Mid December - New private practice roles.

Private Practice

Staying aware of developments in the legal recruitment market is important if you are considering a move, but it can also be valuable for lawyers who are not actively seeking a new role. Keeping visibility over the market helps you benchmark your skills, understand evolving practice demands and remain informed about the direction of the profession. Many UK-based international firms openly advertise their vacancies, making it possible to gain a meaningful view of current hiring activity.

Below is a consolidated roundup of new roles published on law firm career sites during the first two weeks of December. We have ordered by practice area and included links to the jobs that are being advertised on the firms’ career sites.

Antitrust / EU / Competition

Several leading international firms have become active in the competition space. Debevoise & Plimpton is now recruiting an associate to support its antitrust and competition practice, seeking a technically strong lawyer capable of handling complex regulatory and advisory work across jurisdictions. Travers Smith is also looking for a 2–5 PQE associate to join its highly regarded London Competition team, with exposure to merger control, foreign investment regimes, cartel investigations and litigation; the firm emphasises early responsibility, commercial awareness and strong communication skills. Finally, White & Case is hiring a Professional Support Lawyer for its EMEA Competition and International Trade practice, based in London or Brussels, targeting a senior lawyer with deep subject-matter expertise, strong drafting skills and an interest in knowledge management, training and innovation across areas such as trade, sanctions and export controls.

Banking & Finance

The Banking & Finance market continues to offer more and more options with 8 new roles in the first two weeks of December.  Baker McKenzie is seeking a Real Estate Finance associate to advise on complex domestic and cross-border transactions, looking for a commercially minded lawyer with strong drafting skills and early responsibility capability. Gowling WLG is recruiting a Principal Associate in Real Estate Finance, focusing on sophisticated financing transactions and requiring a senior lawyer able to lead matters and support client development. Mayer Brown is hiring a junior associate (1–3 PQE) for its Securitisation and Structured Finance practice, targeting candidates with strong technical foundations and an interest in complex capital markets work. Mishcon de Reya is looking for a 2–5 PQE associate in Real Estate Finance, seeking a lawyer confident in running transactions and advising lenders and borrowers on a wide range of real estate-backed financings. Simmons & Simmons has multiple vacancies, including supervising associate roles in Derivatives, an associate/supervising associate role in Fund Finance, as well as a Managing Associate position in Fund Finance; across these roles the firm is seeking technically excellent lawyers with strong drafting skills, leadership capability and an appetite for business development within market-leading teams. Watson Farley & Williams is recruiting a Knowledge Counsel for its Asset and Structured Finance practice, with a focus on maritime finance, aimed at an experienced lawyer interested in a strategic, non-fee-earning role centred on knowledge, training and market development.

Commercial / Technology / Media / Cyber

A wide range of commercial and technology-focused roles have been advertised. Baker McKenzie is recruiting a Senior Associate in Data & Cyber, seeking an experienced lawyer to advise on data protection, privacy and cybersecurity across global compliance projects, transactions and incident response. Bird & Bird has two roles: a mid-level associate focused on Hotels & Hospitality work within its commercial practice, and a senior associate on a six-month fixed-term contract supporting complex technology and commercial transactions; both roles emphasise strong drafting skills and the ability to contribute quickly to client work. DAC Beachcroft is hiring a solicitor or associate for its Commercial & Technology team, looking for a lawyer with experience in technology transactions, SaaS, IT projects and data protection, combined with strong client-handling skills and autonomy.

Employment

Employment teams across the City continue to grow. Clyde & Co is recruiting an associate to advise multinational clients on contentious and non-contentious employment matters, including tribunal litigation, M&A support, TUPE and cross-border advisory work, with an emphasis on commerciality and client management. DLA Piper is seeking an employment associate or senior associate (3–6 PQE) to handle high-profile UK and international matters such as restructurings, discrimination, whistleblowing, transactions and litigation, looking for a proactive lawyer with cross-border experience and strong interpersonal skills.

Environment/Planning

In the environment and planning space, Clifford Chance is hiring a Senior Associate for its Environment and Planning Group. The firm is seeking a lawyer with strong City experience to advise on ESG, climate change, energy, infrastructure and regulatory matters, with the ability to manage complex projects, supervise juniors and contribute to business development.

Incentives / Share Schemes

Two prominent firms are expanding their incentives practices. Addleshaw Goddard is recruiting a Managing Associate to join its Employee Incentives team, looking for an experienced lawyer to advise on share schemes, executive remuneration and transactional support, with a strong mentoring and business development focus. Clifford Chance is hiring a junior associate or NQ for its Tier 1 Incentives team, seeking an enthusiastic lawyer with strong academics and an interest in remuneration, governance and transactional incentives work.

Insurance Litigation

The insurance litigation market remains active. DWF is recruiting solicitors for both its Major Injury & Casualty team and its Insurance Fraud team, seeking lawyers with experience in defendant personal injury, EL/PL claims and complex fraud litigation, alongside strong case management and client-facing skills. HFW is seeking a Senior Associate or Legal Director to join its Aerospace team, focusing on high-profile war risk insurance litigation arising from the Russia–Ukraine conflict, targeting experienced commercial litigators capable of managing complex, high-value disputes.

Intellectual Property

Firms continue to invest in IP capabilities across transactional and contentious work. Addleshaw Goddard is recruiting an associate for IP Transactions, seeking a commercially focused lawyer to advise on licensing, R&D, technology agreements and IP-driven M&A, particularly in life sciences and AI. CMS Cameron McKenna is hiring a Senior Associate for its IP and Patent Litigation team, looking for a lawyer with strong patent disputes experience and, ideally, a technical background, to work on UK and multi-jurisdictional litigation.

Litigation

Disputes-focused teams have also been active. Mishcon de Reya is seeking a mid-level associate for its Tech Disputes team, targeting a commercially astute litigator with experience in technology-related disputes and a strong interest in innovation and business development. Simmons & Simmons is recruiting an associate for its Corporate Crime team, looking for a lawyer with experience in corporate and financial crime investigations, strong academics and the ability to manage sensitive, high-profile matters.

Private Client

In the private client space, Withers Worldwide is recruiting a junior associate (1–4 PQE) to advise high-net-worth individuals and international families on UK tax, trusts and wealth structuring. The firm is seeking a technically strong, client-focused lawyer with excellent communication skills and an interest in developing long-term client relationships.

Real Estate

Real estate hiring reflects steady transactional demand. DWF is recruiting associates for its national Real Estate team, seeking lawyers with experience across investment, development and asset management who can manage files independently and support client relationships. Stephenson Harwood is seeking a Real Estate Finance associate to focus on the property aspects of finance transactions, looking for a detail-oriented lawyer keen to develop specialist expertise within a supportive team.

Restructuring / Insolvency

In restructuring, Clyde & Co is recruiting a Senior Associate for its Insolvency & Restructuring team, targeting a technically strong lawyer with experience across contentious and non-contentious insolvency matters, fraud and cross-border disputes, and the ability to operate effectively in high-pressure, time-sensitive situations.

Tax

Tax teams across the market are expanding at different levels of seniority. Fried Frank is seeking an NQ or junior associate to support transactional tax work in M&A and funds, looking for strong academics and analytical skills. Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer is recruiting a mid-to-senior tax associate to advise on complex finance, corporate, energy and disputes-related tax matters, emphasising commercial awareness and early responsibility. Hill Dickinson is hiring a Senior Associate or Legal Director for its Corporate Tax team, seeking an experienced lawyer capable of managing complex matters independently and contributing to the growth of a national tax practice.

These are only the roles that are being advertised on firms careers pages, there will undoubtedly be more with firms that don't advertise - for these firms you'll need to speak to recruiters that have good relationships with the relevant firms.

If you need more objective information on the market, or would like to explore whether our one to one career guidance sessions will be of help to you, Click here and arrange a free 15 minute consultation.