Job Description

Birketts is a full service, UK Top 50 law firm. With a heritage spanning 160 years, we have more than 700 lawyers and legal professionals based in Bristol, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Ipswich, London, Norwich and Sevenoaks. We advise businesses, government and public sector organisations and individuals in the UK and internationally across four principal practice groups: Real Estate, Corporate Services, Dispute Resolution and Private Client.
We are defined by our Next Level Law proposition. We work with our clients as a proactive partner, horizon scanning and thinking ahead to the changes, challenges or opportunities that they may face.
Next Level Law is also applied to our people. Our collegiate culture means everyone is encouraged to achieve their next level in everything they do. RollOnFriday recently ranked us as the 5th best law firm to work at in 2024.
With our ambition to succeed, comes a strong desire to make a positive contribution to the communities we serve, and we are committed to delivering the objectives set out in our ESG strategy. Diversity plays an integral part in all that we do, with female partners comprising 40% of our partnership.
The department
You will join a highly successful, leading Corporate team who are seeing substantial growth, resulting in the need for extra resource to take forward ambitious plans for the future, particularly in its newer Bristol office.
You will form part of a nationally recognised and highly regarded Corporate team, comprising approximately 50 fee earners and 20 partners, many of whom are recommended in the latest Legal 500 rankings, often in the Hall of Fame category. Our teams size and expertise mean we advise clients at different stages of the business life cycle from start-ups to large corporates, on matters such as mergers and acquisitions, buy-outs and buy-ins, development capital fundraisings, to refinancings and exits.
We also have extensive experience in international corporate deals, collaborating with a range of overseas law firms on cross-border transactions.
The Corporate team includes specialist private equity, venture capital and incentives/EOT sub teams, and also benefits from working closely with other service lines in the Corporate division, such as Banking & Finance, Corporate Tax, Company Secretarial and Competition.
Purpose of job
We are looking for a 2 - 5 year PQE Solicitor or Associate to cover a broad range of work across the Corporate team. The right candidate will be excited by the chance to contribute to the growth of the entire Corporate team and the opportunities this will present for their own development and progression.
Work includes assisting the team to advise clients on acquisitions, mergers and disposals of companies and businesses, transactions for investors, and many international transactions.
You will be assisting with all aspects of drafting and negotiation of legal documents and advising clients in a supportive and collaborative environment, under the supervision of partners in the team.
Accountabilities
Your work would include:

• Drafting, negotiating and agreeing documentation for corporate transactions
• Providing support to the partners and fee-earners in the whole team
• Managing your own transactions and files
• Interacting directly with clients
• Attending meetings with clients and other lawyers
• Attending business development events and pursuing opportunities
• Providing an efficient and friendly service to clients

The candidate
To excel in this role, you must possess strong attention to detail, ensuring that all work and documentation are consistently of the highest standard. A flexible approach to work is essential to meet client deadlines and maintain regular, consistent communication with clients. Additionally, an interest in and aptitude for business development is vital.
Candidates with good quality experience in corporate law and M&A transactions would be suitable for this role; one that comes with significant opportunities for promotion and career progression.
Equal opportunities
At Birketts, our culture is driven by ambition and a commitment to positively impact all the communities we serve. We are dedicated to the success, development, and wellbeing of our colleagues, helping them achieve their goals and seize the opportunities that come with our growth. Alongside a flexible and inclusive work environment, we offer the following core benefits:

• 25 days holiday (FTE) plus Bank Holidays (rising to 30 days)
• Long Service holiday award 1 extra week every 10 years continuous service
• Private Healthcare with BUPA (offered after probation is passed)
• Scottish Widows Pension Scheme (5% employer / 5% Employee)
• Staff Profit Share and Individual Performance Bonus Scheme
• Salary sacrifice (Pensions, Staff Profit Share)
• Life Assurance - 4 x salary / Permanent Health Insurance
• Paid CSR Day
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Leave
• Subsidised gym membership
• Electric car scheme
• Agile/Hybrid Working Policy
• Dress for your Day Policy

Birketts is a flexible business which has embraced a hybrid working model where our colleagues enjoy a mix of home and office working. We welcome applications from people looking for flexible, agile, and part-time roles and we are happy to explore your preferred working patterns as part of your application.
Please note that this job profile is not an exhaustive list of duties but merely an outline of the key components of the role. You may be required by your line manager to take on additional responsibilities when requested.
Birketts is committed to being an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our policy is unequivocal: we do not tolerate discrimination based on age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, or sexual orientation.
We pride ourselves on being an inclusive organisation that actively promotes equality of opportunity for all, valuing the right mix of talent, skills, and potential. We welcome applications from a diverse range of candidates, and selection for roles is based solely on individual merit.