Legal Director

The Firm

Payne Hicks Beach is a 44 partner firm of solicitors based in offices at 10 New Square, Lincoln’s Inn. In total the firm comprises approximately 220 staff. The firm provides specialist legal services to private and commercial clients. We are best known for our family and private client work and are widely regarded as one of the very best of the small number of firms in the UK who provide these specialist services at the highest level. We also have an excellent reputation in many other areas of law (rated in both Chambers and Legal 500).

Our offices are located in one of the finest squares in London, a building which the firm has occupied since 1770.

More information about the departments and the work of the firm may be found on our website, the address of which is www.phb.co.uk

The Team

The Corporate Department comprises three partners, three solicitors and a trainee solicitor. It acts on a wide range of strategic corporate transactional and commercial work, across a variety of sectors. The bulk of its clients are privately-owned businesses and run by HNWIs, families and entrepreneurs, a significant number of them being large multinational businesses.

The Role

The individual will have the following duties and responsibilities:

• Working with colleagues, including taking the lead, on a full range of corporate-related transactions (including share and business sales and purchases, joint ventures, reorganisations, shareholder and investment agreements and fund raisings).
• The focus of the work is transactional, but there is also a requirement to undertake a range of corporate and commercial work – the Department has an interesting variety of work, often of a high-profile nature, that arises on account of the firm’s position as an adviser to HNWIs and family offices.
• Involvement in the business development of a Department that is seeking to continue growth.
• An ability to work independently as part of a close knit team – the Department places particular emphasis on positive working culture – but also independently with limited supervision (when appropriate).

The Individual

The ideal candidate should have experience gained in a practice with a recognised corporate department and should be able to demonstrate commercial awareness, intellectual flexibility and an interest in business development (ideally the individual would have a fledgling following or some existing contacts or other business development potential). Experience of working with HNWIs/family offices might also be helpful. PQE – five to eight years, but we are flexible for the right candidate.

Personal skills

• Excellent people skills and a good, clear communication style.
• Effective team player and able to work well in a flat team structure.
• Be able to prioritise work, to work under pressure and to meet deadlines.
• Be adaptable to the different types of clients and type of work that the team acts for.
• A commercial and pragmatic outlook.
• An interest in business development and a willingness to participate in, and organise, related events and to develop your own business connections.
• Strong negotiation and drafting skills.
• Attention to detail.
• Good academic record.