Partner / Legal Director

Birketts is a full service, UK Top 50 law firm. With a heritage spanning 160 years, we have more than 700 lawyers and legal professionals and over 600 staff based in Bristol, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Ipswich, London, Norwich and Sevenoaks. We advise businesses, government and public sector organisations and individuals in the UK and internationally across four principal practice groups: Real Estate, Corporate Services, Dispute Resolution and Private Client.

We are defined by our Next Level Law proposition. We work with our clients as a proactive partner, horizon scanning and thinking ahead to the changes, challenges or opportunities that they may face.

Next Level Law is also applied to our people. Our collegiate culture means everyone is encouraged to achieve their next level in everything they do. RollOnFriday recently ranked us as the 6th best law firm to work at in 2026.

With our ambition to succeed, comes a strong desire to make a positive contribution to the communities we serve, and we are committed to delivering the objectives set out in our ESG strategy. Diversity plays an integral part in all that we do, with female partners comprising 45% of our partnership.

The team you will join

This role sits in the Corporate Team within the Corporate Services Division.

The Corporate Team is a nationally recognised and highly regarded team which includes over 60 fee earners, and 19 partners, many of whom are recommended in the latest Legal 500 rankings, often in the Hall of Fame category. The Team is enjoying substantial growth, resulting in the need for extra resource to take forward ambitious plans for the future.

The Team's size and expertise mean we advise entrepreneurs, private equity and venture capital funds, financial institutions, owner-managed and privately owned businesses, as well as international investors and public companies, all at different stages of the business life-cycle from start-ups through to mergers and acquisitions, buy-outs and buy-ins, development capital fundraisings, EOT transactions, institutional sales/purchases, and management buyouts, to refinancing and exits. We are also highly experienced in international corporate transactions and work with a range of overseas law firms on cross-border transactions.

The Corporate Team includes specialist private equity, venture capital, reorganisations, capital markets and incentives/EOT sub teams, and also benefits from working closely with other service lines in the Corporate Services Division, such as the Banking & Finance, Corporate Tax, Company Secretarial and Commercial and Technology teams.

The Team enjoys the resources of two dedicated professional support lawyers, as well as know-how resources such as FromCounsel and Practical Law, and document automation products such as Clarilis. The Team has a Corporate Innovation Group, evaluating and developing innovation ideas and the adoption of new technologies, including AI, to improve efficiencies and the client experience.

We play a leading role in several firm wide sector specialisms, including our Energy and Infrastructure Team, Food and Beverage Team, Independent Healthcare Team, Private Equity Team, Hospitality & Leisure Team, Transport & Logistics Team, and Automotive Team, amongst others.

The work you will be doing

You will have a senior role in the Corporate Team, based in Norwich (although the wider Corporate Team works as a single cross-office unit) advising clients on acquisitions, mergers and disposals of companies and businesses (including international transactions), investments, joint ventures and restructurings as well as shareholder agreements and general corporate governance. You will be responsible for leading transaction teams, working cross-office and with specialists in other teams (e.g. real estate, employment, corporate tax, commercial & technology, private client advisory etc) and managing/developing client and intermediary relationships.

In addition, your work would include:

• Maintaining and growing client relationships and contributing to the strategic direction and success of the firm.
• Leading and mentoring lawyers in the Corporate team, fostering a collaborative and supportive work environment.
• Participating in networking events, conferences and other business development activities to promote the firm's services.

Please note that this job profile is not an exhaustive list of duties but merely an outline of the key components of the role. You may be required by your line manager to take on additional responsibilities when requested.

What we are looking for

Birketts has designed a 'Talent Management Framework' which provides a career structure that will help us develop, retain and reward talented people. As a Legal Director, we typically expect candidates to have a minimum of 8 years PQE.

• Ability to supervise and mentor junior team members and contribute to team development
• Brings specialist legal expertise, aligns advice with clients' commercial objectives, directs research effectively, and drafts clear, accurate complex documentation
• Drives efficient time recording, profitable pricing, strong cash flow, and team gross profit delivery.
• Demonstrates strategic business development, winning new clients, driving high-profile pitches, building a strong regional profile, and identifying cross-selling opportunities across the firm
• Manages matters and client relationships to a high standard, maintaining regular contact, meeting expectations, and demonstrating deep understanding of clients' businesses and strategic objectives
• Builds credibility and trust through strong relationships, continuous professional development, and championing positive change
• Proactively manages risk and compliance tasks, follows best practice, maintains practical Lexcel knowledge, and seeks feedback to drive continuous improvement
• Strong attention to detail to produce work documentation which is consistently of a high standard
• Professional integrity and a commitment to providing excellent client service
• To be competent in using Microsoft Word, Excel, time recording software, case management, Outlook and digital dictation

Any information provided in relation to PQE should be used for guidance only and will not be determinative in the recruitment decision. Applicants will be considered on their individual merits.

Hybrid Working

Birketts is a flexible business which has embraced a hybrid working model where our colleagues enjoy a mix of home and office working. This role attracts a split of 60% office days and 40% working from home days per week.

We welcome applications from people looking for flexible, agile, and part-time roles and we are happy to explore your preferred working patterns as part of your application.

As a Birketts colleague, you will be eligible to receive a wide range of benefits:

• Long Service holiday award - 1 extra week every 10 years continuous service
• Private Healthcare with BUPA (offered after probation is passed)
• Staff Profit Share and Individual Performance Bonus Scheme
• Salary sacrifice (Pensions, Staff Profit Share)
• Life Assurance - 4 x salary / Permanent Health Insurance

At Birketts, our culture is driven by ambition and a commitment to positively impact all the communities we serve. We are dedicated to the success, development, and wellbeing of our colleagues, helping them achieve their goals and seize the opportunities that come with our growth.

Birketts is committed to being an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our policy is unequivocal: we do not tolerate discrimination based on age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, or sexual orientation.

We pride ourselves on being an inclusive organisation that actively promotes equality of opportunity for all, valuing the right mix of talent, skills, and potential. We welcome applications from a diverse range of candidates, and selection for roles is based solely on individual merit.

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Artificial Intelligence (AI)

At Birketts, we recognise the evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the legal profession and recruitment. We welcome innovation and understand that candidates may use AI tools to support their job applications. However, we expect all applicants to use AI responsibly and ethically.

Our expectations regarding AI use in applications:

• Your application should reflect your own voice, experiences, and insights. AI may assist in structuring or refining your responses, but it must not replace your personal input.
• Do not use AI to misrepresent your qualifications, experiences, and skills. Any form of exaggeration or fabrication may result in rejection from the process.
• If you have used AI tools to assist with your application, be prepared to discuss how and why you used them during the interview process.
• Do not submit content generated by AI tools that may include personal or sensitive data not intended for public disclosure.
• AI-generated content should be reviewed and edited by you to ensure accuracy, relevance, and alignment with the role and our firm's values.

We are committed to fair and inclusive recruitment practices. The use of AI should enhance, not compromise, your application. We encourage candidates to demonstrate critical thinking, commercial awareness, and a genuine interest in our firm.