Senior Associate / Legal Director / Partner (7+ PQE)

What you’ll do

Ashfords’ Marine team is looking to recruit an experienced lawyer (ideally with at least 7 years’ PQE) from Senior Associate up to Partner level to join us on a full-time, permanent basis. There are excellent career progression opportunities within the role.

Led by ‘Leading Partner’ Lara Moore, the Marine team is recognised in the Legal 500 2026 as a Tier 1 practice, “Ashfords are the top firm for Port and Harbour clients in the UK. They have exceptional links with industry and advise on all aspects of law servicing all of our legal needs”. We are proud to be recognised nationally for our industry leading expertise by Ports, Harbours and other marine developers and businesses around the UK. We act for approximately 100 different ports, including some of the largest port groups in the UK (and the world).

Our client base is well established and the volume of work we undertake across the firm for it continues to expand rapidly. We are looking to recruit an experienced lawyer that has advised on port and marine related issues in your current role. Areas of expertise may include litigation, regulatory, commercial (including logistics) or port / coastal development. Most important to us strong experience of acting within the ports industry, so if you have that experience in another area, please do get in touch.

We have a varied and interesting caseload. From day one, you will have the opportunity to take on significant responsibility as part of a friendly and supportive team.

Who you are

As a naturally ambitious and self-motivated lawyer with a strong background in Port related work, you will have significant experience in a successful team, with sound technical knowledge and the ability to build strong rapport with clients.

Client care is at the heart of everything we do, and we are known for our in-depth knowledge of the ports industry. We will expect you to have a genuine enthusiasm for the industry, client contact, networking, and business development, and ideally you will already be playing a role in these areas in your current position. As an excellent communicator, you will be confident in dealing with clients and skilled at developing and maintaining long-term relationships.

With natural resilience and strong organisational skills, you are able to work well under pressure, manage competing demands, and meet challenging deadlines.

If you are dual qualified in Scotland, we would be particularly interested in hearing from you, but please do contact us whether you are or not, as this is a ‘nice to have’ rather than a core requirement of the role.

We will expect you to take a high degree of responsibility from the outset, whilst supporting your ongoing development. Given the well-established and rapidly expanding range and volume of work we undertake within Industry there are excellent career progression opportunities within the role.

Your Career. Our Commitment.

At Ashfords, we believe in more than just doing great work - we believe in building a great place to work.

When you join us, you become part of a team where everything we do is underpinned by our four core values: Be Open, Think Team, Make a Difference and Always Grow. These values shape who we are and how we work - they guide our decisions, influence our culture, and drive the way we support our people, clients and communities.

With a clear focus on innovation, community involvement, and supporting a healthy work-life balance, we are committed to building an environment where our people can have a rewarding and meaningful career.

Whilst we recognise that every career journey is unique, we will be ambitious for you, giving you the tools, trust, and opportunities to develop your career, your way.

Our goal? To help you realise your full potential as part of a forward-thinking team.

Our offer

We know that our people are at the heart of everything we do – and that’s why we’re committed to supporting your wellbeing, growth and work-life balance.

Beyond our benefits package, you’ll be encouraged, no matter what your role or career level, to get involved in our Responsible Business programme, where you’ll support initiatives such as charity fundraising, environmental causes and our employee led diversity and inclusion groups.

You can find out more about our benefits by visiting the Reward & Wellbeing page on our website.

What’s next?

Our recruitment process typically involves two stages, which are designed not only to explore your skills and experience but also to give you a real insight into what it’s like to work at Ashfords.

Throughout the process, our dedicated Talent Attraction team will be here to support you every step of the way.

We believe that building a firm with a wide range of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences drives innovation and strengthens our teams, and we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds.

To support your growth, we offer ongoing training and development opportunities to help you reach your full potential – so even if you don’t feel you match all the requirements of the job role, we’d still love to hear from you.

At Ashfords, we’re committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, and empowered to succeed.

If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process or would like to discuss anything regarding your application, please contact us at talentattraction@ashfords.co.uk.

For an informal and confidential discussion about this opportunity, please contact Toby Tompkins, Talent Attraction Manager - t.tompkins@ashfords.co.uk.

Or apply now, and we will be in touch with you as soon as possible.