Legal Director - Employment - #2155022

Role: Legal Director - Employment
Location: Sheffield City Centre
Salary: £80,000 to £150,000 plus Bonus
Contract: Permanent, Full-Time
Working Pattern: Hybrid Working

The Opportunity

CRA Consulting has been retained by a leading national law firm to recruit a Legal Director into its established Sheffield Employment team.

This is a senior appointment within a substantial national practice. The successful candidate will advise major employers, senior executives and HR leaders while helping to develop the firm's employment offering across Sheffield, Yorkshire and the wider UK market.

The role provides access to an established client base, significant internal referrals and the resources of a national business. It may suit an existing Legal Director, a Partner seeking a new platform or an ambitious Senior Associate ready to progress into leadership.

The Role

You will manage a portfolio of complex contentious and non-contentious employment matters, including:

• Strategic advice to boards, HR directors and senior managers

• Complex Employment Tribunal proceedings

• Discrimination and whistleblowing claims

• Restrictive covenant and confidentiality disputes

• Senior executive appointments and departures

• Settlement agreements and negotiated exits

• TUPE and business transfers

• Restructuring and redundancy programmes

• Employment support on corporate transactions

• Contracts, policies and governance

• Complex disciplinary and grievance matters

You will work closely with colleagues across the firm's Corporate, Commercial, Pensions, Immigration and Dispute Resolution teams.

Leadership and Growth

Alongside managing complex matters and key client relationships, you will contribute to the leadership and commercial development of the Employment practice.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Developing relationships with regional and national clients

• Generating work through networking, referrals and professional contacts

• Leading pitches, tenders and client presentations

• Creating cross-referral opportunities across the firm

• Supporting the department's business plan and growth strategy

• Supervising and mentoring junior lawyers

• Contributing to recruitment and team development

• Building a visible profile within the Yorkshire business community

This is an opportunity to influence the future direction of the practice rather than simply take on another senior fee-earning position.

The Candidate

You will be a qualified Solicitor or Chartered Legal Executive with substantial contentious and non-contentious employment law experience.

The firm is looking for candidates who can demonstrate:

• Strong technical employment law knowledge

• Experience advising major employers and senior decision-makers

• The ability to manage complex and strategically important matters

• Excellent drafting, negotiation and client-management skills

• A practical and commercially focused approach

• A record of developing trusted client relationships

• Confidence supervising and developing other lawyers

• A credible business development plan or established professional network

• The ability to collaborate across a national practice

A portable client following would be welcomed but is not essential. Candidates with strong market relationships, introducer connections or a clear strategy for generating work will also be considered.

Why Consider This Role?

The firm offers:

• A senior position within a national Employment practice

• High-quality regional and national client work

• An established client base and internal referral network

• Support for business development and profile building

• Collaboration with specialist teams across multiple UK offices

• Responsibility for supervising and developing other lawyers

• Genuine influence over the growth of the Sheffield practice

• Excellent long-term progression prospects

• Hybrid and flexible working

Salary and Benefits

The package includes:

• Basic salary of £80,000 to £150,000

• Annual performance-related bonus

• Private healthcare

• 27 days' annual leave plus bank holidays

• Enhanced pension arrangements

• Hybrid and flexible working

• Professional development and leadership support

• National resources and cross-office opportunities

Confidential Enquiries

You do not need to be actively looking for a new position or ready to enter a formal recruitment process. An initial conversation can take place informally and in complete confidence.

To discuss the firm, its plans for Sheffield and what the opportunity could offer, please contact:

Rob Addy
CRA Consulting