Legal Director – Employment

Overview

As Legal Director in DWF’s national Employment team, you will oversee a broad, high-quality employment practice across sectors, shaping strategy and client relationships while supporting growth of the team. You will handle complex matters, including TUPE, reorganisations, and transactions, and lead on litigation and advisory work for employer clients. The role offers cross-team collaboration, opportunities in business development, and a pathway to develop junior lawyers in a collegiate, inclusive culture. You’ll work with HR professionals and senior stakeholders to deliver commercially focused, practical employment law solutions that scale internationally.

Responsibilities

• Manage a complex caseload of contentious and non-contentious employment matters with strategic, commercial advice
• Advise on TUPE, business reorganisations, senior exits, contracts, policies and high-risk employee relations issues
• Lead employment law support for corporate transactions (M&A, reorganisations)
• Own complex Employment Tribunal claims, oversee litigation strategy, and advocate when appropriate
• Build and maintain strong client relationships, acting as trusted adviser and spotting growth opportunities
• Drive business development: networking, pitching, cross-selling, thought leadership, winning new work
• Contribute to strategic growth of the Employment practice and client growth initiatives
• Supervise, mentor and develop junior lawyers and foster a collaborative team culture
• Collaborate with colleagues across Employment, Pensions, and wider legal teams to deliver seamless client service
• Drive excellence in client service delivery and maintain high technical standards

Key requirements

• Qualified Solicitor with significant Employment Law experience in a national/international or well-regarded regional practice
• Strong track record providing practical, commercial, strategic advice to employers
• Experience advising on TUPE, reorganisations, and employment aspects of corporate transactions/M&A
• Proven ability to build and manage key client relationships and accounts
• Involvement in business development: networking, pitching, cross-selling, winning new work
• Experience supervising and developing junior lawyers and contributing to team growth
• Tribunal experience and ability to manage complex disputes from inception to resolution
• Excellent negotiation, drafting and advocacy skills
• Strong commercial awareness and ability to identify risks and opportunities for clients
• Excellent organisational skills and ability to manage competing priorities
• Collaborative leadership style and commitment to an inclusive team culture

• relationship-building
• business development
• mentoring and leadership
• Employment Law
• TUPE
• M&A employment issues

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