Job Description

The role

This is an excellent opportunity for either a qualified Associate or Paralegal / Legal Executive with significant Debt recovery experience to join our debt collection litigation team, focusing on the recovery of the firm's debts.


You will bring proven expertise in contested debt recovery litigation, including Solicitors Act assessments, and demonstrate leadership in managing varied caseloads and supervising junior staff.


You will play a critical role in driving the team's performance in managing a portfolio of debt cases, supervising trainees and paralegals, ensuring regulatory compliance, and contributing to the firm's financial health through effective litigation and recovery strategies.


Main responsibilities

Matter intake -

Ensure all of the matters referred to the team have the relevant forms completed by the referring fee earner and the files have been correctly transferred to the debt collection team.

Strategic Case Management:

Lead a portfolio of debt recovery matters from pre-action through to enforcement.

Solicitors Act Expertise:

Conduct and advise on Solicitors Act assessments, ensuring compliance and strategic use in recovery proceedings.

Team Leadership:

Supervise junior legal staff, including trainees and paralegals, ensuring quality, consistency, and professional development.

Partner Collaboration:

Provide technical and administrative support to the designated partner overseeing debt recovery.

Reporting & Analysis:

Prepare monthly reports for the Partner, Chairman, and Head of Finance, summarising case progress, financial outcomes, and strategic insights.

Legal Drafting & Advocacy:

Draft documents including letters before action, claim forms, statements of case, application notices, witness statements, and court orders. Attend hearings and liaise with counsel; advocacy experience is advantageous.

Process Improvement:

Identify and implement efficiencies in collaboration with Finance and other departments to streamline workflows and enhance recovery outcomes.

Financial Oversight:

Manage the team's financial operations, including logging disbursements, allocating recovered funds, and resolving residual balances.

About you

You will be able to demonstrate:

Experience in debt recovery litigation, ideally within a law firm or professional services environment. Proven experience in Solicitors Act assessments and legal billing disputes. Familiarity with all forms of enforcement including the presentation and prosecution of bankruptcy and winding up petitions Strong leadership skills with experience of managing others. Ability to collaborate effectively with a wide range of senior stakeholders, include fee earners, business service functions and senior management. Confidence in handling client queries and reviewing case files. Excellent drafting, analytical, and organisational skills. Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver in a deadline driven environment.


At Howard Kennedy we believe that everyone deserves the space to thrive. We're committed to creating an inclusive recruitment experience that reflects the diversity of both our people and our clients.


We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and identities, and we're committed to ensuring that our recruitment process is fair, transparent, and accessible to all.


We understand that every candidate's needs are different If there's anything we can do to make your application journey more comfortable-- whether for interviews, assessments, or onboarding--please let us know. We'll work with you to remove any barriers and ensure our recruitment process is comfortable for you.


Contact our recruitment team at recruitment@howardkennedy.com to discuss any support you might need.

Agency Introductions

Please note that we are not accepting applications via agencies for this role at this time. Before sharing any named candidate CVs, please contact your recruitment representative. If any named CVs are sent from agencies without approval from our recruitment team, they will not be deemed valid introductions, and no agency fee will be paid.


About Us

With almost 200 lawyers in one location, we ensure our clients have the right team to help them get from where they are to where they want to be. We advise major corporates and institutions as well as entrepreneurial, ambitious enterprises which are often privately or family owned, or private equity backed. As well as our significant business law capability, we are one of only a few London-based law firms with a large private wealth offering. Our clients find our straightforward approach a compelling alternative to larger, less personal firms.


Whether you are an ambitious and talented individual wanting to hit the ground running from day one, or an established professional looking for a new opportunity, Howard Kennedy is the firm where you can really make it happen.


We have earned a strong reputation for our exceptional and uniquely talented people who between them deliver outstanding results for clients. In a firm of our size, our strong team dynamic creates a thriving culture of creativity and entrepreneurialism. Howard Kennedy is a pragmatic and non-hierarchical environment where success is shared, and you are proactively encouraged to thrive at your own pace.


Our distinctive culture is built on fairness and respect. Guided by the firm's values of talk straight, think smart and be yourself, everyone in the firm holds equal value, and everyone plays their role in supporting, encouraging and inspiring colleagues to do their best work.


At the same time, we recognise and reward individualism, celebrating the diversity of our people and supporting them to grow their practice and drive their own career advancement.


As well as client work, there is opportunity to broaden your horizons at the firm with fulfilling pro bono and charity projects. We have a regular social calendar full of wellbeing activities, charitable and social events too.




Benefits
Competitive salary 25 days annual holiday Permanent Health Insurance Life Assurance Interest free Season Ticket Loan Private Healthcare Pension Scheme Staff Introductory Scheme * Employee Assistance Programme