Lead/Senior Employment Solicitor

Lead / Senior Employment Solicitor
Location: Cardiff (hybrid working available)
Experience Level: 5+ PQE (or equivalent experience)
Salary: £60,000 - £70,000 (negotiable subject to desirable experience)

A growing, multi-disciplinary professional services group is seeking a Senior Employment Solicitor to join its legal team as the lead employment lawyer. The wider business brings together legal, corporate finance, tax and communications specialists to support clients across the full business lifecycle, from growth and investment to exit.

This is a key leadership role for an experienced employment practitioner who is looking for autonomy, influence and the opportunity to shape and grow an employment offering within an established advisory platform.
The successful candidate will act as the primary employment specialist within the legal team, working closely with colleagues across corporate, commercial and IP disciplines, and advising a diverse client base across multiple sectors.

Role Overview

You will advise across a broad spectrum of employment matters, combining contentious, non-contentious and transactional work. As the most senior employment lawyer in the team, you will play a pivotal role in developing the practice and supporting wider business growth, with scope to build a team over time.

Key areas of work include:

Managing Employment Tribunal matters
Advising on and drafting settlement agreements and structured exits
Leading TUPE processes in both business transfer and outsourcing contexts
Drafting and negotiating employment contracts, service agreements and HR policies
Advising in-house counsel clients alongside commercial and IP colleagues
Supporting corporate transactions with employment advice

This role will particularly suit someone who enjoys being a trusted adviser, working closely with clients, and influencing how an employment practice develops within a broader commercial environment.

Key Responsibilities

Employment Advisory & Documentation

Run Employment Tribunal matters independently from inception to conclusion
Draft, negotiate and advise on individual and collective settlement agreements
Advise on TUPE transfers, including due diligence, consultation and contractual provisions
Support clients through restructures, reorganisations and redundancy processes
Draft employment contracts, service agreements, handbooks and HR policies
Provide day-to-day employment advice on disciplinary, grievance, performance and absence issues
Ensure legal compliance and promote best practice

Corporate & Commercial Support

Work closely with the corporate team on employment aspects of M&A transactions
Undertake employment due diligence and prepare detailed reports
Collaborate with commercial and IP teams on reverse due diligence exercises

Practice Growth & Leadership

Act as the lead employment lawyer within the team
Build strong client relationships and contribute to business development
Monitor legislative developments and provide updates and guidance to clients
Participate in networking, seminars and thought leadership activities
Mentor junior lawyers and support the development of the wider team

Skills & Experience

Essential

Qualified solicitor with 5+ years' PQE in employment law
Proven experience running Employment Tribunal cases independently
Strong TUPE experience
Confidence advising on and drafting settlement agreements
Excellent drafting skills across contracts, policies and advisory materials
Commercially minded with strong client relationship skills
Ability to manage competing priorities autonomously

Desirable

Experience supporting corporate transactions
Interest in growing and shaping a practice area
Experience mentoring or supervising junior colleagues

Any experienced employment lawyer within the Cardiff / South West area interested in this opportunity should contact Sam Higgins at Simpson Judge on (phone number removed) or at