Ref: 2429
Bristol
About the firm & team
Cathedral Appointments are pleased to be supporting the growth of the Commercial team at a leading Top 100 national law firm with a strong base in the South West. The team frequently lead on large scale (often global) privacy projects including data protection compliance audits, complex DPIAs, group data processing arrangements and advisory work in respect of international data transfers. They have created a niche in the market by focussing on the use of personal data in innovative marketing and advertising activities, social media, consumer-facing promotions, and loyalty programmes (in particular a means of supporting their market leading Retail and Charities sectors). Expertise in these areas would be particularly welcome.
From a Tech perspective, the team support clients on transformational technology projects and complex licensing in the FinTech, CleanTech and Retail Tech fields and as a team, advise both consumers and suppliers on the implementation of new digital initiatives. This is a great opportunity to advise on the adoption and negotiation of contracts relating to, traditional technology-based arrangements (licensing, cloud services, consultancy, support and maintenance and hardware/software purchasing) as well as new technology (i.e. AL; drone management software, blockchain solutions). The team regularly develop bespoke contracts for the latter.
Location is less important to our client than the skill set and expertise you will bring to the team, and a flexible hybrid approach is encouraged. You could be based from the office in Bristol, Southampton, Exeter, Manchester, or London, with a blend of office and home working.
About the role
Working as part of a motivated and supportive team, you will advise a wide range of high quality national and regional clients including household names and highly successful regional and national businesses, you will take responsibility for drafting and negotiating agreements and related documentation and advising clients on a wide range of data privacy and tech related matters (including how emerging tech such as AI and drone technology may impact clients). In addition, you will work collaboratively with the highly regarded Corporate Team, providing support in respect of Data and Tech matters throughout M&A transactions and post completion when developing relationships with target businesses (and supervise juniors in respect of the same).
In addition to leading on innovative work, you will be responsible for delegating work to, and supervising, junior lawyers, and trainees to ensure that work is done at the right level and to allow you to focus on more complex matters. It is therefore essential that you enjoy working as part of a team and are skilled in managing others as well as effective delegation.
Working closely with the partners to build the profile of the Commercial Team, you will be directly involved in growing this practice area in line with the wider objectives and goals of the firm. In return for your efforts, you will be supported in developing your professional skills and knowledge to progress your career and provide you with every opportunity to continue building your profile. Every member of the team is encouraged to engage with business development opportunities and take part in networks which are such an integral part of this area of practice. This is a fantastic opportunity to gain more experience in supervising juniors in the team, whilst being able to continue your own journey of progression and development. As such, you will play a key role in contributing towards the continuing success of the team and the firm’s wider Commercial offering.
About You
As an experienced Data and Tech Lawyer, you will be accustomed to being challenged and seeking to further enhance your skills and knowledge whilst working with high quality clients in a supportive team. You will have already gained exposure to a wide variety of commercial matters with a focus on Data Protection and Tech issues, working independently with clients of differing size and profile, able to demonstrate your positive and pragmatic approach to finding the right solutions to meet their business needs. In addition, it is essential that you possess a passion for this area of law. With the exceptional pace of technological change, you will be driven to stay ahead of data protection developments and be at the forefront in understanding the impact of developing technologies.
You will be experienced in managing and supervising junior lawyers and will know how to get the best from the people around you. You will be a strong communicator with good rapport building skills and the resilience to work under pressure. You will have the ability to forge lasting relationships with clients and will be keen to create opportunities to further enhance your profile and that of the firm by engaging with a variety of business development opportunities.
You may already be an experienced Associate looking for a step up or a Senior/Managing Associate who is ready for a new challenge. You may have also gained some experience in an in-house legal team, and previous secondments may be advantageous but are not essential. The most important thing to us is your drive to continue developing your legal and commercial skillset and be part of a tight knit and ambitious team.
Benefits include:
- Personal and professional development
- Available coaching and mentoring programmes
- Space for mental and physical wellbeing
- 28 days annual leave
- Private medical insurance (eligibility applies)
- Sabbatical you can take every 5 years
- Buy holiday
If you would like to find out more information or have an informal chat, please contact Charlotte Ferguson on 01392 712003 or via email at cferguson@cathedralappointments.co.uk .