Legal Director – Crime & Regulatory (progressive law firm!)

(we will also consider someone at the Senior Associate level)

Location: Manchester (Hybrid working available)

Salary: Up to £95,000 + bonus (Legal Director) / up to £70,000 (Senior Associate)

Type: Full Time / Permanent

We are proud to be supporting a long-established and highly respected legal business with the appointment of a Legal Director to lead and grow a specialist Crime & Regulatory practice within their Manchester office.

This is a rare opportunity for a senior lawyer to step into a high-impact leadership role—working across complex and sensitive matters on behalf of regulated professionals, SMEs, and public sector clients, often under insurer-funded arrangements.

The role blends technical case leadership, team development, client management and strategic influence across the wider business. You will join a forward-thinking, values-led firm that successfully blends the agility of a boutique with the backing of a global parent group.

About the Firm:

Our client is an SRA-regulated legal services provider with national reach and a strong reputation in civil litigation, employment, commercial, and regulatory law. Their work is underpinned by long-term partnerships with insurers and affinity groups, and they offer both insured and uninsured clients access to clear, pragmatic legal advice. The culture is collaborative, commercially focused, and genuinely people-first.

The Crime & Regulatory team handles a diverse and intellectually stimulating caseload, including professional disciplinary defence, inquests, business crime, environmental regulation, and health & safety matters. Clients are often navigating investigations or proceedings that are career-defining—and the team is known for its empathetic, expert, and outcomes-focused approach.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Leading on complex crime and regulatory matters, including:
• Professional discipline and healthcare regulation
• Police disciplinary investigations
• Health & safety, environmental, and licensing cases
• CQC/Ofsted enforcement and registration issues
• Business crime investigations and prosecutions
• Inquests and public inquiries
• Managing and mentoring a team of solicitors, paralegals, and trainees
• Developing and deepening strategic relationships with clients, including key insurer partners and affinity groups
• Advising on policy interpretation, indemnity, and insurance-funded litigation strategies
• Supporting broader team performance and contributing to operational improvements
• Representing the firm in senior forums, both internally and externally
• Delivering against commercial KPIs including billing, recovery, and team utilisation

What We’re Looking For:

• 5-10+ years PQE with a strong track record in crime, regulatory, or professional discipline law (salary dependant on experience)
• Demonstrated leadership experience within a law firm or insurer-side environment
• Deep understanding of insurer relationships and delegated authority models
• Experience supervising teams and driving high standards of client service and legal delivery
• Excellent technical and interpersonal skills, particularly in dealing with sensitive or reputationally significant matters
• Strong organisational and communication abilities
• A genuine interest in supporting regulated individuals and businesses through complex legal processes

Why Join This Firm?

• A unique opportunity to shape and grow a high-performing team
• Broad, fascinating work across public and private sectors
• True autonomy, influence, and access to leadership
• A people-first environment where values are lived, not just listed
• Hybrid working and flexible structure
• Long-term progression routes in a business that’s growing year-on-year

Apply Now:

To arrange a confidential conversation or request further details, please contact Elliott Sanderson at Sanderson King:

elliott@sandersonking.co.uk