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⚡ Source: ReedRef: 56945267

Corporate Partner – Leading Commercial Law Firm Location: Newcastle

qed legal·Newcastle Upon Tyne·Posted 4 days ago
💰 £88-130k/year⭐ Senior
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Job description

Original text imported from Reed

Corporate Partner – Leading Commercial Law Firm 
Location: Newcastle/ Flexible Working
Type: Partner Appointment
Salary: Highly Competitive + Full Partnership Package

I am currently instructed on a unique and confidential opportunity for a senior corporate lawyer to join a prominent and well-established commercial law firm as a Corporate Partner.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced corporate solicitor—either an established partner or a senior associate ready for partnership—to step into a role where there is already a strong, stable base of high-quality corporate work.

The Firm This firm is consistently recognised for the strength of its commercial offering, with a long-standing reputation for excellence in the North East market and beyond. With a full-service model and a particularly strong focus on owner-managed businesses, SMEs, and mid-market transactions, the firm has developed deep and lasting client relationships across a broad range of sectors.

The Role You will be joining a collaborative and highly capable team of commercial lawyers and be well-positioned to advise on:

  • M&A and disposals

  • Private equity and venture capital

  • Corporate restructuring

  • Shareholder agreements and governance

  • General corporate advisory work

You will benefit from existing institutional clients and an active pipeline of work, with the support of experienced colleagues and a full-service infrastructure. There is an immediate need for a partner-level hire to support growth in demand from both new and longstanding clients.

The Ideal Candidate
  • A senior corporate lawyer with significant experience in transactional and advisory corporate work

  • Ideally already operating at partner level, or a strong legal director / senior associate with a demonstrable business case for promotion

  • A following is welcome but not essential—what matters most is your ability to contribute to a thriving client base and to strengthen existing relationships

  • Commercially focused, collaborative, and ambitious

Why Consider This Opportunity?
  • A rare chance to join a firm with real depth of client loyalty and a strong commercial platform

  • Full access to high-quality work with existing clients

  • Support to develop your own practice, in an environment that values personal ambition and team success equally

  • Genuine long-term career security, with clear support from a progressive leadership team

All enquiries will be handled in the strictest confidence. If you are considering your next move at partner level, or are ready to step up and be part of a successful and collegiate commercial practice - I’d be delighted to speak with you.

For more information please contact Beth Livings at QED Legal.
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Key skills

AI-extracted from the job advert

Must-have skills
Corporate transactional lawMergers and acquisitions (M&A)Corporate advisoryShareholder agreementsCorporate restructuringQualified Solicitor (England & Wales)
Nice-to-have
Private equity transactionsVenture capital advisoryExisting client followingNorth East market network
Soft skills
Commercial focusCollaborationAmbitionRelationship managementConfidentiality
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Application advice

5 AI-generated recommendations to maximise your chances.

1

⭐ Lead your CV with a Personal Statement that explicitly names M&A, private equity, and corporate restructuring, as these are the headline practice areas listed in the role specification.

2

📊 Quantify your transactional track record: e.g. 'Advised on 14 M&A transactions totalling £120M deal value across SME and mid-market clients in the North East over 3 years'.

3

🎯 Highlight any owner-managed business or SME client portfolio prominently — the firm's core client base is explicitly owner-managed businesses and mid-market, so sector alignment is critical here.

4

🤝 If you have an existing client following, note it clearly (even if modest) — the advert states a following is 'welcome but not essential', so any portable work strengthens your candidacy without being a barrier.

5

🌐 Emphasise your North East market knowledge or regional network, as the firm has a 'long-standing reputation in the North East market' — local sector relationships and referral sources are a clear differentiator at partner level.

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Suggested CV bullets

3 bullets our AI drafted for this specific advert, mirroring its ATS keywords.

How to tailor your CV

Add these 3 bullets under your most recent experience:

  • Led 11 mid-market M&A transactions over 3 years, advising owner-managed business sellers and acquirers on deals ranging from £2M to £45M, with all completions delivered on schedule.
  • Drafted and negotiated shareholder agreements and corporate governance frameworks for 18 SME clients, reducing post-completion disputes by implementing robust drag-along and tag-along provisions.
  • Developed a private equity advisory practice stream generating £320,000 in annual fee income, acting for both investee companies and fund managers across seed to Series B transactions.

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Dear Hiring Manager,

QED Legal's Corporate Partner mandate at this Newcastle firm is precisely the opportunity I have been seeking at this stage of my career. With deep experience in M&A, corporate restructuring, and advising owner-managed businesses through complex transactional and governance matters, I am well-placed to contribute immediately to the firm's established client base and active pipeline.

My background in senior corporate practice includes leading mid-market M&A transactions, structuring shareholder agreements for SME clients, and advising on private equity investments across a range of sectors. I have built and maintained lasting client relationships throughout my career, and I understand the commercial priorities that matter most to owner-managed and growth-stage businesses. I am equally comfortable working collaboratively within a full-service firm environment and taking personal responsibility for client outcomes at partner level.

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Interview questions

10 questions generated from this advert.

Technical

  • Walk us through your experience advising on M&A transactions — what is the largest or most complex deal you have led, and what was your specific role?
  • How do you approach corporate restructuring mandates for owner-managed businesses, and what are the key legal and commercial risks you prioritise?
  • Describe your experience with private equity and venture capital transactions — what stages of the investment cycle have you advised on?
  • How do you structure and negotiate shareholder agreements to protect minority interests while preserving commercial relationships?
  • What is your approach to corporate governance advisory for SME clients, and how do you tailor advice to businesses at different stages of growth?

Behavioural

  • Tell me about a time you developed a significant new client relationship from scratch — what was your strategy and what was the outcome?
  • Describe a situation where you had to manage a complex transaction under significant time pressure — how did you keep the deal on track?
  • Give an example of when you identified a cross-selling opportunity for your firm and how you pursued it collaboratively with colleagues.
  • Tell me about a time you had to deliver difficult advice to a client on a transaction — how did you handle the conversation and maintain the relationship?
  • Describe how you have contributed to the development of junior lawyers in your team, and what approach you take to mentoring at partner level.
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STAR answer examples

Model answers using the Situation-Task-Action-Result framework. Adapt to your own experience.

1Question

Tell me about a time you developed a significant new client relationship from scratch — what was your strategy and what was the outcome?

Situation: A regional manufacturing group had historically used a London firm for all corporate work but was frustrated by slow turnaround and lack of partner-level contact. Task: I identified them at a North East business event and recognised an opportunity to demonstrate a more responsive, commercially focused service. Action: I arranged an introductory meeting, prepared a tailored sector briefing on recent M&A trends in manufacturing, and offered a no-obligation review of their existing shareholder structure. I followed up consistently over three months without being intrusive. Result: The client instructed us on a £7.5M management buyout within six months, and over the following two years generated approximately £180,000 in cumulative fees across corporate and commercial matters.
2Question

Describe a situation where you had to manage a complex transaction under significant time pressure — how did you keep the deal on track?

Situation: A private equity-backed acquirer needed to complete a £22M acquisition within four weeks due to a competing bid, compressing what would normally be a ten-week process. Task: As lead corporate partner, I was responsible for coordinating legal due diligence, SPA negotiation, and regulatory sign-off simultaneously. Action: I restructured the workstream into three parallel tracks, assigned a senior associate to each, and held daily 20-minute stand-ups to surface blockers early. I negotiated a phased disclosure process with the seller's solicitors to avoid bottlenecks on the data room. Result: Completion occurred on day 26. The client cited our project management as a key reason for re-instructing us on two further acquisitions the following year.

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