Banking Partner – Manchester

A Rare Opportunity to Lead Without the Usual Constraints

I am working with a highly regarded law firm seeking a Banking Partner to develop and lead their Manchester banking practice. This is an exceptional opportunity that breaks the traditional partnership mould – offering the platform, support, and workload that removes many of the typical barriers to partnership success.

The Opportunity

This role has been designed to enable someone to step into partnership and thrive from day one. You will be leading the further development of their Manchester banking capability, establishing and in due course mentoring a team, whilst having immediate access to a substantive level of high-quality work.

The unusual aspect of this opportunity is simple: you do not need to bring a book of business. The firm's existing structure means they have significant banking work flowing through the practice already, alongside a highly active corporate team generating substantial opportunities on the borrower side. You will be appointed to lead, to execute, and to grow – not to survive.

What Makes This Different

The firm is already appointed on all major bank panels and has significant banking capability across other offices. The Manchester practice will benefit from this established infrastructure and the support of experienced colleagues, whilst giving you genuine autonomy to shape and develop your own team.

The work is there. The platform is proven. The panel appointments are secured. What they need is the right person to take ownership of this exciting opportunity in Manchester.

The Role

You will be:

• Leading and developing the banking practice in Manchester with genuine autonomy
• Running high-quality banking transactions for major lender clients
• Working closely with a busy corporate team on significant borrower-side matters
• Helping to build and grow a talented banking team
• Actively developing and deepening client relationships across the banking and corporate sectors
• Shaping the strategic direction of the Manchester banking offering

Who They're Looking For

This role has an intentionally broad bandwidth. The firm recognises that the right person could be:

• An established banking partner looking for a better platform and genuine support structure with or without a team to follow, or
• A senior associate or legal director ready to make that crucial step into partnership with the security of existing work and infrastructure behind them

What matters most:

• Strong technical capability in banking law with the ability to operate autonomously on complex transactions
• A genuine desire to build and develop client relationships (not necessarily an existing client following)
• The ambition and leadership qualities to establish and grow a team
• The drive to take ownership of this opportunity and make it your own

What's On Offer

• Partnership in a substantial, well-established firm with proven credentials
• Immediate access to quality work without the pressure of business development targets
• Support from a broader banking practice and established bank panel appointments
• Collaboration with a busy corporate team generating significant cross-selling opportunities
• The autonomy to build and shape your own practice in Manchester
• A genuine platform for success, whether this is your first partnership role or your next career move

This is a genuinely unique opportunity that offers the rare combination of partnership status, quality work, and the infrastructure to succeed without the typical business development pressures.

For a confidential discussion about this role, please contact Paul Warburton.