Associate/Senior Associate - Commercial - Norwich

What does the role involve?

This is an exciting opportunity to join a fast growing, friendly and award-winning team that delivers high quality work for an impressive list of clients. Our team is top ranked in the legal directories.

We are looking for a commercial solicitor to join our leading national commercial team in the Norwich office to undertake a wide range of work, including advice on commercial contracts, outsourcing projects, IT agreements, data protection and public procurement.

You will work on your own matters, which will include drafting and negotiating a wide range of commercial contracts, including standard terms and conditions, outsourcing agreements, distributorship and agency agreements, website terms of use and privacy policies, supply contracts and joint venture agreements. You will also have the opportunity to advise on data protection and public procurement strategy and documentation and, if you do not already have experience in these areas, training will be provided as necessary.

Why should I apply?

The team has been growing strongly in Norwich reflecting the growth of our national and international client base. You will have the chance to work with clients who are at the cutting edge of their field and to be part of the legal team supporting the UK Government on some of its largest and most high-profile projects and policy developments.

Clients the team acts for include Lotus, Cuisines Schmidt, the NHS Supply Chain, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department of Health & Social Care.

The role offers the opportunity for career progression as the team continues to grow.

What experience is required?

You will have 3+ years post qualification experience gained in a large regional, national or international firm. You will have excellent technical skills in commercial law with a strong interest in how businesses and public sector bodies operate. You will be a commercially-minded lawyer, who is prepared to turn your hand to a wide range of work.

What skills and attributes would I need?

• Good academics
• Excellent written English and a keen eye for detail
• Ability to build relationships with clients, potential clients and multipliers
• Strong negotiating skills
• Self-starting, with common-sense and initiative
• Excellent interpersonal and team skills, including ability to work with others, influence, persuade
• Good research skills, including an ability to use online information sources
• Good IT skills
• Work as part of a team in line with the firm’s values

Desirable

• Supervisory skills

You will be able to demonstrate an:

• interest in commercial law and how it impacts on relationships between businesses
• understanding of what makes businesses work and an ability to ask the right questions about what clients are trying to achieve from their commercial relationships
• ability to understand the environment that clients work in and to deliver “advice that advises”, both orally and in writing
• ability to assimilate a lot of information quickly and focus on the key issues

You will have

• good time and file management skills to enable you to juggle lots of different matters
• flexibility to apply fundamental legal and commercial skills to a diverse range of contracts and arrangements
• dedication to providing outstanding client service
• ability to work under pressure

Who would I be working with?

You will be working with a range of our Commercial partners, in particular  Greg Gibson, who leads the team in our Norwich office and is also our Head of Government Sector.  However, the Commercial team works on a national cross-office basis, so you should expect to work with a range of partners from across our Commercial team and be happy to form part of multi-disciplinary cross-office teams on a project-by-project basis.  The Commercial team is led nationally by  Stuart Thompson, which forms part of the wider cross-office Corporate and Commercial National Service Line headed by partner,  Kevin Lowe.

What else should I know?

Mills & Reeve is a major UK law firm renowned for its outstanding service to national and international clients, for its collaborative culture and for its deep sector expertise.

The firm has been named for a record 19th year running as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in The Sunday Times’ annual survey and is the only UK law firm to have achieved this.  We are also delighted to have been named by RollonFriday as one of the top law firms in the UK for the sixth year running.

Pre-employment screening

Please note that, in the event that we make an offer of employment, we will conduct pre-employment screening that includes checks relating to your professional and academic qualifications, references from previous employers, your eligibility to work in the UK and any disciplinary history recorded with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). You will also be required to complete a self-declaration to assess your character and suitability. 

Disclosure and barring service check and security clearance

This post is also subject to a satisfactory response from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) (to check for any previous criminal convictions and cautions) and, given the nature of the work-type, you may also be required to undergo national security vetting to SC level – the latter can be undertaken following commencement of employment. 

And finally

Mills & Reeve is committed to building a diverse workforce and fostering an inclusive environment in which all our people can thrive. We hire people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes our firm stronger, and we have a collaborative culture that celebrates different perspectives and values respect for one another, working together, and openness and integrity. Our approach to flexible working means that we work in a way that achieves the right balance for our people, our clients and for our business.