Solicitor

Solicitor NQ – 2 years PQE

Corporate Restructuring and Insolvency, Dispute Resolution, Southampton

Paris Smith LLP is one of the South’s leading law firms with a clear strategy and vision for the future. We are committed to ensuring that clients have a positive experience with the Firm, and to inspire our people to reach their full potential aligned to our values. We are based in offices in Southampton, Winchester and Bournemouth with 40 partners and employing over 170 members of staff.

We are looking for a talented and motivated Solicitor to join our Corporate Restructuring and Insolvency Team within the Dispute Resolution Department.

The Role

Paris Smith LLP is seeking an ambitious and motivated solicitor to join our expanding Corporate Restructuring & Insolvency team. The successful candidate will work closely with one Partner and one Associate Solicitor, and alongside other members of our cross-departmental Insolvency Group. The role offers the opportunity to develop a specialist practice across contentious and non-contentious insolvency, corporate restructuring and related commercial disputes, whilst also assisting with general commercial litigation and debt recovery matters.

Working as part of a collaborative ranked team, the successful candidate will take increasing responsibility for matters, client relationships and business development while receiving appropriate supervision, feedback and support. The successful candidate will have opportunities to work in all aspects of insolvency, both personal and corporate, including contentious, advisory and transactional insolvency: this role will suit someone who is intellectually curious, commercially aware and motivated to build deep technical expertise. The team acts for a wide range of insolvency practitioners, banks, lenders, investors, directors, companies and individuals and the successful candidate will be given the opportunity to work closely with all clients.

Principal Duties & Responsibilities

• Manage your own caseload of a mixture of insolvency, corporate restructuring, commercial disputes and commercial litigation matters;
• Work collaboratively with other team members;
• Provide a high-quality service to our clients;
• Keep up to date with changes to the law;
• Offer advice on legal procedures and a wide range of associated issues;
• Carry out duties given by the Partners or employees faithfully and diligently and follow all reasonable instruction;

The Candidate

Skills and Experience:

Essential

• Solicitor qualified in England and Wales from NQ up to two years’ PQE (or equivalent experience);
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Genuine interest in developing a long-term specialism in corporate restructuring & insolvency alongside related general commercial litigation, with working knowledge of insolvency legislation including the Insolvency Act 1986, Companies Act 2006 and Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016;
• Learning mindset: curious, receptive to feedback, willing to ask questions, committed to developing new legal, commercial and technical skills, and eager to develop a legal career on the South Coast;
• High attention to detail, strong analytical and pattern-recognition skills with the ability to identify connections, inconsistencies and evidential gaps across complex information;
• Strong numerical confidence and the ability to understand, test and explain financial information, calculations and commercial data;
• Enthusiasm for business development and networking;
• Good organisational skills: ability to manage multiple tasks and ensure compliance with key dates;
• Excellent IT proficiency: confident in using legal software and other IT tools including Microsoft 365 applications (particularly Word and Excel) at a high level. Interest in learning about and utilising Artificial Intelligence and how that can improve our legal services;
• Strong Team Player: Ability to work collaboratively within a team environment;
• Drive and enthusiasm; and
• Professional, inclusive and client focussed mentality with the resilience and discipline to manage competing priorities.

Desirable

• Previous experience in restructuring, insolvency, commercial litigation, debt recovery or a related practice area;
• Experience reviewing financial statements, bank records, transaction data or insolvency practitioner reports;
• Exposure to court procedures, advocacy, mediation, settlement negotiations, instructions to counsel or experts;
• Interest in (or membership of) professional networks such as R3 and in contributing to the restructuring and insolvency community generally;

The successful candidate will be supported to build a rounded specialist practice. Development will include supervised responsibility for matters, regular feedback, technical learning, exposure to clients and external advisers, and opportunities to strengthen financial analysis, drafting, negotiation, advocacy and business-development skills.

Responsibility will increase in line with capability and experience. The role is intended for someone who wants to become a confident and commercially astute restructuring and insolvency lawyer and to contribute positively to the future growth of the team.

Why Join Us?

• Reputation for Excellence: Our Corporate Restructuring Team is recognised for handling a broad spectrum of personal and corporate insolvency-related issues, contentious, advisory and transactional issues.
• Collaborative and Friendly Culture: Benefit from working side-by-side with experienced legal professionals in a supportive environment founded on collaborative work values.
• Learning and Growth: Gain valuable exposure to advising a range of clients including high-profile household names and local private individuals, all while learning from seasoned lawyers ready to help you build your legal expertise.
• Career Development: This is an excellent opportunity for those at the start of their legal career wanting to deepen their skills with a mix of challenging and rewarding work. Training and mentoring will be provided, including the use of innovative technologies in legal services.
• Friendly Work Environment: Enjoy a first-class working experience within a leading regional law practice that values client service, professional development, and team success.