Weightmans is a Top 45 law firm with offices throughout the UK. Having been recognised as the leading legal employer at the annual Britain's Top Employers awards 2021 and achieved record rankings in Chambers UK, we are immensely proud of the work we carry out for our clients and the culture we provide to our people.

The Department

Our national Commercial team works with a wide range of clients both private and public. We provide a comprehensive range of commercial services encompassing commercial contracts, intellectual property, data protection, competition, procurement and state aid, and strategically supporting supply chain management. Our clients are in various sectors such as retail, transport and logistics, media, pharmaceutical, insurance and technology and, within the public sector, universities, police forces and local authorities. We advise on a variety of contracts from day-to-day business relationships up to major projects, and have expertise in IT contracts, joint ventures, collaboration and partnership agreements, public-private projects, agency and distribution agreements, supply chain agreements and franchising.

The role

The Legal Director role will showcase the Firm’s commitment to the development of our technical legal expertise and commercial acumen to enhance our offering to clients for commercial work.

This role can be located in Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Birmingham or London 

Key Responsibilities

• To advise and support clients on all matters relating to commercial law, including drafting, negotiating, and advising upon the risks connected with agreements in both the private and public sector
• To take a lead advisory role on all manner of commercial work including, but not limited to, general commercial, GDPR, data protection, tech, digital and IP/IT matters.
• Create and deliver excellent technical communications and advice to colleagues, clients and stakeholders
• To develop and build upon own case load of commercial matters
• Attend, manage and represent Clients or the Firm at required meetings
• Actively become involved in innovation and service delivery projects including AI
• Assist other lawyers in the team with their work as required including supervision of more junior lawyers
• To draft, review and negotiate a range of agreements
• To train, supervise and develop junior team members
• Ensure the Firm’s financial targets, metrics and practices are adhered to
• Comply with relevant policies and procedures
• Work in accordance with Weightmans’ values

This list is not intended to be exhaustive and you will be expected to perform other duties and have other responsibilities that fall within the wider remit of the role.

The person specification

• 8years+ PQE with a good grounding in commercial law
• An experienced lawyer with proven experience in all aspects of commercial work in particular drafting and negotiating supply, services, consultancy, agency, franchising, outsourcing and general commercial contracts and advising on how to manage associated risks
• Experience of GDPR, data protection, IP/IT, tech, digital drafting and advice
• High level of commercial awareness with strong attention to detail and good drafting skills
• Our Legal Directors are more focused on fee earning work and ‘black letter law’ than our Partners and Principal Associates who focus more time on business development and networking
• Conscientious, self-motivated, hard working, responsive, with critical thinking abilities and excellent communication, organisation and analytical skills
• Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team within the national Commercial team supporting more senior and junior staff and across the wider firm on larger projects
• Methodical, organised, logical approach
• Passionate about operational excellence generating work opportunities through great service delivery and improving the client experience
• Ability to work to strict deadlines, tight timetables, targets and client protocols while maintaining high standards in terms of accuracy and quality
• Excellent drafting and research skills
• Excellent IT skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Excellent time management and organisation skills
• Ability to work to strict deadlines and targets
• Ability to work as part of a team and on own initiative
• Confident communicator with excellent interpersonal skills

Other Information

Please note:

• Any reference to experience or PQE in our adverts or job descriptions is to be used as a guideline only. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and with different levels of experience who can demonstrate that they fulfil the requirements of the role.

• The successful candidate appointed to this role will be subject to our standard background checking process, and any offer of employment made is conditional upon successful completion of those checks. Further details can be obtained from the Recruitment team.

• We're committed to diversity and inclusion and to creating an environment where everyone can reach their full potential.