We are keen to speak with a senior lawyer operating within partnerships, including those whose background is rooted in employment or professional practices regulatory work as well as corporate/ commercial and dispute resolution — who is looking to deliver strategic, advice to professional practices and their partners as part of a commercial, growth‑focused national law firm.
This role is suited to a partner, legal director or consultant who advises partnerships, LLPs and their partners and members on governance, structure and change from M&A to disputes and also regulatory advice, and who enjoys working alongside commercial and corporate colleagues, rather than operating in a silo. You may act across a range of professional practices or focus on one particular segment of the sector. The successful candidate(s) will almost certainly be a member of the Association of Partnership Practitioners or be well connected amongst other professionals actively advising partnership and partner clients.
The opportunity
You will advise professional services firms, regulated businesses and partnership‑led organisations on the full spectrum of partnership and LLP matters, including:
Partnership and LLP governance, structuring and constitutional advice
Drafting and modernising partnership and LLP agreements
Partner admissions, exits, succession planning and profit‑sharing arrangements
Strategic advice to boards, managing partners and leadership teams
Supporting corporate transactions, restructurings and private equity investments involving partnerships and LLPs
Regulatory and compliance matters relevant to professional practices
While some experience of partner exits, disputes or employment‑related issues may form part of your background or M&A and finance, this role is advisory‑led, with a strong emphasis on commercial solutions and long‑term client relationships.
You are likely to be:
A Partner or senior Legal Director advising partnerships, LLPs or professional practices
From an employment, regulatory, professional practices, commercial or corporate background, with deep exposure to partnership structures
Increasingly focused or looking to focus on strategic and advice led work
Comfortable advising senior stakeholders on sensitive commercial and people‑related issues
Commercially minded, pragmatic and collaborative in approach
You may currently sit in an Employment or Professional Practices team, but are keen to position your partnership expertise within a broader commercial advisory platform.
Why this role stands out
A chance to evolve partnership expertise across HCR Law’s existing profile
The firm is currently only one of two firms outside of London recognised for partnership work and is committed to develop the practice beyond that
A genuinely commercial and collaborative platform
High‑quality professional services clients across the sector as whole
Strong cross‑referral opportunities with Corporate, Commercial and Tax teams
Scope to shape the direction of the practice, not just service existing work
Flexible approach to location and working arrangements
Working closely with the lead partner to build out the team
Next steps
If you advise partnerships or LLPs and are interested in a role that places commercial judgement and strategy at the heart of that work, we would welcome a confidential conversation.
Benefits of working with us:
- Private Medical Insurance
- Sight tests / Glasses discounts
- Scottish Widows Pension Scheme
- 28 days annual leave (plus public holidays)
- Bonus scheme
- Electric vehicle scheme
• Happy People / Perks at Work benefits portal
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Life Assurance
- 1/3 gym membership contribution
- Flu vaccinations
Is HCR the smart move for you?
HCR suits people who love a challenge and want to work in an environment where careers thrive on the back of hard work and personal merit. Our people enjoy feeling part of something bigger than themselves, and whilst our clients drive our development, it is our people who bring their energy, enthusiasm, and entrepreneurial mindsets together to solve problems and help our clients succeed.
Why HCR people love their jobs
Our people tell us they enjoy working on good quality, interesting matters from a wide variety of our clients, because they get the experience they want to develop their careers. We will give you responsibility early, the mandate to make things happen and we’ll back your good ideas. Our “Passion for People” lives and breathes every day throughout the firm as our peoples’ energy and sense of fun create a warm environment in which to thrive.
What career progression will HCR offer you?
HCR’s growth constantly creates opportunities for people who want to go places and make a difference, your career plan can become part of our growth plan. At HCR you can expect to work with friendly, energetic, ambitious people, who love getting stuck into a client problem, and enjoy celebrating a good outcome. Our people value the sense of community provided by the individual personality of each office and the collegiate approach across all our service and sector teams.
What does HCR believe, achieve and stand for?
As a Times Best Law firm, among the UK Top 50, we provide the full range of services that you would expect to organisations, business leaders and individuals. However, in our mission to give everyone the opportunity to experience a different kind of legal service we take an entrepreneurial approach. We’re flexible and responsive to the needs of our clients, delivering the best outcomes for them. We have more than 1000 lawyers and support staff, including more than 180 partners, and have been awarded the Law Society’s Lexcel quality mark in recognition of our compliance and client care standards.
With 13 offices in England and Wales our well-established presence stretches from west to east, ensuring clients can access a full-service legal offering no matter where they’re located. We’ve expanded significantly across all our regions, and are well-respected as a regional firm with a strong London and international presence.
With solid connections in the communities we work in, and a track record of delivering legal advice to businesses and individuals throughout the areas we base ourselves in, our clients continue to value our approach to providing legal advice, in the way they need, when they need it.
As HCR is an equal opportunities employer, we don’t just accept differences, we celebrate them. We want to attract a diverse and ambitious workforce that reflects all backgrounds and skills to create a workplace that is supportive and inclusive, recognises and nurtures talent, and which works together to achieve the best outcome for our clients. We are privileged to be an armed forces-friendly organisation.
We also want you to achieve your absolute best during the recruitment process. Please let us know of any changes we can make at any point that will help support your application. If this opportunity sounds of interest to you, please make an application and submit your CV.
A note for recruitment agencies – The HCR Resourcing Team is responsible for recruitment across the firm, and where possible will use direct hiring methods. We do work with a Preferred Supplier List, and where appropriate, we will release vacancies to those agencies who we deem most appropriate to support us. Only those agencies will be invited to submit candidates via our recruitment portal. Any speculative or unsolicited CVs sent to any employee or Partner of HCR will not be considered an introduction, and no fees will be applicable. Furthermore, we retain the right to pursue these candidates without query of ownership
