Associate / Senior Associate

Our national Intellectual Property & Commercial team advises clients ranging from ambitious owner-managed businesses to multinational organisations and leading sports businesses.

We are looking for a non-contentious commercial lawyer to join our Manchester team, advising on a diverse range of commercial contracts, intellectual property matters and business-critical projects. Our work covers general commercial trading arrangements as well as specialist areas including distribution, agency, franchising, recruitment, outsourcing, technology, platforms, software and intellectual property licensing.

This is an opportunity to take meaningful responsibility for high-quality work, build trusted client relationships and develop your career within a and well-respected and growing national practice. Alongside its work for household-name clients, the team places real importance on team spirit and a friendly, supportive working environment. You’ll work closely with approachable Partners and colleagues across JMW in a collaborative, down-to-earth and non-hierarchical team, with scope to contribute to its growth and progress your career.

Key Responsibilities

You will manage your own commercial and intellectual property matters, provide clear, practical and commercially focused advice while working closely with the wider national team. Responsibilities include:

• Taking ownership of matters, maintaining effective day-to-day client contact and progressing work efficiently
• Drafting and negotiating a diverse range of general and specialist commercial contracts, while providing practical advice on the legal and commercial issues arising from clients’ business models and trading arrangements
• Advising on complex and bespoke commercial projects and helping clients implement practical contractual structures that support their business models and commercial objectives
• Managing time recording, billing and the recovery of costs and disbursements effectively
• Working collaboratively with Partners and colleagues across the national team and supporting junior colleagues where appropriate
• Contributing to business development and the growth of the practice, building your external profile, professional network and client relationships.

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

This role would suit a qualified Solicitor with around 2-5 years’ PQE in non-contentious commercial work, although we would consider exceptional candidates outside of this. You will also bring:

• Strong non-contentious commercial contracts experience
• Experience of intellectual property licensing and related commercial arrangements
• Strong technical ability, sound commercial judgement and a pragmatic approach to providing practical advice
• Strong drafting, communication and negotiation skills
• A collaborative, approachable working style and a willingness to work across a broad commercial and intellectual property practice
• The ability to work independently and manage a busy caseload, competing priorities, time recording, billing and cost recovery effectively
• An aptitude for business development, the confidence to build trusted client relationships and a desire to support the team’s continued growth
• Enthusiasm for long-term career progression within a growing national practice.