Associate/Managing Associate (5+ PQE) - Employment Innovate, Cambridge

Mishcon de Reya

  • Cambridge
  • Permanent
  • Full-time
  • 1 month ago
DescriptionWe are looking for an Associate or a Managing Associate to join our Employment Innovate Practice. This role will be based in the Cambridge office.The DepartmentThe Employment team at Mishcon de Reya works across complex, high profile and high-stake situations, acting at the highest level for both employers and senior executives.Acting at the forefront of employment law, we are regularly instructed on cases that raise the most important legal questions of the day, from diversity and gender pay, to employment status and the implications of the "gig" economy, to the interplay between data, transparency and privacy. The team is renowned for its strategic approach and litigation expertise, regularly appearing in the Employment Appeal Tribunal, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. The team also has a strong depth of experience supporting emerging and fast growth organisations on global talent related issues.Our work covers the full spectrum of contentious and non-contentious employment law, and we work seamlessly across our dedicated incentives, and innovate teams.This opportunity is to join our fast growing Employment Innovate practice which sits within the Employment team. Employment Innovate is focused on supporting start up and scale-up organisations - within innovation sectors, including technology and life sciences - with talent and employment law issues across the UK and globally. The Employment Innovate practice is focused on delivering valuable solutions to emerging and scaling business operating within the innovation economy, to pragmatically tackle global talent and other employment law issues. The practice operates across the innovation hubs of Cambridge, London and Oxford.Duties and ResponsibilitiesWe are looking for an Associate or a Managing Associate to join our highly regarded Employment Innovate practice. You will ideally be someone who has experience of (and a genuine interest in) working with and advising entrepreneurial businesses (and those who invest in them) on global talent related issues and providing employment law support on early-stage seed and venture capital fundraising and related matters.We already have market dominance in the early stage and fundraising market in Cambridge and a rapidly growing presence in London and Oxford. You will be responsible for assisting the existing team members with continuing the development and growth of the team's practice.You will be someone who wants to increase the breadth of your legal knowledge and your experience of working closely with entrepreneurial businesses, whilst taking increasing responsibility and ownership of growth stage clients. In return, we pay particular attention to ensure that there are opportunities for each member of the team to "own" client relationships and progress quickly through their careers (whilst having the infrastructure in place to support this autonomy). We have a good track record for this, which we put down to the time we invest in developing our lawyers to be able to operate autonomously, through providing significant exposure to our clients, resulting in our Associates and Managing Associates quickly becoming a first point of contact for many of them.Skills/Experience
  • 5+ years PQE gained in employment law from a reputable practice.
  • Experience working with technology or life sciences organisations is helpful.
  • Strong academic record.
  • Solid transactional, advisory and litigation experience desirable.
  • Experience of representing early-stage corporates and working with intermediaries (such as VCs).
  • Experience of advising on international HR matters desirable.
  • Excellent attention to detail and organisational skills.
  • Excellent writing skills, with strong drafting abilities.
  • Ability to effectively manage own workload, undertaking a truly client facing role.
  • Ability to communicate effectively with people at all levels, both internally and with clients.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
  • Personable and confident, able to build relationships with colleagues, clients and external organisations.
  • Resilient and calm under pressure.
  • Adaptable and flexible approach.
  • Whilst this is a Cambridge based role, you should be willing to travel between Cambridge, London and Oxford from time to time, as may be required.
  • Pro-active and takes initiative.
  • Experience of and a willingness to develop the Cambridge Employment practice and Cambridge office more generally.
Please note that this job profile is not an exhaustive list of duties but merely an outline of the key components of the role. You may be required by your line manager to take on additional responsibilities when requested.About The Mishcon de Reya GroupThe Group is an independent, international professional services business with law at its heart, employing over 1400 people with over 650 lawyers. It includes the law firm Mishcon de Reya LLP and a collection of leading consultancy businesses that complement the firm's legal services.Mishcon de Reya LLP is based in London, Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore and Hong Kong (through its association with ). The firm services an international community of clients and provides advice in situations where the constraints of geography often do not apply. Its work is cross-border, multi-jurisdictional and complex, spanning six core practice areas: and .The includes consultancy businesses , (in London, Singapore and Dubai), , and (in Hong Kong). The Group also includes , which invests in the most promising early stage legaltech companies as well as the Mishcon Academy, its in-house place of learning and platform for thought leadership.In 2024, the Group announced its first strategic acquisition in the alternative legal services market, flexible legal resourcing business Flex Legal. It also acquired a majority stake in Somos, a global group actions management business.We strive to create a fully diverse and inclusive workplace where all our people are empowered to fulfil their potential. We are proud of our agile working culture and are always happy to talk flexible working.

Mishcon de Reya