Employment Solicitor

Kennedys is an international law firm with expertise in litigation and dispute resolution, particularly in the insurance/reinsurance and liability industries. With over 1,700 people worldwide across 32 offices in the UK and Europe, Middle East, Asia Pacific and America, we have some of the most respected legal minds in their fields.

We act for insurers, reinsurers, Lloyd's Syndicates, public bodies, transport sector and corporates. Our deep sector knowledge means that we understand the impact of proposed regulations and advise our clients on the implications this will have on their business. Every day we make a difference for our clients.

Brief Description of Role:

Kennedys are looking for a lawyer to join the employment team within the Commercial Division. The role will be assisting the London employment team, working on a mix of contentious and non-contentious matters.

Candidates must have significant respondent employment litigation experience, preferably acting for employers with unionised workforces. Experience in acting for transport-sector clients and defending employment practices liability claims on behalf of insurers is desired but not essential. Successful candidates will be required to run their own caseload and assist on higher value/complex cases.

We are looking for candidates who are team players, who can develop and maintain excellent client relationships and who are keen to be involved in marketing/business development and client training activities.

Team Information:

Our busy London employment team is ranked in the Legal 500 and Chambers directories. We have particular renown for acting in litigation and industrial relations issues. We provide a full service across the spectrum of employment issues, both contentious and non-contentious. We act for well-known transport sector clients with heavily unionised workforces and are instructed by major insurance companies to defend claims on behalf of their insured businesses. We represent clients across the England, Wales and Scotland.

Type of Clients:

• Transport sector
• Insurance companies
• Commercial enterprises

Type of Cases:

Respondent employment claims ranging in value and complexity covering the full range of employment disputes. The vast majority are litigated in the employment tribunal although we also act in civil claims.

Non contentious advisory matters ranging from day-to-day ad hoc advice to client HR teams to complex TUPE and collective redundancy situations.

Requirements:

Qualifications:

Essential:

• UK Qualified Solicitor, Foreign Qualified or CILEX qualified with the relevant experience.
• Strong Academics (2.1 or higher degree) or equivalent.

Experience:

Essential:

• 2-5 years' respondent employment experience *
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of employment law in England & Wales
• Significant experience and knowledge of employment tribunal processes and procedures
• Non-contentious employment experience
• Running own caseload
• Methodical and organised approach to file management and MI

Desirable:

• Acting for respondent clients with unionised workforces
• Defending employment practices liability claims on behalf of insurers
• Involvement with business development activities including article writing

Skills and Abilities:

Essential:

• Ability to apply a commercial approach to claims in order to deliver economic solutions.
• To be proactive and take initiative.
• Strong communication skills both verbal and written.
• Strong analytical skills and forensic approach.
• Ability to manage own time, excellent organisation skills.
• Strong technical and research skills.
• Attention to detail

*Where a level of experience is indicated, this is a guideline only and represents the amount of time we would usually expect a candidate to accumulate the requisite level of experience. This does not preclude applications from candidates with more or less experience.

Please see attached Job Description for further information.