Senior Associate - Cargo

Role: Senior Associate

Department: Cargo

Location: Guildford or London

The Team

Our Cargo team is one of the largest and most respected marine practices globally. We advise a diverse client base across the shipping, marine insurance and logistics sectors on recovery and liability matters arising worldwide.

Our work includes cargo recovery claims, transportation liability disputes, hull and freight matters, salvage security issues, general average claims, and CMR road transit recoveries. Our extensive international network and understanding of cross-border legal and commercial issues enable us to provide clients with strategic, commercially focused advice and maximise recovery prospects in multiple jurisdictions.

The Role

Clyde & Co is seeking an experienced Senior Associate to join our market-leading Cargo team in either London or Guildford. This is an excellent opportunity for a talented lawyer to work on a broad range of complex and high-value marine recovery matters for insurers, carriers, freight forwarders, logistics providers, warehouse operators and other participants across the international supply chain.

Our specialist team advises on all aspects of marine recovery, including cargo, hull, transportation liability, freight, demurrage and hire disputes. We are recognised for our deep industry knowledge and practical understanding of the challenges faced by clients operating across global markets and jurisdictions.

The successful candidate will be involved in handling sophisticated recovery actions arising from cargo damage and loss, transportation and logistics disputes, and marine casualty incidents. The role offers the opportunity to work on matters spanning the entire logistics chain, covering the carriage of goods by sea, road, rail and air, together with warehousing and storage operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Managing a varied caseload of marine recovery and cargo claims from inception through to resolution.
• Advising clients on cargo loss and damage claims involving international carriage by sea, road, rail and air.
• Handling transportation liability claims involving carriers, freight forwarders, logistics providers and warehouse operators.
• Advising on freight, demurrage and hire disputes.
• Managing recovery actions and subrogated claims on behalf of insurers and insured clients.
• Handling CMR road transit recovery claims and related liability disputes.
• Drafting pleadings, witness evidence, settlement agreements and other legal documentation.
• Managing litigation, arbitration and alternative dispute resolution processes.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with clients and brokers.
• Supporting business development initiatives and contributing to the continued growth of the marine practice.
• Supervising and mentoring junior lawyers within the team.

Skills & Experience

• Qualified solicitor in England & Wales with strong post-qualification experience, ideally gained within a leading marine, shipping or insurance practice.
• Significant experience handling cargo, marine recovery and transportation liability matters.
• Strong understanding of the legal and commercial issues affecting the shipping, logistics and marine insurance sectors.
• Experience advising on international cargo claims and cross-border disputes.
• Knowledge of freight, demurrage and hire disputes would be advantageous.
• Experience managing client relationships and running matters with an appropriate level of autonomy.
• Strong analytical, drafting and negotiation skills.
• Commercially focused with the ability to provide pragmatic and strategic advice.
• Enthusiastic team player with excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• An interest in business development and contributing to the growth of a leading marine practic

The Firm

When you work at Clyde & Co, you join a team of 500 partners, 2,400 lawyers, 3,200 legal professionals and 5,500 people in nearly 70 offices and associated offices worldwide. Our values are the principles that guide the decisions we make, unite us in our endeavours and strengthen our delivery, for both our clients and our firm. We work as one, excel with clients, celebrate difference and act boldly. We are committed to operating in a responsible way by progressing towards a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the communities and clients it serves. We are devoted to providing an environment in which everyone can realise their potential, using its legal and professional skills to support its communities. We do this through pro bono work, volunteering and charitable partnerships, and minimising the impact it has on the environment, including through our commitment to the SBTi Net-Zero standard and the setting of ambitious emissions reduction targets.

Our Commitment

Clyde & Co is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. Our values encourage us to support fairness, celebrate diversity and prohibit all forms of discrimination in the workplace to allow everyone to excel at work. Therefore, we welcome and encourage all applications from suitably qualified individuals, regardless of background or identity. Learn more about our interview process.

A Note on Privacy

Please take a moment to read our privacy notice. This describes what personal information Clyde & Co (we) may hold about you, what it’s used for, how it’s obtained, your rights and how to contact us as a data subject.

If you are submitting a candidate as a Recruitment Agency Partner, it is an essential requirement and your responsibility to ensure that candidates applying to Clyde & Co are aware of this privacy notice.

This is the job description as constituted at present; however, Clyde & Co reserves the right to reasonably amend it in accordance with the changing needs of the business.