The role

We are looking for a NQ to 3 years’ PQE solicitor to join our award-winning Asset Finance team that sits within our Commercial Disputes Resolution Unit based at our Birmingham Head Office. This is an excellent opportunity to begin and/or further develop your qualified career, working alongside Partner James Baird, Legal Director Edmund Locock, and the wider CDR team on a range of complex and engaging investigative asset finance and equipment leasing litigation matters. 

You will play an active role in assisting in the delivery of legal advice to clients, gaining early responsibility while continuing to develop your technical knowledge and commercial awareness. 

You will have the opportunity to: 

• Assist on a variety of matters within asset finance, working closely with senior lawyers 
• Take ownership of discrete tasks or matters with appropriate supervision 
• Develop client relationships and contribute to high-quality client service 
• Build your technical expertise and specialism over time 

Key Responsibilities 

• Supporting Partners and senior lawyers on client matters and transactions 
• Drafting legal documents, pleadings, advice and correspondence 
• Drafting instructions to attending court agents, and counsel. Producing court hearing bundles, indexing, disclosure, fact-finding for witness statements (and drafting them). 
• Managing smaller matters or project work independently where appropriate 
• Conducting legal research and applying findings to client advice 
• Communicating with clients, agents, and third parties 
• Assisting with business development initiatives and client relationship activities 
• Contributing to team knowledge sharing and continuous improvement 

As a solicitor, you will be expected to take increasing ownership of your work, manage deadlines proactively, and contribute confidently to team discussions. 

If you are looking for an opportunity to work within a supportive, ambitious, growing and energetic team and would like to join an award-winning law led professional services business, we would like to hear from you. 

Gateley are fully embracing the new hybrid culture, so a mixture of both home and office working is available. 

The team

Within the CDR team, our Contentious Asset Finance team specialises in advising lenders and equipment lessors in all aspects of asset finance litigation, and has expertise in advising on matters such as fraud, international cross-border recoveries, title disputes, satisfactory quality disputes and consumer credit litigation. The team regularly advises on lenders on and obtains injunctive relief including freezing orders and mandatory delivery up orders and is known for pragmatic commercial legal advice and strategy in often complex cases.   

The Contentious Asset Finance Team have won industry recognition by the award of Leasing Life’s Top Professional Service Provider of 2022 and 2025, and Leasing Word’s Top Asset Finance Litigation Team 2019 – 2024. 

The person

Candidates will be able to demonstrate the following attributes: 

• The successful candidate will be a qualified solicitor in England & Wales with a genuine interest in asset finance and equipment leasing disputes and related litigation. Previous commercial litigation and/or disputes experience, either through a seat or as a paralegal within a litigation team, would be advantageous. 
• An ability to deliver clear, logical and understandable commercially relevant legal advice in a timely and competent manner. 
• Ambition to build and grow a network of clients within the asset finance community. 
• An ability and willingness to learn, excellent commercial acumen and great negotiation skills. 
• Personable and dynamic personality with a passion for working collaboratively. 
• Confidence to shape business development initiatives with colleagues and to take ownership and drive those initiatives where relevant. 
• Equipped to balance the needs of a busy case load and a variety of instructions in any given week. 
• Excellent inter-personal skills and a confident manner in engaging with clients, debtors and courts. 
• Team player who works collaboratively with colleagues, including those in our non-legal complementary businesses. 
• A strong team work ethic and the ability to work effectively under pressure. 
• Drive, commitment, self-motivation and a "can do" attitude. 
• The ability to always exercise discretion and professionalism. 
• Consistent, exceptional attention to detail. 

We have a strong infrastructure to deliver and provide a comprehensive training programme encompassing technical legal, transaction management and soft skills throughout the careers of our lawyers. 

The benefits

With support, coaching and feedback from some of the most engaging colleagues around our great development and progression opportunities will reward your commitment and loyalty. We offer a competitive remuneration package where you'll be rewarded for your individual performance with an opportunity to receive an annual bonus.

In addition, we have a wide range of learning and development opportunities via our Learn platform to develop new skills and progress your career. Our My Flex comprehensive rewards package includes options covering annual leave (and the benefit of purchasing extra days), cycle to work, critical illness benefit, employee assistance programme, group personal pension, health care, season ticket loan and many more benefits (grade dependent). Finally, with Perks At Work/Home you can select a host of retail benefits that suit your needs alongside a Community Online Academy, free courses for all from fitness to coding to languages to hip hop dance.

We are Gateley

We are forward thinking and straight talking, our approach is to find solutions to the problems that our clients face. Gateley is a legal and professional services group, we are a group of formidable experts in all areas of law and business. Passionate problem solvers, we get our kicks from finding the right answers and getting our legal and business clients where they need to be. We support more than 5,700 active clients, ranging from FTSE 100 companies to private individuals, in the UK and beyond. Being part of Gateley is not just about the expertise that you bring; it's about attitude too.

The 'Gateley Story' is the story of our people and our culture. It is what has got us to where we are today as a successful business and it's the driving force behind the Gateley Team Spirit and the values that have shaped it. We have a set of shared internal values that capture what the Gateley Team Spirit is and this includes five elements that bind us all together as one Gateley: Ambitious for Success, Forward Thinking, Room to Breathe, Trusted to Do and Working Together. Every year across the group, we recognise members of our team that have gone and above and beyond and have lived these shared values. They are recognised at our annual Gateley Team Spirit awards.

Diversity, inclusion and well being

Diversity, inclusion and well being is an important part of Gateley's culture and values. We recruit talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures, providing equal opportunities for all to join our team regardless of age, sex, race, sexual orientation, disability, or culture.

We create an exciting and rewarding place to work that aims to fulfil everyone's potential and together to achieve personal and business goals. We offer flexible working patterns to help our staff achieve a good work/ life balance and we encourage candidates seeking flexibility in their next role t­o apply for any of our vacancies.

We are proud to have been recognised by The Law Society as gold standard for our Diversity and Inclusion Charter and to be Stonewall Diversity Champions.

Additional Information