Corporate Senior Associate

Job title

Corporate Senior Associate

Department

Business Services – Corporate

About Higgs

Our vision is to be the independent regional law firm of choice, recognised for having a positive long-term impact upon its people, its clients, its business partners and its community.

When it comes to our people, the team is everything at Higgs – an environment of sharing and collaboration, and a real sense of loyalty to each other and the firm.  That is coupled with a desire for everyone to learn and develop.  We are always striving to be better.  We enjoy what we do. We are genuinely interested in our clients and want them to feel a part of the firm too.

Our approach to our people draws on enjoyment, health & wellbeing, developing talent, technical excellence, training, reward and recognition.

When recruiting, we:

• Value enthusiasm and personality
• Want to be an employer of choice for talented, driven and client-focused people
• Are always looking for the very best to strengthen our team and bring new skills and ideas
• Integrate new people to realise their potential

With over two hundred employees and Members we offer a flexible and unique environment for people to grow their careers. Together we grow.

Role Purpose

We are looking for a senior transactional lawyer to join our award-winning Corporate Team which is part of the wider Business Services Department. The team is well known for being one of the most active M&A legal advisers in the region and testimonials from clients have highlighted how “experienced, knowledgeable and commercially focused” it is.

Advising corporates and OMBs on all manner of corporate transactions including disposals, acquisitions, private equity/venture capital, seed investment and general fundraising there is an exciting breadth of work. We are proactive in the tech and high-growth companies space, working with founders and investment funds from their genesis to scale-up and exit. The team is proud of its Tier 1 ranking in L500 and is one of the largest core corporate teams in the region. We are seeking to grow the team even further and are looking for an experienced transactional lawyer to join us. This is an exciting opportunity to join one of the most dynamic, energetic and successful teams in the region and work with the likes of The Old Station Nursery Ltd, Palletline, AF Blakemore, Servosteel and many more fascinating clients.

Legal skills

The candidate requires rounded general corporate transactional experience and should be very familiar with all legal aspects of deal processes from Head of Terms through to Completion.

More specifically the candidate should have the ability to:

• lead on lower value transactions with minimal partner support; 

• provide assistance to the partners on more complicated/higher value transactions; 

• draft and negotiate Sale & Purchase Agreements and secondary documentation subject to partner supervision as required; 

• project manage and liaise with an internal team of specialist support lawyers; 

• co-ordinate and supervise the due diligence and disclosure process with junior support as required; and 

• to lead and supervise juniors with the ancillary documentation process. 

Person specification

• Proactive approach to direct client contact and participate in client development initiatives
• Commercial approach to targets
• Supervise and encourage early talent
• The ability to project manage and co-ordinate internal teams
• Personal effectiveness, self-management and keen to take the initiative
• Good communication, organisational and team skills
• High attention to detail and commitment to work to tight deadlines
• Conscientious, approachable and enthusiastic
• Able to quickly build confidence, respect and trust with others

Other information

The firm offers hybrid working wherever possible. Our Higgs’ Best FIT (flexible, inclusive, together) principles are designed to ensure that people are able to complete their best work from the most appropriate location.

We also encourage a ‘dress for your diary’ approach.

Equal opportunities

As charter signatories to The Law Society’s Diversity and Inclusion Charter, Higgs LLP are committed to developing a diverse business by engaging with the widest pool of talent and promoting equality of opportunity for everyone. Our mission is to ensure that everyone is empowered to be the best version of themselves and to have a voice which can be shared, heard and respected.