Associate

DMH Stallard is an award winning South East law Legal 100 firm with offices in London Brighton Gatwick Guilford Horsham and Hassocks. DMH Stallard has grown rapidly since it was established in 1970 and has a headcount of approx 380. Our firm provides a comprehensive range of commercial dispute resolution and litigation employment cyber security and cybercrime corporate intellectual property real estate and technology media and telecoms advice to both businesses and clients our people and our professional networks are the keys to our success.

Our Dispute Resolution Team handle all manner of disputes from corporate and commercial matters to debt recovery insolvency technology media telecoms and personal injury.

Job Purpose:

• We are looking for an Associate Solicitor 25 years PQE) to join the Regional Dispute Resolution Group based in Brighton.
• The individual is expected to develop good working relationships with clients and other team members.
• The successful candidate will undertake a variety of commercial dispute resolution work which is likely to include banking and finance litigation commercial and contractual disputes negligence claims including professional negligence shareholder disputes defamation judicial review and contentious insolvency.
• To be responsible under supervision for own caseload of work and own fee targets but also assisting where called upon to work with other members of the Group.
• To achieve the targets as defined by the Head of Department including targets for billing matter related time recording and fees.

Responsibilities and Duties:

Personal

• Attend the Matrix training programme and other relevant technical training to ensure that skills and knowledge remain uptodate.
• To promote the vision and culture of the Firm.
• To maintain a culture where individuals are encouraged to identify problems or mistakes and are encouraged to speak up to ensure issues are resolved.
• Continuously develop their own technical expertise.
• When appropriate lead a project or initiative.
• To coach the more junior Team members and lead by example to ensure a consistent and uniform approach to client care and the management of client expectations.
• Supervise members of the team who are assisting on projects or matters.
• To share knowledge and experience with other members of the group informally and through formal training if required.
• Annually participate in PDP/objective meetings forwarding a copy to HR.

Legal

• Be responsible subject to supervision for dealing with client matters on a day to day basis ensuring that client matters are progressed in an effective way time limits are met files are kept in good order and the firms systems and procedures are implemented and followed.
• Have responsibility for ensuring support to all members of the team and as appropriate the wider Department in dealing with feeearning business development and administration.

Financial

• To be responsible for ensuring achievement of own key financial targets including fees contribution and payment of debts and disbursements.
• To monitor own performance in relation to the number of live files file closures file openings billing time recording and to take appropriate action to ensure targets are met.
• Maintain accurate information on Case Manager and The Intranet.
• Scope all matters appropriately including use of budget templates delivering work on time and on budget.

Business Development

• A desire to be involved in business development activities operated by the Group is desired and to have an interest in and understanding of the market in which dispute resolution lawyers operate the various charging models which can be applied and the competitive challenges which dispute resolution lawyers face.
• Attend seminars and other events as required for business development purposes presenting when appropriate.
• Maintain awareness of the legal market specifically relating to dispute resolution.
• To have a detailed understanding of the strategic and commercial issues that affect the Team and Groups performance.
• Contribute to Business Development initiatives by gathering marketing information on clients and prospects supporting seminars writing articles helping gather information for pitches and reading appropriate trade papers.

Risk

• Conforming to the risk management procedures as stated by the firm.
• To be fully familiar with the Money Laundering and FSMA Policies and Procedures and to ensure full compliance with them.
• Attend regular meetings with the team to review all current work and workloads.

Knowledge Skills and Experience Required

Legal

• Solid experience of commercial dispute resolution work.
• A good understanding of contractual and tortious principles and remedies.
• A good understanding of the Civil Procedure Rules.
• A commercial pragmatic and not overly academic approach. This is equally as important as technical ability.
• Previous experience of working closely with clients and acting as their legal advisor.

Business Development & Client Care

• Experience of managing and developing client relationships.
• A willingness to contribute to business development is preferred.
• Understanding the importance of client care with an ability to deal with a wide range of clients with differing objectives including being able to understand the commercial objectives of the client.

Personal

• Able to effectively manage their time to achieve client and internal deadlines.
• Able to work within a team and delegate tasks as appropriate and support Partners as appropriate.
• Confident Excel skills sufficient to enable the reviewing of relevant matters.
• Competent IT skills including Outlook Word Digital Dictation and Aderant/iManage.
• Ability to draft documentation with attention to detail.
• Understanding of the strategy and vision of the firm.

Benefits:

• 25 days holiday (of which 3.5 are taken during the Christmas period) plus Birthday holiday plus Bank Holidays.
• Life Assurance
• Private Healthcare
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Sodexo Discounts
• Pension Scheme
• Interest free season ticket loans
• Cycle to work scheme
• Discounts on Legal work