Insurance litigation associate
What we will offer:
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We will offer you a place where you can be yourself and where there are no limits on what you can achieve. With us, you can take ownership of your career and have honest conversations throughout. You would join an ambitious firm with a clear strategy for profitable growth where you can get early responsibility.Here you can expect a competitive and fair reward as well as recognition based on all round performance. This forms part of our internal promise to you, The Deal, between the firm and its employees.
You can expect:
- A Competitive salary and a host of family friendly policies
- Life assurance, private health and cental care for you and your family
- A range of flexible benefits including gym discount and retail vouchers
- Tech, cycle and electric car schemes
- The opportunity to support the firm's charity through volunteering leave
- A wellbeing strategy that focuses on preventative measures to maintain overall health, and tools and support for when we experience physical or mental difficulties. The strategy focuses on four pillars: physical, emotional, financial and social aspects.
Team Structure:
We are a leading and expanding insurance dispute resolution team that is part of a tier 1 commercial litigation team. Our focus is advising insurers (but also increasingly policy holders) primarily in the marine market in the H&M, war, liability, cargo, political risk, and yacht sectors.We assist clients through often technically and commercially complex disputes (from early assessment of merits; investigation; pre-action stage; litigation itself; enforcement etc) working closely to find appropriate commercial resolutions. We work closely with leading insurers (both in London and more widely) and policy holders (including some of the world's largest trading houses) on some of the most significant marine losses (in terms of value and prestige) in the market.
We are looking for a mid level associate with a hunger to learn, an intellectual curiosity and desire to take custody of legally and technically challenging matters and be part of our team that is committed to providing impeccable client service on a daily basis at the highest of standards.
Candidates should have litigation/arbitration experience including in particular active responsibility for core stages including preparation of witness statement and expert reports, briefing and working with counsel. Insurance / marine knowledge not a must (but helpful) – what we are looking for is tangible dispute resolution experience, a focused commitment to progress, a rigorous intellectual ethos and commercial awareness.
Main Responsibilities:
- Clear, concise and unambiguous preparation and drafting of documentation
- Liaison with clients under appropriate supervision of a partner
- Managing more junior associates, trainees and paralegals
- Developing own informal internal and external network of contacts and playing a significant role in business development for the team
- Building excellent working relationships with clients and peers within the firm
- Attending and helping to arrange business development and profile raising events (client seminars, graduate recruitment activities)
- Conducting legal research using internal and external knowledge management resources
Most of our roles are hybrid, meaning that colleagues benefit from working in our office and remotely. We are happy to discuss this and other flexible working arrangements with you as part of the application and interview process.
Attributes/Skills Required:
- Qualified lawyer with relevant insurance litigation or general litigation experience gained in private practice.
- Demonstrates and applies a deep understanding of the law and significant expertise in one or more areas within own practice group, building a reputation and skills for the insurance litigation team.
- Excellent academic and professional qualifications
- Plans and allocates work in accordance with brief/scope agreed with clients; instructs and manages external parties and counsel; supervises and oversees/runs the management of concurrent matters
- Monitors and manages time, fee levels and personal financial performance to manage matters profitably whilst preserving value for clients; Takes responsibility for protecting long-term relationships valuable to own group and the firm; regularly communicates, 'builds bridges' and keeps all important parties on side
This job description is indicative only and does not represent an exhaustive list of responsibilities. The firm reserves the right to alter or change the responsibilities at any time, in line with the firm's strategy and business needs.
We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to having a diverse workforce. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, culture or any other protected characteristics. We aim to create a culture where everyone can be themselves and is valued for their strengths and unique perspectives.
About the Firm:
With 8 offices worldwide and with our headquarters based in London, Stephenson Harwood is a law firm where our people are committed to achieving the goals of our clients - listed and private companies, institutions, and individuals across the globe.Our mix of expertise and culture results in a combination of deep local insight and the capability to provide a seamless international service.
Our experience encompasses corporate, commercial litigation and arbitration, employment, pensions and private wealth, finance, marine and international trade, and real estate and projects.
We assemble teams of bright thinkers to match our clients' needs and give the right advice from the right person at the right time. Dedicating the highest calibre of legal talent to overcome the most complex issues, we deliver pragmatic, expert advice that is set squarely in the real world.
We understand the power of diversity in delivering that high calibre advice to our clients. We want to attract diverse talent and we particularly encourage applications from underrepresented demographics.
Our values:
Individuality - We encourage creativity and develop talent
Commitment - To be the best and deliver the highest standard
Teamwork - We work together to build close, long-term relationships
Straight talking - We say what we mean and do what we say
These values express the personality of the individuals within our firm. They are the behaviours we encourage in our people and the standards which inform our decisions and actions.
Our vision into 2026
To be a successful firm where talented people work together in an entrepreneurial environment, building long term client relationships.
This vision is about who we want to be, as well as who we are. It is as much about our values as about our character – the attributes we want to see from all of our people. It also reflects the importance of remaining independent - a clear sign that we are confident in our own future.That's how we unlock our entrepreneurial spirit, advising our clients with top performing teams.
A key part of the 2026 strategy is to focus on five core sectors: decarbonisation, life sciences, private capital & funds, technology, and transportation & trade. These have been identified as crucial in the drive for accelerated profitable growth.