Lead – Influence - Shape the Future
Location: Manchester
Salary: Competitive Partner package + bonus + great benefits package
Be the next strategic leader in one of Manchester’s most respected Crime & Regulatory teams!
Manchester’s legal market is thriving but genuine Partner level leadership opportunities within ranked Crime & Regulatory teams are rare. This is one of them.
Markel Law is expanding. As part of a Legal 500 and Chambers-recognised Crime & Regulatory practice, we’re looking for an accomplished senior lawyer to play a pivotal role in shaping the next chapter of our Manchester offering.
If you want influence, autonomy, backing from a Fortune 500 parent company, and the chance to lead a high performing team working on complex, high profile work… this is the move.
Why this role, and why now?
This is more than stepping into a Partner seat, it’s joining a firm where:
The Manchester office is a strategic growth site.
The Crime & Regulatory team has a strong existing platform with internal insurer referrals, long-standing client relationships and a pipeline of compelling, high-value matters.
You’ll have the freedom to innovate, grow the practice, and raise your own profile nationally.
You’ll be joining a close-knit team of experienced fee earners, in a culture described by colleagues as people-first, commercial, ambitious and genuinely supportive.
The work you’ll lead:
You’ll take ownership of a varied and stimulating caseload across:
Inquests & public inquiries
Professional discipline & misconduct investigations (including policing)
Health & safety, licensing, environmental and regulatory matters
Entity regulation (CQC, Ofsted)
Criminal regulatory defence and business crime
This is a role for a lawyer who enjoys being hands-on while simultaneously driving strategy, direction and growth.
Your leadership impact:
As Partner, you will:
Help lead & develop the Manchester Crime & Regulatory team alongside the Head of Department
Act as a senior strategic driver, shaping direction, performance, culture and profitability
Strengthen and grow relationships with internal Markel partners, insurers, brokers and corporate stakeholders
Play a key role in business development, brand-building and practice expansion with real investment and support behind you
Mentor and develop junior team members, helping shape the future of the practice
Oversee governance, compliance, supplier relationships and quality assurance
This is a true leadership role, not just a title.
What you’ll bring:
We’re looking for a senior Crime or Regulatory lawyer with:
Strong technical depth in at least two core areas: inquests, H&S, professional discipline, environmental regulation, licensing, or business crime.
Experience managing insurer and legal expense insurance relationships (or strong familiarity with referral‑based practice).
A proven track record of client management, business development and team leadership.
Commercial instinct — the ability to balance quality with profitability and strategic growth.
Excellent communication, calm under pressure and a commitment to exceptional client care.
If you’re already a Partner, great. If you’re currently a Legal Director/Senior Associate ready for the step up, we’d love to speak to you.
What’s in it for you:
Competitive Partner‑level remuneration and annual bonus
25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays (with buy/sell options)
Excellent pension, private medical & dental cover
Life assurance, income protection and travel insurance
Flexible working options and genuine work‑life balance
A platform to shape and grow a nationally recognised practice
Are you ready to play your part?
If you’re excited by the opportunity to lead, influence and build, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now to start the conversation.
At Markel, we are all about the people, celebrating the value of a diverse workforce that brings experience and expertise from a wide variety of backgrounds and life circumstances. Whatever your background, if you feel you meet the requirements of this role then we want to hear from you. We are also happy to consider candidates who are looking for flexible working patterns.
We will ensure that individuals are provided with any reasonable accommodations to be able to participate in the job application or interview process and to perform essential job functions if successful. Please contact us via email at [email protected] or call us at 0161 507 5827 to request any accommodations or adjustments that may be needed, including alternative formats of documents or information on how to apply offline.
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Skills Required
- Significant expertise in core practice areas
- Management experience
- Experience with legal expense insurance
- Client management and practice development experience
- Strong business development experience
- Knowledge of legal and insurance relationships
- Excellent written communication skills
- Effective management skills
Markel Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Markel and has not been reviewed or approved by Markel.
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Healthcare Strength — Comprehensive coverage includes medical, prescription, dental, vision, and telehealth, complemented by company-sponsored wellness programs and free fitness/mindfulness apps. Feedback suggests expanded mental-health resources and wellness incentives further enhance support.
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Retirement Support — Retirement offerings include 401(k) and other financial protections that can add meaningful long-term value. Feedback suggests strong company matching and retirement contributions are a notable part of the package.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — A broad suite includes paid time off, corporate holidays, parental leave, hybrid work, volunteer time, and education support. Feedback suggests PTO accrual grows with tenure and can include an option to buy extra days.
Markel Insights
What We Do
At Markel, we believe in hard work, a zealous pursuit of excellence, and fairness in all our dealings. Markel Corporation (NYSE: MKL) is a global Fortune 500 company headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. We seek to be a leader in each of our pursuits, with insurance being our primary business. As a market leader for specialty insurance, reinsurance, and investment operations around the world, Markel embodies integrity, commitment, teamwork, and innovation in every day operations. We are encouraged to look for a better way to do things. Since our founding in 1930, we have sought to know our customers’ needs and to provide quality products and service. Markel specializes in providing coverage for hard-to-place risks for a variety of niche markets including: • Agricultural and equine risks • Reinsurance for large risk enterprises such as oil rigs • Event cancellation insurance for weddings, concerts, and sporting events • Inland marine coverage for fine art collections • Environmental pollution • Yachts, ATVs, and motorcycles At Markel we provide an atmosphere in which people can reach their personal potential. We are results-oriented, and we continually strive for a better way to do things. The Markel approach is one of spontaneity and flexibility. Markel helps employees balance work and social activities. Markel gives you the keys to success! Keeping an open mind and learning new skills allows our associates to stay ahead of the marketplace. Above all, we enjoy what we are doing. There is excitement here that comes from innovating, creating, striving for a better way, sharing success with others…winning. That is the Markel Style.
