Associate, Speciality, 2+ PQE

Kennedys is seeking a driven Associate with 2+ years' PQE to join its Speciality team in Sheffield. The team handles sensitive and complex negligence, public liability and employers' liability claims for public sector bodies, private organisations and their insurers.

The role offers the opportunity to manage a diverse defendant caseload while working within a national specialist personal injury practice. The successful candidate will receive hands-on mentoring, professional development and opportunities for career progression.

The Role

The Associate will manage a varied caseload of defendant litigation, dealing with complex claims for a diverse client base.

The work involves sensitive and potentially high-value matters across negligence, public liability and employers' liability. The successful candidate will be expected to manage cases with increasing autonomy while maintaining a high standard of client service and legal work.

The role provides exposure to a broad range of specialist claims, including matters involving public sector organisations, private businesses, insurers and large self-insured organisations.

Clients

The team acts for a diverse range of clients, including:

• Public sector organisations

• Private sector businesses

• Large self-insured organisations

• Insurers

• Religious organisations

• Charities

The role therefore provides experience of advising different types of defendant clients and dealing with claims arising in a variety of contexts.

Casework

The Speciality team handles a broad range of complex defendant claims, including:

• Abuse claims

• Human Rights Act claims

• Highways claims

• Tree-related claims

• Housing disrepair claims

• Employers' liability claims

• Occupiers' liability claims

• Stress claims

• Data breach claims

The work involves dealing with sensitive factual circumstances and complex legal issues, requiring careful case management, sound analysis and effective communication with clients and other parties.

Candidate Requirements

Applicants should have 2+ years' PQE with relevant defendant litigation experience, preferably including experience acting for public sector clients. Kennedys notes that the stated PQE level is a guideline and represents the experience normally expected to have been accumulated. Candidates with more or less experience are not precluded from applying where they can demonstrate the requisite skills and experience.

Candidates should demonstrate:

• Experience managing defendant litigation.

• The ability to manage a complex and varied caseload with minimal supervision.

• Excellent organisational skills.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• The ability to work collaboratively within a team.

• A strong commitment to client service.

• The ability to deal professionally with sensitive and complex claims.

Experience within the public sector liability market would be particularly relevant.

The Team

Kennedys' national practice delivers specialist personal injury services from seven offices across the UK. The practice handles complex, high-value and high-profile claims and is led by Partners recognised as market leaders in the field.

The team takes a pragmatic approach to litigation, focusing on solutions that move cases forward while maintaining high standards of legal and client service.

Kennedys also uses technology and process innovation to support the delivery of legal services, including its in-house research and development capability and data-driven tools.

Professional Development

Kennedys provides opportunities for lawyers to develop through on-the-job and experiential learning, peer-to-peer learning, mentoring and access to professional resources and tools.

The successful candidate will receive hands-on mentoring and have access to development opportunities designed to support long-term career progression.

Depending on the role and business requirements, Kennedys also provides opportunities for secondments to clients and its global offices.

Working Arrangements and Benefits

The position is based at Kennedys' Sheffield office at Ventana House, 2 Concourse Way, Sheaf Street, Sheffield, S1 2BJ.

The role is full-time, permanent and hybrid.

Benefits include:

• Hybrid working

• Flexible working hours

• Medical Services Package

• Life Cover

• Additional leave

• One shorter workday

• Multisport card

• Company library

• Relaxation area

• Integration meetings

Kennedys also supports an inclusive working environment and provides reasonable adjustments to candidates who require additional support during the recruitment process.

About Kennedys

Kennedys is a global law firm specialising in dispute resolution and advisory services. The firm has more than 3,000 people across 45 offices in 18 countries and has particular expertise in litigation and dispute resolution, including defending insurance and liability claims.

The firm works across both contentious and non-contentious matters and serves clients across a wide range of industry sectors.

Kennedys places emphasis on professional excellence, client service, collaboration and diversity, equity and inclusion.

Application

The position is based in Sheffield and is offered on a full-time, permanent and hybrid basis.

Salary: Competitive

Experience: 2+ PQE

Department: Liability Defence