Commercial Litigation Associate

Location: Leeds (office-based three days most weeks)

Salary: £60,000 to £85,000 (dependent on experience)

Experience: 1 to 5 years’ PQE

A high-quality commercial litigation opportunity in Leeds for a solicitor who enjoys variety, wants to build real depth, and is looking for a team where you will be trusted with complex work early.

Our client is looking to hire an Associate into its Commercial Litigation team. This is a broad disputes role rather than a niche specialism, working alongside dedicated teams in areas such as property litigation, construction, employment and financial litigation.

You will join a well-resourced team with a strong reputation for handling complex, high-value disputes. The team currently includes 2 Partners, 3 Legal Directors, 4 Senior Associates and 1 Associate, so you will have support around you while still getting meaningful responsibility.

This role suits someone with a solid grounding in general commercial litigation who wants to work on technically interesting matters and develop strong client-handling skills.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Managing a varied caseload of commercial litigation matters, with appropriate supervision

• Supporting on high-value, complex disputes, including multi-party matters where relevant

• Advising clients on strategy, risk and settlement options with a commercial, pragmatic approach

• Drafting correspondence, pleadings, witness evidence and court documents as required

• Working closely with colleagues across the firm to deliver joined-up advice

• Attending mediations, hearings and client meetings where needed

• Supporting business development activity and helping to build long-term client relationships

What We’re Looking For

• Qualified Solicitor in England and Wales

• 1 to 5 years’ PQE (or equivalent) with broad commercial litigation experience

• Strong academics and training from a reputable firm

• Confident drafting skills and strong attention to detail

• Commercial approach and good judgement under pressure

• Collaborative working style and a genuine interest in client relationships

What’s On Offer

• Salary: £60,000 to £85,000 (dependent on experience)

• 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, plus your birthday off

• Option to buy or sell annual leave

• Private healthcare

• Profit share scheme

• Pension and life assurance

• Enhanced family-friendly leave

• Paid volunteering days

• Wellbeing support and wellness benefits

• Additional benefits including retail perks and Cycle to Work

• Clubs and committees to get involved in across the firm

Working Arrangements

Leeds-based role Hybrid working available, with an expectation of being in the office three days most weeks

How to Apply

Apply online or send your CV to  lee.hawthorne-finch@h-fts.com  or call 0333 996 2882 for more information.

All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence. We will always obtain your express permission before sharing your details with our client.

Family Solicitor or Legal Executive / New Office Lead

Location: Flexible across England (new office location to be agreed)

Salary: Open to discussions on salary and bonus

Experience: Ideally 8+ years’ relevant family law experience (other strong candidates considered)

If you’re an experienced private family lawyer who wants to build something of your own, with the backing of a respected specialist brand and a genuinely supportive culture, this is a rare opportunity.

Our client is a family-owned, long-established private family law firm with a strong reputation for practical, commercially aware and client-focused advice. Due to continued success and a growing national profile, they are looking to appoint a Family Solicitor or Legal Executive to establish and lead a new office in an agreed location.

This is not a standard fee earner position. You will have real autonomy to shape the local practice, recruit and develop a team, and grow a sustainable pipeline, supported by central operations, compliance, marketing and business development.

Despite growth and additional offices, the firm has retained the personal, collaborative feel of a traditional family business. They are looking for a well-rounded family lawyer who combines strong technical ability and sound commercial judgement with leadership skills and a genuine business development focus.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Establishing and leading a new office in a location agreed with the firm

• Managing a varied and complex private family law caseload with minimal supervision

• Advising on private children matters and financial remedy claims

• Advising on divorce, separation and cohabitation disputes

• Advising on pre-nuptial, post-nuptial and separation agreements

• Advising on protective injunctions where appropriate

• Handling TOLATA matters where experienced (desirable, not essential)

• Conducting litigation and the reserved legal activities required for the role

• Conducting negotiations with solicitors, other representatives and litigants in person

• Attending client meetings, conferences and court hearings where appropriate

• Exercising rights of audience where required and within your authorisation

• Instructing and working effectively with counsel and experts

• Maintaining high standards of time recording, billing, costs management and compliance

• Developing a local referral network and professional profile

• Attending networking events and building relationships within the local community

• Supporting marketing and business development initiatives

• Identifying opportunities for sustainable growth

• Contributing to decisions on the location, development and operation of the new office

• Recruiting, supervising and developing colleagues as the office grows

• Collaborating with colleagues across the firm’s other offices

• Contributing to the firm’s wider strategy and continued growth

What We’re Looking For

• A Solicitor (England and Wales) with a current practising certificate, or a CILEX Lawyer / Chartered Legal Executive with the practising rights and authorisations required for the role

• Authorised to carry on the reserved legal activities essential to the role

• Substantial practical experience of private family law

• Strong experience of private children and financial remedy matters

• Confidence managing a varied and complex caseload 

• Strong technical knowledge and practical judgement

• A strong billing history and clear understanding of the commercial requirements of private family work

• Excellent client-care, communication and interpersonal skills

• Clear, accurate and persuasive drafting

• Confidence negotiating and handling sensitive matters

• Strong file management, time recording and financial discipline

• Confidence using case management systems and Microsoft Office

• Leadership potential and, where applicable, experience supervising and developing colleagues

• A collaborative approach and willingness to share knowledge

• Genuine interest in networking, marketing and business development

• Ambition to build a sustainable local practice and team

• Commitment to the firm’s values, culture and long-term growth

What’s On Offer

• The opportunity to establish, develop and lead a new office in an agreed location

• The backing of an established, specialist private family law brand with a strong reputation

• Central administrative, compliance and operational support

• Central marketing and business development support

• Access to colleagues across existing offices with different areas of experience and strengths

• Open to discussions on salary and bonus (depending on experience)

• Full-time or part-time considered

• Flexible start and finish times where operationally possible

• Potential for agreed homeworking arrangements (subject to client, team and business requirements)

• Regular file reviews and constructive professional support

• Opportunity to recruit, supervise and develop a local team

• Genuine long-term progression opportunities

• Potential eligibility for a discretionary bonus scheme (subject to eligibility)

• Paid birthday day off (in addition to annual leave)

• Christmas office closure (in addition to annual leave)

• Opportunity to accrue additional annual leave with length of service

• Workplace pension

• Death-in-service cover

• Health cash plan, including access to a remote doctor

• Discretionary rewards recognising individual achievements

• Inclusive staff and family social events

Working Arrangements

The location and development plan for the new office will be agreed with the successful candidate, taking account of your existing network and local knowledge, local demand for specialist private family services, and the commercial viability and growth potential of the proposed location.

As this is an office establishment and leadership role, you will be expected to maintain an appropriate physical presence in the agreed location, particularly during the office’s initial development and when recruiting or supervising colleagues.

Home working days can be discussed for work suited to focused remote working, such as drafting and file preparation, subject to client, team and business requirements.

Next Steps

Apply online or send your CV to  lee.hawthorne-finch@h-fts.com  or call 0333 996 2882 for more information.

All applications are handled in the strictest confidence. We will always obtain your express permission before sharing your details with our client.

Employment Law Head of Department/ Legal Director

Location: Leeds (Hybrid, min 3 days per week in the office)

Salary: Up to £70,000 plus bonus and benefits

Experience: 8+ years’ PQE (senior candidates considered)

If you are an employment solicitor who enjoys building something, this is a rare chance to take ownership of an employment offering and grow it into a recognised team.

Our client is looking to recruit an Employment Solicitor at Head of Department or Director level into its Leeds office. The firm receives a consistent volume of employment enquiries, but does not currently have an in-house employment specialist, so this hire will play a central role in shaping the service, developing internal relationships and building a pipeline of work.

This is a leadership hire for someone who is comfortable combining high-quality employment law advice with business development and team-building. You will have the autonomy to set direction, create practical processes, and develop the firm’s employment proposition, while still maintaining your own caseload.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Leading the development of the firm’s employment law offering in Leeds

• Managing a varied employment caseload for employer and employee clients

• Advising on day-to-day HR matters, contracts and policies

• Supporting on restructures, redundancies and organisational change projects

• Advising on grievances, disciplinaries and performance management issues

• Drafting and negotiating settlement agreements

• Handling Employment Tribunal claims and contentious employment disputes

• Working closely with colleagues across other departments to support cross-referrals and joined-up advice

• Building relationships with referrers and generating new instructions through business development

• Creating and improving templates, precedents and processes to support consistent delivery

• Recruiting, supervising and developing team members as the department grows

What We’re Looking For

• Qualified Solicitor in England & Wales

• Ideally 8+ years’ PQE in employment law (senior candidates considered)

• Comfortable working with autonomy and taking ownership of a service line

• Strong technical ability across contentious and non-contentious employment work

• Commercial, pragmatic approach and confident client handling

• Proven interest in business development and relationship building

• Leadership mindset, with the ability to mentor and develop others over time

What’s On Offer

• Salary up to £70,000 plus bonus and benefits

• A genuine opportunity to build and lead an employment team

• Strong existing enquiry flow to help you establish momentum

• Supportive leadership and the ability to shape the role around your strengths

• Clear scope to develop a long-term career in a senior position

Working Arrangements

This is a full-time or part-time, permanent role based in Leeds. The expectation is a minimum of 3 days per week in the office.

Next Steps (How to Apply)

Apply online or send your CV to  lee.hawthorne-finch@h-fts.com  or call 0333 996 2882 for more information.

All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence. We will always obtain your express permission before sharing your details with our client.

Audit Manager

Location: Doncaster Area

Salary: £50,000 – £62,000 + Partnership Pathway & Benefits

Are you an experienced Audit Senior or Assistant Manager looking for full portfolio ownership, direct Partner mentorship, and a clear, defined path toward Senior Manager and Partnership? Our client is a leading, multi-office accountancy practice with an established presence in the Doncaster area. Known for their forward-thinking client service, high audit standards, and supportive team culture, they are seeking an ambitious Audit Manager to lead their expanding assurance function across South Yorkshire.

The Opportunity

In this key leadership role, you will take direct responsibility for managing a diverse and high-calibre client portfolio—ranging from dynamic SMEs and corporate groups to complex regional businesses. Working closely with Partners, you will lead audit engagements from planning through to completion, ensuring regulatory compliance while serving as the primary commercial contact for your clients. This position offers real strategic input into practice growth, cross-selling initiatives, and the development of high-performing audit teams.

Key Responsibilities & Requirements

• Qualifications & Experience: ACA or ACCA qualified (or equivalent) with 5+ years’ UK accountancy practice experience, including significant post-qualification audit management exposure.

• Technical Mastery: In-depth knowledge of UK GAAP (FRS 102), IFRS, and International Standards on Auditing (ISAs), with a proven track record of managing and reviewing complex audit assignments.

• Portfolio & Client Management: Proven ability to manage a profitable client portfolio, serve as a trusted business advisor, and support Partners with tenders, service development, and cross-selling.

• Leadership & Coaching: Experience leading on-site audit teams, conducting file reviews, and actively mentoring trainees and qualified staff to foster professional growth.

Package & Benefits

• Base Salary & Bonus: £50,000 – £62,000 per annum (dependent on experience and track record, aligned with South Yorkshire market rates), plus a performance-related bonus scheme.

• Work-Life Balance: Supported hybrid working arrangements combining modern Doncaster office workspace, remote flexibility, and manageable regional client travel.

• Career Progression: Transparent, structured pathways toward Senior Manager and Associate Director/Partner levels, backed by funded ongoing leadership training.

• Health & Wellbeing: Comprehensive health cover, pension scheme, life assurance, generous annual leave allowance, and employee assistance programmes.

How to Apply

To explore this opportunity in confidence and discuss next steps, please contact David Hawthorne-Finch directly at d.hawthorne-finch@h-fts.com.

Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions is acting as an employment agency for this vacancy. All applications and enquiries are treated with the strictest confidence.

Legal Assistant – Employment & Litigation

Location: York

Salary: £23,000 to £28,000

Experience: Previous legal / professional services experience preferred (but not essential)

If you are great with people, brilliant with detail and confident with technology, this could be a brilliant next step. This is a busy, hands-on Legal Assistant role supporting an Employment and Litigation team, where you will help keep matters moving and make a real difference to the client experience.

Our client is looking for someone organised, proactive and digitally confident, with strong admin skills and the ability to juggle priorities. Experience in a legal, compliance or professional services environment is helpful, but the team is equally open to strong transferable skills and the right attitude.

This is more than a paperwork role. You will be the person who keeps files in order, supports fee earners day to day and helps ensure clients feel looked after from first enquiry through to completion. You will gain exposure to Employment and Litigation work, build confidence with digital case management systems and develop your skills in a supportive team environment.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Supporting clients from initial enquiry through to completion of their matter

• Managing digital files, document production and document management

• Assisting with client onboarding and compliance checks

• Preparing correspondence, documents and case-related financial records

• Supporting fee earners with diary management and day-to-day admin tasks

• Assisting with basic legal research and casework support as required

• Working collaboratively with colleagues to meet deadlines and maintain accurate records

What We’re Looking For

• Strong admin and organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise and manage competing tasks

• Confident IT skills, including Microsoft Word and Excel, and willingness to learn new systems

• High attention to detail and pride in accuracy and getting things right first time

• Clear, professional communication style with empathy and discretion

• A proactive approach, using initiative while knowing when to ask for guidance

• Experience in a legal, compliance or professional services environment is desirable but not essential

What’s On Offer

• Salary of £23,000 to £28,000

• A supportive team environment where your contribution is valued

• Exposure to Employment and Litigation work and the chance to broaden your experience

• Training and development opportunities to build confidence and capability

Working Arrangements

Full-time role based in York.

Next Steps (How to Apply)

Apply online or send your CV to  lee.hawthorne-finch@h-fts.com  or call 0333 996 2882 for more information.

All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence. We will always obtain your express permission before sharing your details with our client.