Senior Associate - Travel

Penningtons Manches Cooper are looking to hire an experienced PI litigator to join its highly rated Travel law team in Guildford. The team is regarded as one of the leading specialist teams in the country and forms a part of the firm’s wider PI and clinical negligence capability. As a trusted advisor to the UK travel insurance industry the team is instructed to represent their policyholders, should they be involved in an accident abroad.

The work primarily requires the team to act in a Claimant capacity, though instructions are also received to defend individuals who have caused injury abroad, notably in skiing accident cases. The team collaborates with lawyers from the firm’s foreign offices and its international network to secure the best possible outcomes. They also work with the firm’s Marine Trade and Aviation and Court of Protection teams, in cases which involve marine/aviation litigation or catastrophic injury cases involving Claimants who lack capacity.

The team is currently acting in numerous catastrophic injury claims arising from accidents abroad. We are looking for a candidate who will have primary responsibility of catastrophic injury cases involving foreign accident claims litigated in the English courts, with minimal supervision. The successful candidate will work as part of a team, delegating suitable work to more junior fee earners and helping to supervise their work and caseload as necessary. Fluency in a foreign language is desirable but not essential. The role offers excellent quality work in a collegiate and supportive environment. 

Although experience of travel law is preferable, this role might feasibly be suitable for an experienced PI practitioner, with responsibility for the drafting of schedules of loss and witness statements and the managing of expert evidence and disclosure (etc). The medium to long term aim would be for this candidate to gain experience in travel law, so that he/she can also manage the travel law aspects of a case (eg jurisdiction/applicable law etc).

The firm operates a hybrid agile working policy allowing employees to work from home (or another UK location) for up to 50% of their time but subject to the demands of the business. Although it is intended that the role be with the team in Guildford, we would consider applications from exceptional candidates, who could work out of our London office, attending the Guildford office one day a week for team meetings. Individuals can also apply for other flexible working options either at the time of recruitment or during the course of their employment.

• Handle complex and high value foreign accident claims with minimal supervision 
• Manage the three key stakeholders in foreign litigated claims – the UK travel insurer, the lay client and the foreign lawyer
• Report to insurers on policy terms/exclusion clauses, reserves etc and build good working relationships with claim handlers
• Supervise junior fee earners effectively and delegate suitable work
• Business development - to grow existing insurer instructions/referrals and win new insurer/lay clients
• To increase the travel team's profile in the travel insurance and travel law sectors

• Experience of handling the full range of tasks associated with catastrophic injury claims
• Degree or CILEX qualification
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to manage a busy workload and excellent organisational skills
• Comfortable working under pressure with the ability to plan and prioritise work
• Appreciation of fee earner needs and constraints; commercially aware
• Collaborative and conscientious team member with ability to quickly build relationships with a wide range of people
• Confident to engage in client facing meetings and communications
• Attention to accuracy and detail
• Receptive to facilitate and support change
• Fluency in a foreign language

At our firm, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is a priority and at the heart of everything we do. We actively want to attract a diverse workforce and welcome applications from everyone, from all backgrounds. We are committed to promoting an inclusive culture where everyone can be their full selves and experience being seen and heard. You can find out more about our firm’s commitment, initiatives and Pennclusion committees here.

We ensure that there are equal opportunities and treatment for all job applicants and employees, at all stages of the recruitment process and employment, regardless of age, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, disability, race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and social background. We aim to provide adjustments for people who have a disability, long-term health condition (including mental health) or neurodiversity. If you would like to request an adjustment, please contact Emily.Green@penningtonslaw.com