Contentious Trusts Associate - Top Tier Ranked Team

Overview

Hunters Legal is working with a Top Tier Ranked Team in their search for a England and Wales qualified Associate to join its Contentious Trusts practice in London. The role sits within a leading Employment, Pensions, and Private Wealth department and offers exposure to high-quality, complex contentious pensions work, including matters before senior courts.

The successful candidate will work closely with partners, senior associates, and wider specialist teams across the firm, with early responsibility and opportunities for professional development.

Team and Practice

The Pensions Disputes and Contentious Trusts team comprises partners, senior associates, associates, a trainee, and a solicitor apprentice. The team works collaboratively with colleagues across pensions advisory, private wealth, insolvency, regulatory, and commercial litigation practices.

The team advises on a broad range of pension-related disputes, including:

• Professional negligence claims
• Rectification and construction claims
• Part 7 and Part 8 proceedings
• Judicial review and public law matters
• Contractual and international disputes
• Scheme funding and investment disputes
• RPI and CPI-related claims

The practice has acted in numerous leading cases within the pensions sector and is consistently recognised as top tier in Legal 500 and Chambers.

Key Responsibilities

• Drafting clear, accurate, and concise legal documents.
• Managing matters with appropriate supervision from senior lawyers.
• Conducting legal research using internal and external resources.
• Delegating and supervising work completed by trainees and paralegals.
• Assisting with the preparation of legal articles, briefings, and publications.
• Supporting business development and client relationship activities.
• Building and maintaining effective internal and external working relationships.
• Attending relevant networking and profile-raising events.

Candidate Requirements

• Qualified solicitor in England and Wales.
• Training completed at a recognised firm.
• Strong interest in contentious work, ideally within a pensions context.
• Solid technical grounding in black letter law.
• Previous experience in pensions disputes is desirable but not essential.
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong verbal, written, and numerical communication skills.
• Ability to quickly acquire and apply up-to-date legal knowledge.
• Positive, professional, and collaborative approach to teamwork.

Working Arrangements and Benefits

The role operates on a hybrid working basis, combining office-based and remote working. Flexible working arrangements will be considered.

The firm offers a competitive salary and benefits package, including family-friendly policies, private healthcare, life assurance, wellbeing initiatives, flexible benefits, and volunteering leave.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Top Tier Ranked Team is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive working environment. Applications are welcomed from candidates of all backgrounds.