Head of Litigation & Disputes (Permanent)

Location: Plymouth, Devon

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience - Circa £65 to £75k

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Working Pattern: Office-based / hybrid

Contract: Full-time

Experienced Litigation Solicitor or Chartered Legal Executive sought to join a well-established Plymouth practice as Head of Litigation & Disputes.

This is a senior opportunity combining a high-quality contentious caseload with responsibility for the leadership, development and growth of the firm's Litigation & Disputes department.

The successful candidate will take a key role in shaping the future direction of the team, with responsibility for people management, business development and financial performance alongside their own complex and high-value litigation work.

Position Overview

You will manage a varied caseload of litigation and dispute resolution matters from instruction through to conclusion, including complex and higher-value disputes. Alongside your fee-earning work, you will lead and develop the wider Litigation & Disputes team.

Responsibilities will include:

• Managing a varied caseload of civil litigation and dispute resolution matters
• Handling complex and high-value disputes
• Providing commercially focused, practical legal advice to clients
• Conducting proceedings in accordance with the Civil Procedure Rules and relevant pre-action protocols
• Drafting pleadings, witness statements, applications, settlement agreements and other litigation documentation
• Negotiating settlements and representing clients at mediations and settlement discussions
• Acting as a senior technical resource for the department
• Supervising and mentoring qualified fee earners, trainees, apprentices and support staff
• Supporting the allocation of work and professional development of team members
• Developing and implementing the department's annual business plan
• Building relationships with existing clients, prospective clients and professional contacts
• Identifying opportunities to generate new instructions and increase departmental revenue
• Participating in networking, marketing and other business development initiatives
• Working collaboratively with other departments to develop cross-referral opportunities
• Monitoring billing, WIP, debt management and overall departmental financial performance
• Ensuring high standards of compliance, risk management and client care

This is a genuine leadership position and would particularly suit an experienced litigator who enjoys combining technical legal work with developing people and growing a successful department.

Requirements

• Qualified Solicitor or Chartered Legal Executive with full practice rights
• Significant post-qualification experience in litigation and dispute resolution
• Extensive experience managing contentious matters independently from instruction through to conclusion
• Strong technical knowledge of civil litigation procedure and dispute resolution
• Experience handling complex and high-value disputes
• Strong commercial awareness and strategic thinking
• Demonstrable business development and client relationship management experience
• Experience supervising, mentoring or developing junior lawyers
• Excellent communication, negotiation and advocacy skills
• Ability to provide commercially focused and pragmatic advice
• Strong organisational and financial management skills
• Existing professional network and/or track record of generating new business would be advantageous
• Previous departmental leadership or management experience would be beneficial

Benefits

• Competitive salary and benefits package
• 25 days' annual leave plus Bank Holidays
• Additional gifted Christmas leave
• Gifted birthday leave
• Private health insurance
• Monthly wellness leave
• Regular staff social events and networking opportunities
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Free indoor bike storage
• Genuine opportunity to lead and develop an established Litigation & Disputes department
• Significant scope to influence departmental strategy, growth and future direction
• Senior position within an established Plymouth practice

This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious and commercially minded Litigation Lawyer seeking a genuine Head of Department role with the autonomy to develop a team, grow the practice and play an important part in the firm's wider success.