We are an award winning, top 100, full-service law firm with offices in Manchester, London and Liverpool. The Manchester Litigation Team is one of the largest in the North West and ranked in the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners.

Our Corporate Regulation offering sits within the Commercial Litigation department and provides advice to a range of high profile clients and works alongside regulatory bodies and government departments. We specialise in complex regulatory matters, often collaborating with colleagues across the firm to support clients in meeting evolving corporate responsibility and compliance obligations. We regularly participate in lobbying activity, media commentary and TV engagements. Our work is fast paced, high profile particularly in the parking management sector and often at the forefront of regulatory change.

The successful candidate will have genuine scope to shape the direction of the practice and accelerate their own career.

Job Purpose

You will provide expert advice to clients on a broad range of regulatory issues with a particular focus on data protection and an interest on developing AI issues and obligations.

Key Responsibilities

You will manage, be involved in and develop a variety of corporate regulatory and compliance matters, including:

• Large scale and complex Government Consultation and linked regulatory obligations

• Corporate Responsibility and Reputation Management across various sectors

• Data protection compliance, ICO guidance, including handling complex and cross border data compliance and maintaining privacy/data protection policies and managing data breach response, readiness assessments, risk assessments and audits

• Sector based compliance – we have a particular niche in Private land parking management, linked enforcement and lobbying, including the management of commercial land (airports, ports, railways, private/public land)

• Consumer obligations and protection, including:

• General product safety and recall, Advertising standards (ASA, CAP codes), Gambling licensing and prize competition rules

• Management of commercial land (airports, ports, railways, private/public land)

• Support the expansion of the practice and secure new opportunities with both existing and prospective clients

• Play an active role in supervising, mentoring and developing junior team members

• Maintain up to date knowledge of legal and regulatory developments.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

This is an ideal role for an ambitious Senior Associate from a leading practice, ideally with at least 6+ years’ PQE (strong candidates outside this range will also be considered). You will also bring:

• Strong experience across corporate regulatory issues, ideally with specific expertise in advising clients on the corporate responsibility, compliance and regulatory aspects relating to data protection

• An interest and knowledge of the developing AI landscape and its impact on corporate governance

• Proven experience leading matters from inception to completion with minimal supervision

• A demonstrable track record of business development and client relationship building

• Experience of developing articles, blogs and webinars and their social media reach

• Strong analytical and problem solving skills

• Excellent communication and drafting abilities

• Confidence and track record in meeting financial performance targets

• A collaborative mindset with the ability to support and supervise junior colleagues

• Developed presentation and client care skills

• An ambitious, driven approach with a desire to contribute to team growth.

Other performance measures

Alongside the underlying fundamentals of your role, as described in your job description, your line manager will also advise you of the specific tasks, priorities and objectives applicable to you and any relevant key performance indicators or metrics (such as financial or other targets). These will naturally change over time to enable you to maximise the application of your expertise to contribute most effectively to the needs of your department and JMW.

Additionally, what you do and how you do things, should align to JMW’s values and the relevant section of JMW’s overarching Performance Expectations (details of both can be found on the intranet).