Job Description

Insolvency Associate

Salary: £55,000 - £75,000 + Bonus

Location: Manchester (hybrid/flexible working)

Experience: 4+ Years PQE

Join a Leading City Firm's Expanding Insolvency Practice

Are you an ambitious insolvency lawyer looking to join a City-led international firm with a thriving Manchester practice? Our client is seeking an experienced Insolvency Associate with transactional, advisory and contentious restructuring experience to join their cross-office Insolvency team. This is your opportunity to work on high-quality restructuring and insolvency matters whilst developing your technical expertise, client management and profile-raising skills in a collaborative, supportive environment.

About the Role

As an Insolvency Associate, you'll join the Manchester team and work with the cross-office Insolvency team, supporting both non-contentious restructuring and insolvency litigation work. You'll be encouraged to think beyond the law and into the commercial, whilst being empowered to take ownership over your marketing efforts and build your professional profile.

You'll be well supported at partner level and by other fee-earners not just in your immediate team but throughout the whole department, working collaboratively to deliver the best solutions for clients.

Your Responsibilities Will Include:

• Advisory Work: Advising office holders, directors, lenders and other stakeholders on restructuring and insolvency issues

• Distressed Transactions: Acting for office holders and buyers on distressed business and asset sales

• Insolvency Litigation: Undertaking insolvency litigation including breach of duty, transactions at undervalue and other claims

• Caseload Management: Handling own caseload (subject to supervision) and managing files efficiently and cost-effectively

• Complex Matters: Assisting partners and senior lawyers with more substantial matters including distressed transactions and insolvency litigation

• Client Relationship Management: Building and maintaining effective client relationships, particularly with referrers of work such as national accountancy and insolvency practitioners

• Business Development: Participating in marketing initiatives, including client training days, seminars, contributions to the quarterly insolvency newsletter and other business development activities

• Compliance: Ensuring files are managed in compliance with Lexcel procedures

• Professional Development: Participating in firm-wide and departmental training sessions

• Target Management: Meeting agreed targets and managing time and billing efficiently

This role offers genuine variety across both contentious and non-contentious restructuring and insolvency matters, with excellent opportunities for career development and client-facing work.

About You

Essential Requirements:

• Qualified solicitor with at least 4 years' post-qualification experience

• Contentious and/or non-contentious experience in a broad range of insolvency and restructuring matters

• Proven ability to take on responsibility and manage files independently where appropriate

• Strong client focus and commitment to service delivery

• Excellent technical knowledge across restructuring and insolvency law

• Drive and enthusiasm with a genuine passion for the practice area

• Flexibility and a can-do attitude

• Strong commercial mindset with the ability to provide pragmatic solutions

• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills

Desirable Attributes:

• Experience advising office holders, directors and lenders on complex restructuring matters

• Track record in distressed business and asset sales

• Insolvency litigation experience including breach of duty and undervalue transaction claims

• Established relationships with national accountancy and insolvency practitioners

• Demonstrable business development success or client following

• Experience contributing to marketing initiatives and thought leadership

What's On Offer

Competitive Remuneration Package:

• Salary: £55,000 - £75,000 (dependent on experience)

• Performance-related bonus

• Comprehensive benefits package

Career Development:

• Career Development Framework setting out clear competencies and progression pathways

• Excellent support from partners and senior lawyers across the cross-office team

• Opportunity to take ownership over marketing efforts and profile-raising

• Empowerment to bring your ideas, experiences and expertise

• Firm-wide and departmental training sessions

• Collaborative working environment with support throughout the whole department

Professional Environment:

• Work with a City-led international firm with offices across the UK, Middle East and Asia

• Strategic partnership with Interlaw facilitating management of multi-jurisdictional matters

• Leading practices in Corporate, Litigation, Tax, Banking and Finance, Real Estate and Private Wealth

• Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

• Strategic direction shaped by ESG principles guiding firm-wide operations

About Our Client

Our client is a City-led, international and national law firm with over 170 partners and 1,000 staff, with offices across the UK, Middle East and Asia. Their global footprint is further enhanced by their strategic partnership with Interlaw which works to facilitate their management of multi-jurisdictional matters.

The firm has leading practices in Corporate, Litigation, Tax, Banking and Finance, Real Estate and Private Wealth, and is committed to delivering excellence whilst prioritising client satisfaction.

The firm has always been proud of its commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and values the variety of its partnership. They believe it is their people that make them unique, and they expect and respect that you and your talents are too. Their strategic direction is shaped by a desire to grow the business in a way that is responsible and sustainable, with the principles of ESG at its core.

Location & Working Arrangements

This role is based in Manchester, with the opportunity to work with the cross-office Insolvency team across the firm's UK offices. The firm offers modern office facilities with excellent transport links and a collaborative working environment.

How to Apply

If you're an ambitious Insolvency Associate with 4+ years PQE looking to join a leading City firm's expanding Manchester practice, with excellent support and genuine career development opportunities, we'd love to hear from you.

For a confidential discussion about this opportunity, please contact: Lee Hawthorne-Finch lee.hawthorne-finch@h-fts.com 0333 996 2882

Please submit your CV in confidence. All applications will be treated with the utmost discretion.

Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions is committed to ethical recruitment practices. We value transparency, integrity, and building trusted partnerships. All candidate information is treated confidentially, and we never share your details without your explicit consent.