Commercial Litigation Associate Solicitor (with insolvency experience) (2-4 years PQE) – Dispute Resolution Team

Our highly regarded commercial litigation team is described in the Legal 500 directory as “having a really strong litigation team, and experience managing sensitive large-scale proceedings with a keen eye on the client's best interest. They are also, frankly, lovely people to deal with”. The team acts on a wide range of high quality litigation matters including general contract and director/shareholder disputes. The team have extensive non-contentious advisory work and contentious insolvency disputes work, and often handles work referred from London and national practices where they are conflicted and has an extensive roster of Insolvency Practitioner clients.

We are seeking a talented and commercially minded Commercial Litigation Associate Solicitor with strong insolvency experience to join our growing Dispute Resolution team. The successful candidate will advise a broad range of clients, including owner-managed businesses, SMEs, large corporates, directors, shareholders and high-net-worth individuals, on a variety of complex and high-value disputes.

Job Specification

Position: Commercial Litigation Associate Solicitor (with insolvency experience) – 2- 4 years PQE
Department: Dispute Resolution
Location: St Albans

Company Overview

At Debenhams Ottaway we are passionate about delivering high quality services for the clients we work with. Our people are experts in their field, and we pride ourselves on providing professional, trustworthy and reliable advice. We understand that in order to do that, we need great people.

Set in the heart of St Albans, Hertfordshire we have built a reputation for providing outstanding services and supporting a variety of clients from high profile businesses, local individuals and families throughout the region and further afield. Our people are the key to our success and have created an inclusive, friendly and warm working environment. We strongly believe in developing them, by providing challenging work, support and structured development. With growth on the horizon for us, it is an exciting time to join our firm!

Key Areas 

The successful candidate will be involved in all areas of contract disputes, director shareholder disputes, banking disputes and will also be involved in all aspects of insolvency.

Activities will be varied and will include, but are not limited to the following:

• Dealing with new client enquiries
• Drafting correspondence, claim forms, particulars of claim, defences, witness statements and settlement agreements
• Handling all aspects of general contract claims and director/shareholder disputes
• Handling all aspects of corporate insolvency including administration appointments (both in court and out of court appointments), all court applications under insolvency legislation, providing advice to IPs, secured lenders and directors
• Dealing with all aspects regarding property related transactions in insolvency, personal insolvency and insolvency related litigation
• Handling fast and multi-track claims from instruction to conclusion
• Assisting a Partner with larger multi-track claims
• Conducting legal research and preparing advice for clients
• Maintain control of an allocated caseload to ensure that standards of matter conduct, file management, administration, time-recording and accounting are maintained at all times
• Recognise the importance of cross selling and identify opportunities to refer work to other teams
• Supporting business development, networking and marketing initiatives
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines effectively

Skills and Attributes 

• A minimum of 2 years PQE experience in commercial litigation
• Strong insolvency experience
• A commercial and pragmatic attitude to the resolution of disputes
• Adopts a client-centered focus at all times taking responsibility for the level of client service in they provide and proactive steps to maximize and improve client relationships
• Effective written and oral communication skills
• Excellent attention to detail
• A can-do, motivated and positive attitude
• Committed to delivering exceptional client service
• High IT literacy