Corporate Associate Solicitor (1-3 Years PQE) | Manchester

Mainstream M&A | Small to Mid Cap | Legal 500 Ranked Team

The opportunity

A well-regarded, Legal 500 rated corporate team in Manchester is looking to add a Corporate Associate with 1-3 years' PQE. This is a chance to build your career within a close-knit, collaborative department where your work is visible, your contribution is valued and your development is taken seriously.

The firm is a regional practice with real depth, large enough to act for sizeable clients and handle sophisticated transactions, but without the layers of hierarchy found in bigger City-style firms. You will work directly with experienced partners and clients, with early exposure and genuine responsibility.

The work

You will be involved in a broad mix of mainstream corporate transactions, primarily in the small to mid cap space, acting for a client base that includes owner-managed businesses, SMEs, PLCs and larger corporates. Your work will include:

• Buy-side and sell-side M&A, including share and asset acquisitions and disposals
• Management buy-outs and buy-ins, and private equity-backed deals
• Corporate restructurings and reorganisations
• Shareholder agreements, joint ventures and investment work
• Day-to-day corporate advisory and company secretarial matters
• Supporting due diligence, drafting transaction documents and managing completion processes
• Working closely with colleagues in employment, property, tax, regulatory and commercial teams to deliver joined-up advice

About you

• Qualified solicitor in England & Wales with 1-3 years' PQE in corporate or M&A, gained at a regional, national or City firm
• Solid grounding in mainstream M&A with experience of drafting and running smaller transactions, and an appetite to take on more
• Commercially minded, with the ability to understand what clients are trying to achieve and offer practical, solutions-focused advice
• Excellent drafting, communication and organisational skills
• A natural team player who enjoys building relationships with clients and colleagues alike
• Ambitious, with a genuine interest in developing your own client following over time

Why this firm

• A people-first culture. Relationships sit at the heart of everything the firm does. You will join a supportive, communicative team who work as one, not a place where you are just a fee earner.
• Strong reputation. The corporate team is recognised by Legal 500, and the firm is known for combining high-quality, expert advice with a genuine understanding of regional markets and the businesses within them.
• Quality of work and clients. Act for ambitious, entrepreneurial businesses and the people behind them, building long-term relationships rather than one-off transactions.
• Responsibility and progression. A clear route to develop your technical skills, client relationships and profile, with the support and exposure to get there.
• Joined-up service. Work alongside specialists across the wider firm, including employment, commercial property, regulatory and disputes, so you can see transactions through from every angle.
• Better balance. A Manchester base with a collaborative, can-do environment and a competitive package.

Interested?

For a confidential conversation about this opportunity, please get in touch - paulwarburton@thinklegalrecruitment.com