Our national Commercial team brings together our general commercial, digital, IP, energy and renewables and projects and procurement teams. Representing an impressive range of FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 clients, public sector organisations, educational institutions and industry bodies on high-profile, business-critical projects and regulatory matters, the team plays a vital role in helping clients achieve growth and success.
One of the largest and most successful teams of its type, we bring together sector specialists across industries including advanced manufacturing, life sciences, aerospace and defence, energy and renewables, transport and logistics and international trade. With lawyers across our UK offices and nationally recognised leaders in their fields, we work closely with US colleagues and Lex Mundi firms worldwide to deliver seamless support on international projects. We also provide a blend of City expertise and local knowledge to inward investors entering the UK.
To support our strong pipeline, we are seeking an experienced commercial contracts lawyer to join our Bristol or Southampton office at Managing Associate level.
What does the team do?
We advise on the full range of contractual arrangements supporting strategic projects and day-to-day business across multiple sectors, with a particular focus on advanced manufacturing and energy transition initiatives.
You will:
Lead on complex commercial contracts, including procurement, outsourcing, supply chain and product development
Advise on contract strategy, drafting, negotiation and risk management
Deliver pragmatic, business-focused advice (including data protection with specialist support)
As a Managing Associate, you will take responsibility for leading matters and client relationships, supervising and developing junior lawyers, and ensuring high-quality delivery across multiple projects.
You will also play an active role in business development—building client relationships, identifying and pursuing new opportunities, supporting international growth (including USA and Saudi Arabia markets), and contributing to multi-jurisdictional work. Opportunities for international secondments are available.
You will join a collaborative and supportive team, working closely with clients' in-house teams in an embedded, in-house style while benefiting from the breadth of private practice and multidisciplinary expertise.
What does the ideal candidate look like?
We are looking for a commercially focused senior lawyer who combines technical expertise with leadership and client development capability.
To be successful you will have the minimum requirements:
UK-qualified solicitor (England, Wales or Scotland) with 7+ years strong commercial contracts experience
Significant experience advising on complex, high-value transactions
Excellent drafting, negotiation and communication skills
Proven ability to lead matters and deliver clear, practical advice to non-lawyers
Key strengths at Managing Associate level:
Deep expertise across commercial contracts, including supply chain, procurement and strategic projects
Ability to supervise, mentor and develop junior team members
Strong commercial awareness and ability to identify risks and solutions for clients
Active contribution to business development and growing client relationships
Confidence managing multiple complex matters and working with autonomy
Experience of international contracting (including import/export) and exposure to tech, IP or data protection would be beneficial.
You will be proactive, collaborative and client-focused, with the ability to build your profile, generate work and contribute to the growth of the practice. This role is a key step towards Legal Director or Partnership.
What makes it great to work here?
We continually work hard to create an open culture that sets us apart from other firms. Our culture gives us much more of a human feel, emphasising that we're more than just suits!
As signatories to the Mindful Business Charter, it's important to us that our people are able to maintain healthy and happy lives, both in and out of work. We have a number of resources and initiatives designed to support health and wellbeing and we're very happy to talk flexible working.
Through our DEI initiatives we create an environment in which difference is valued. We have an Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Group, led by our Board Sponsor, which works with our colleague networks (we currently have firm supported networks for race, ethnicity, and cultural heritage, LGBTQ+, disabilities, neurodiversity, families, and women's career development and we're in constant dialogue with our people about how we expand our networks to better support everybody). Find out more about DEI at WBD here. We encourage applicants from all social backgrounds, ethnicities, disabilities, gender identities and sexual orientations.
We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to all. If you have a disability or long term condition and need us to make any adjustments to give you the best possible recruitment process, please let us know by contacting the recruiter on the right hand side of this page. Please also let us know if you need this job advert or the application form in a different format.
We will offer an interview to candidates with a disability or long-term condition who meet the minimum criteria for this role. You can opt into this scheme within the application form. Your response to this question is only used for this purpose, is only visible to the recruitment team and is not used for data monitoring.
We are an in-house recruitment team and will always aim to fill our roles directly in the first instance. If you're an agency, please click here for ways that you can work with us.
