Our client, a leading UK-based law firm, seeks an experienced and commercially minded Employment Lawyer to join their legal team on a 6-month contract. Based in London with hybrid working arrangements, this role will strongly emphasize contentious and advisory work (approx. 80%), with additional transactional support (20%).
This is a fantastic opportunity for a confident legal professional to make a significant impact across a wide range of employment law matters within a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
The successful candidate will take the lead on various employment-related legal issues, with a particular focus on litigation and dispute resolution. The role requires proven experience handling employment litigation, including Employment Tribunal and High Court claims, and delivering pragmatic legal advice across both contentious and non-contentious matters.
Location: London, UK
Start Date: ASAP
Contract Type: 6-Month Fixed Term
Key Responsibilities
Contentious & Advisory Work (80%)
* Advise on senior exits, settlement agreements, and breach of restrictive covenants.
* Support team move strategies and related legal risk management.
* Manage internal employment issues, including grievances, disciplinaries, and investigations.
* Draft and review employment contracts, bonus structures, policies, and employee handbooks.
* Guide redundancy, restructuring, TUPE processes, and business immigration matters.
* Advise on ad hoc legal queries, including gender pay gap reporting, holiday pay, and furlough schemes.
Litigation & Disputes
* Manage Employment Tribunal litigation, including claims of unfair dismissal, whistleblowing, and discrimination.
* Handle High Court disputes relating to team moves, breach of contract, and bonus claims.
* Lead internal investigations and provide strategic advice throughout the process.
* Counsel on industrial relations matters, including strike ballots, union engagement, and dispute resolution.
Training & Horizon Scanning
* Deliver internal training sessions on current and emerging employment law topics.
* Proactively track legal developments and assess implications for the business.
Transactional Support (20%)
* Provide employment law advice on corporate transactions, including M&A, executive exits, and IPOs.
* Support on commercial matters, such as outsourcing agreements and GDPR compliance.
* Advise on TUPE implications arising from real estate and commercial deals.
Key Requirements
* Qualified solicitor (England & Wales) with strong experience in employment law.
* Demonstrated expertise in both contentious (litigation) and advisory employment matters.
* Proven experience managing Employment Tribunal and High Court litigation (not limited to transactional support).
* Exceptional drafting, analytical, and communication skills.
* Ability to manage complex legal issues independently and deliver clear, strategic advice to stakeholders.
* Detail-oriented, proactive, and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment.
Desirable Experience
* Background in a hybrid legal role covering contentious, advisory, and transactional work.
* Familiarity with corporate, commercial, and real estate transactions from an employment law perspective.
* Awareness of current employment law trends, best practices, and regulatory developments.
About Elevate
Elevate provides consulting, technology, and services to law departments and law firms across the globe. Headquartered in Los Angeles, our 1,600+ strong team of legal professionals, lawyers, consultants, project managers, and engineers operates across the United States, Europe, the UK, and Asia, Hong Kong, and Australia.
ElevateFlex is the flexible resourcing capability within Elevate. We define and support a new flexible career within the legal industry. We match exceptional legal professionals to the evolving needs of our Customers through the curation of a world-class, global Community of Talent and advanced, technology-enabled search. We were recently proud to be assessed in Band 1 of the Chamber’s Global Flexible Legal Resourcing category.
Our Vision is a world where legal and business teams achieve incredible outcomes together.
Equitability and Inclusion are critical to ElevateFlex’s success. As The Law Company, changing the legal business landscape, we know a diverse, inclusive work culture is at the heart of attracting, retaining, and celebrating the industry’s most talented people. We empower our employees to bring their whole selves to work because we know that diversity of experience and perspective drives innovation and is simply good business.
As a strong proponent of diversity, equity, and inclusion, ElevateFlex is committed to hiring diverse candidates from all backgrounds. We invite you to apply to become part of the ElevateFlex Team – help us change the legal business landscape and make a dent in the legal universe.