Charter all support our endeavours to ensure that our people are able to maintain healthy and happy lives, both in and out of work. We have a number of resources and initiatives designed to support health and wellbeing and we're very happy to talk flexible working, full-time or part-time working patterns.

What's next?

If you would like to have an initial exploratory conversation about our Public Law and Projects practice and our ambitions for its growth please reach out confidentially to our Recruitment Business Partner Sarah Rogers in the first instance. If you decide to continue to be formally considered we will ensure that you have plenty of opportunity to meet key members of our team, including Business Group and Sector Leads, as well as peers across departments and specialisms.

We encourage applicants from all social backgrounds, ethnicities, disabilities, gender identities and sexual orientations. We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to all. If you have a disability or long-term condition and need us to make any adjustments to give you the best possible recruitment process, please let us know by contacting the recruiter. We will offer an interview to candidates with a disability or long-term condition who meet the minimum criteria for this role.

Location: Leeds, Newcastle, Southampton

Contract Type: Permanent

Work location: Hybrid