Managing Associate - Digital (1380)
Our national General Commercial, Digital & Technology team is growing. Bringing together our general commercial, digital, IP, energy and renewables, and projects and procurement capability, we advise FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 companies, public sector bodies, educational institutions and industry organisations on high-profile, business-critical projects and regulatory matters.
Working at the forefront of digital transformation, advanced manufacturing, energy transition, life sciences, aerospace and defence, transport and logistics and international trade, our team plays a vital role in helping clients innovate, compete and grow. With nationally recognised leaders across our UK offices—and close collaboration with our US colleagues and Lex Mundi firms worldwide—we deliver seamless support on complex, multi-jurisdictional matters and international transactions.
To support a strong pipeline, we are seeking an experienced Commercial/Digital lawyer to join our Bristol, Southampton, Leeds or Newcastle office at Managing Associate level.
What does the team do?
You will work across a broad range of commercial and digital matters, including:
Technology & Digital Transformation
Complex technology transactions and transformation programmes
Software licensing, IT services, procurement and outsourcing
Data protection, privacy, cyber security and generative AI adoption
Commercial Contracts & Strategic Projects
End-to-end commercial arrangements and strategic projects
Supply chain, procurement, product development and routes to market
Energy transition, decarbonisation and advanced manufacturing initiatives
You will lead matters and client relationships, managing transactions from contract strategy and negotiation through to risk and regulatory advice. You will supervise and develop junior lawyers, ensure high-quality delivery, and play a key role in resourcing and team performance.
You will also contribute to business development—building client relationships, identifying opportunities, promoting the firm's services and supporting growth in international markets (including the USA and Saudi Arabia).
What does the ideal candidate look like?
We are looking for a commercially minded senior lawyer who can combine technical excellence with leadership and client development:
To be successful you must possess the minimum requirements:
UK-qualified solicitor with strong commercial/digital experience
Significant experience of complex, high-value transactions
Strong drafting, negotiation and communication skills
Proven ability to lead matters and manage client relationships
Key strengths at Managing Associate level
Deep technical expertise in commercial contracts and/or digital, tech or data
Ability to supervise, mentor and develop junior lawyers effectively
Commercial awareness and ability to identify risks and client solutions
Active contribution to business development and client growth
Confidence operating with autonomy, managing multiple complex matters
You will be proactive, collaborative and client-focused, with the ability to generate work, build your profile and contribute to the growth of the practice. This is a key progression role with a clear pathway 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.
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