Manchester (hybrid working)
Ready to take your employment law career further?
At Markel Law, we don’t just practise law, we help businesses move forward with confidence. As part of a Fortune 500 group, we combine global strength with a people-first culture where your ideas, expertise, and ambition truly matter.
We’re looking for a Senior Associate to join our highly regarded Employment Law team, recognised in the Legal 500 and known for delivering pragmatic, commercially focused advice to a diverse client base.
If you’re passionate about complex, high-quality work and want to play a key role in a growing, collaborative team this could be your next move !
Why join Markel Law?
Be part of a Legal 500-recognised employment team with deep expertise
Work on high-quality, complex matters across both contentious and non-contentious employment law
Advise a broad client base—from SMEs to large national and international organisations
Join a supportive, experienced team (majority 15+ years PQE)
Enjoy real opportunities to develop leadership skills and shape junior talent
What you’ll be doing:
You’ll play a key role advising clients and managing employment matters end-to-end, including:
Advisory & transactional work
Providing expert advice on day-to-day HR issues, disciplinaries, grievances and disputes
Supporting ACAS early conciliation, settlements and employment strategies
Drafting and reviewing contracts, policies, settlement agreements and handbooks
Advising on complex issues including TUPE and collective consultation
Contentious work
Managing Employment Tribunal cases from start to finish
Drafting claims, responses and applications
Preparing witness statements and evidence
Briefing Counsel and attending hearings where appropriate
Client & team impact
Delivering training, updates and thought leadership to clients and colleagues
Supporting business development initiatives and strengthening client relationships
Supervising and mentoring junior team members
What you’ll bring:
We’re looking for a confident, commercial employment lawyer who thrives in a fast-paced environment:
Strong experience across both contentious and non-contentious employment law
Qualified solicitor or barrister (UK) with a current practising certificate
Excellent drafting, analytical and problem-solving skills
Ability to build trusted relationships with clients and stakeholders
Commercial awareness and a client-first mindset
Experience supervising or mentoring others (or readiness to step into this)
Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise and multitask effectively
What’s in it for you?
Competitive salary + annual bonus
25 days’ holiday (plus bank holidays) with option to buy/sell
Private medical, dental, life assurance & income protection
Generous pension and additional lifestyle benefits
Ongoing learning, development, and career progression opportunities
A genuinely flexible working environment
Our culture:
At Markel, everything we do is grounded in our values:
We’re all about people. We win together. We strive for better. We enjoy the everyday. We think further.
We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive and bring their full selves to work.
Ready to make your mark?
Apply now and take the next step in your career with a business that invests in your future and empowers you to make a real difference.
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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#LI-Hybrid #PlayYourPartUK
Skills Required
- Strong experience across both contentious and non-contentious employment law
- Qualified solicitor or barrister (UK) with a current practising certificate
- Excellent drafting, analytical and problem-solving skills
- Ability to build trusted relationships with clients and stakeholders
- Commercial awareness and a client-first mindset
- Experience supervising or mentoring others
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise and multitask effectively
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.
