Role: Associate

Department: Marine, Trading & Commodities

Location: Bristol

The Team

Our Marine, Trading & Commodities team specialises in a comprehensive range of shipping and trade-related disputes for clients across the maritime sector, handling both domestic and international matters. The team advises on all issues arising from the interaction between ship, port and cargo interests, including collisions, unsafe ports, employers' liability, public liability, goods in transit claims, marine casualties, property recovery actions, occupational disease claims, fatal accidents, and Health & Safety Executive and Maritime and Coastguard Agency investigations.

We act for a broad range of clients including shipowners, charterers, P&I Clubs, traders, underwriters, marine insurers and reinsurers, shipyards, port and terminal operators, and other maritime stakeholders. Our lawyers combine technical legal expertise with strong commercial awareness to support clients across a wide range of jurisdictions and complex marine liability matters.

The role

We are seeking an Associate to join our Bristol-based Marine, Trading & Commodities team. You will manage a varied caseload spanning both wet shipping disputes and marine liability claims, working closely with insurers, P&I Clubs, shipowners, charterers, operators, brokers and other key industry stakeholders.

The role offers exposure to a broad range of litigated and pre-litigated matters, from small claims track cases through to complex multi-track litigation. Your caseload will include injury and non-injury marine claims, collision and other admiralty matters, employers' liability and public liability claims, property recovery actions, occupational disease matters, marine liability disputes and inquests.

You will also handle catastrophic injury claims arising from marine incidents, acting on behalf of owners, operators, insurers and P&I Club members in relation to passenger and crew claims, as well as incidents involving cargo vessels, passenger ships and port and terminal operations. The role provides an excellent opportunity to work on technically challenging, high-value and often international matters while developing strong client relationships within the maritime industry.

Key responsibilities

• Managing a varied caseload of wet shipping disputes and marine liability claims.
• Handling litigated and pre-litigated matters ranging from small claims track cases to complex multi-track litigation.
• Advising insurers, P&I Clubs, shipowners, charterers, operators and other maritime stakeholders on liability, quantum and coverage issues.
• Managing employers' liability, public liability, catastrophic injury, occupational disease and recovery claims arising from marine incidents.
• Assisting with marine casualty investigations, inquests and regulatory matters.
• Supporting partners on complex, high-value, multi-jurisdictional shipping and marine insurance disputes.
• Engaging with experts, witnesses and counsel to develop case strategy and achieve successful outcomes for clients.
• Contributing to business development initiatives and maintaining strong relationships with existing and prospective clients.

Skills & experience

• Qualified Solicitor in England & Wales (or equivalent).
• Experience handling catastrophic injury, large loss personal injury, employers' liability and/or public liability claims.
• Experience managing litigated and pre-litigated claims across a range of values and levels of complexity.
• Exposure to marine liability, shipping, transport or insurance-related disputes would be advantageous.
• Experience dealing with recovery actions, occupational disease claims, inquests or casualty-related matters would be beneficial.
• Strong technical and analytical skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication, client management and stakeholder engagement skills.
• A collaborative approach and enthusiasm for developing a career within the maritime sector.

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.