Senior Associate - Insurance Disputes - Leeds

What does the role involve?

We are looking for a senior solicitor who is 4 to 9 years PQE, to join our growing team Insurance Disputes team in Leeds, who are a Legal 500 Tier 1 team for Professional Negligence. You will work with Partners Neil Howes and Liam Burnett in Leeds and the wider Insurance Disputes National Service Line (NSL) led by Niall Innes. Mills & Reeve have won a number of awards including 17 years running as one of the Top 100 Best Companies to work for and 2020 winners of Roll on Friday. We were also named “Large Law Firm of the Year” at the 2021 Yorkshire Legal Awards.

You will have a good background in commercial litigation and/or professional indemnity litigation including up to date pre-action and litigation procedural knowledge.  Ideally (but not essential) you will also have some experience of the insurance market.

Areas of work 

The work is predominantly professional indemnity, acting for members of various professions but primarily lawyers (both Solicitors and Barristers), construction professionals, accountants, insurance brokers, independent financial advisers and surveyors. Clients are located nationally, with work referred at their nomination or directly by insurers, most of which are located close to our London office but with developed regionally based teams.

Client Base

• An enviable list of major insurers, MGAs and Lloyds syndicates

• Corporates / LLP's

What experience is required?

You will be 4 to 9 years qualified with experience gained in a City firm or large regional firm. You will have a good background in  professional indemnity litigation and insurance coverage disputes.

What skills and attributes would I need?

• Good academics.

• Litigation experience and strong analytical skills.

• Excellent written English and ability to produce clear, logical drafting.

• Lateral thinking and problem solving skills.

• Self-starting with common sense and initiative.

• Excellent interpersonal and team skills, including ability to work with others, influence and persuade.

• Flexibility to work with and supervise team members.

• Proactive team player.

• Good time and file management skills.

• Good research skills, including an ability to use online information sources.

• An enthusiasm for marketing with clients and multipliers.

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, 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.