Head of Litigation & Disputes (Permanent)
19 days ago
Plymouth
Location: Plymouth, Devon \n Contract Type: Permanent \n Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience - Circa £65 to £75k \n Hours: 37.5 hours per week \n Working Pattern: Office-based / hybrid \n Contract: Full-time \n Experienced Litigation Solicitor or Chartered Legal Executive sought to join a well-established Plymouth practice as Head of Litigation & Disputes. \n This is a senior opportunity combining a high-quality contentious caseload with responsibility for the leadership, development and growth of the firm's Litigation & Disputes department. \n The successful candidate will take a key role in shaping the future direction of the team, with responsibility for people management, business development and financial performance alongside their own complex and high-value litigation work. \n Position Overview \n You will manage a varied caseload of litigation and dispute resolution matters from instruction through to conclusion, including complex and higher-value disputes. Alongside your fee-earning work, you will lead and develop the wider Litigation & Disputes team. \n Responsibilities will include: \n\n • Managing a varied caseload of civil litigation and dispute resolution matters\n, • Handling complex and high-value disputes\n, • Providing commercially focused, practical legal advice to clients\n, • Conducting proceedings in accordance with the Civil Procedure Rules and relevant pre-action protocols\n, • Drafting pleadings, witness statements, applications, settlement agreements and other litigation documentation\n, • Negotiating settlements and representing clients at mediations and settlement discussions\n, • Acting as a senior technical resource for the department\n, • Supervising and mentoring qualified fee earners, trainees, apprentices and support staff\n, • Supporting the allocation of work and professional development of team members\n, • Developing and implementing the department's annual business plan\n, • Building relationships with existing clients, prospective clients and professional contacts\n, • Identifying opportunities to generate new instructions and increase departmental revenue\n, • Participating in networking, marketing and other business development initiatives\n, • Working collaboratively with other departments to develop cross-referral opportunities\n, • Monitoring billing, WIP, debt management and overall departmental financial performance\n, • Ensuring high standards of compliance, risk management and client care\n\n This is a genuine leadership position and would particularly suit an experienced litigator who enjoys combining technical legal work with developing people and growing a successful department. \n Requirements \n\n • Qualified Solicitor or Chartered Legal Executive with full practice rights\n, • Significant post-qualification experience in litigation and dispute resolution\n, • Extensive experience managing contentious matters independently from instruction through to conclusion\n, • Strong technical knowledge of civil litigation procedure and dispute resolution\n, • Experience handling complex and high-value disputes\n, • Strong commercial awareness and strategic thinking\n, • Demonstrable business development and client relationship management experience\n, • Experience supervising, mentoring or developing junior lawyers\n, • Excellent communication, negotiation and advocacy skills\n, • Ability to provide commercially focused and pragmatic advice\n, • Strong organisational and financial management skills\n, • Existing professional network and/or track record of generating new business would be advantageous\n, • Previous departmental leadership or management experience would be beneficial\n\n Benefits \n\n • Competitive salary and benefits package\n, • 25 days' annual leave plus Bank Holidays\n, • Additional gifted Christmas leave\n, • Gifted birthday leave\n, • Private health insurance\n, • Monthly wellness leave\n, • Regular staff social events and networking opportunities\n, • Cycle to Work Scheme\n, • Free indoor bike storage\n, • Genuine opportunity to lead and develop an established Litigation & Disputes department\n, • Significant scope to influence departmental strategy, growth and future direction\n, • Senior position within an established Plymouth practice\n\n This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious and commercially minded Litigation Lawyer seeking a genuine Head of Department role with the autonomy to develop a team, grow the practice and play an important part in the firm's wider success.
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