Technology/Data Protection/Commercial – Associate/Senior Associate/Managing Associate

Term:

Permanent

Working hours:

Full time/Part time

Practice area:

Commercial & IT

Location:

Guildford/ Hybrid/ Remote – Whilst we are based in Guildford, we also operate a hybrid working model but will consider candidates who wish to work wholly remotely.

The Role

We are looking for all levels of associate to join our leading commercial and IT team. You will focus on technology and data protection work, but will get involved in other areas of commercial law, reflecting the diverse work we do. As a member of our team you will also work closely alongside, and provide support to the commercial and IT partners. This will include managing a variety of matters and clients, business development, and leading and mentoring associates within our commercial team of 14 lawyers.

We recognise that lawyers value the ability to work flexibly – we have agile working policies to facilitate flexible working and whilst this is a full time role, we will consider candidates wishing to work 4 days per week.

What will you be doing?

The team carry out a diverse range of contract and advisory work, but we would want you to focus on IT contracts and issues together with some data protection advice. There is a particular sector focus on tech businesses, insurance/financial services and life sciences.

So, you can expect to get involved in a fantastic range of work, with an impressive client list that includes well-known brands, multinationals, FTSE 100 corporates as well as owner managed businesses and entrepreneurs. The team (and the wider firm) has a significant focus on international work and much of what we do has a cross border dimension.

Representative recent matters include:

• Advising on the implementation of large IT Projects including negotiating software licensing, professional services, and helpdesk arrangements for various food and hospitality businesses
• Drafting and implementing a suite of arrangements for a global IT supplier in relation to infrastructure as a service arrangements
• Advising a global life insurance business on its platform and app-related product distribution arrangements
• Providing all required IT and regulatory advice to a next generation Swedish telecommunications company, providing services across the UK
• Advising a US global payment provider on its data protection requirements and negotiations with customers such as banks and major retailers
• Advising US software and services provider on its Med Tech contracts and intragroup personal data transfer arrangements in light of Brexit and Schrems ii
• Advising on the implementation of EU falsified medicines law in the UK, including technology outsourcing agreements and advice on Brexit related implications
• Advising on the data protection aspects of international franchise agreements for a well-known retailer of menswear

As a member of the team , you can also expect to:

• Build strong relationships with key leaders in client organisations
• Promote client relationships across the firm, and cross selling opportunities
• Promote firm-wide knowledge sharing and help with internal projects
• Work with us to identify and develop new areas of business for growth
• Supervise and manage more junior members of the team, and be involved in resourcing and building the team
• Manage significant projects successfully and deliver business goals within an agreed timescale and budget

Qualifications and Experience

We are looking for strong team players with good inter-personal skills, good academics and high quality experience – typically with a major City or leading national/regional practice – who have a commercial approach and excellent technical, communication and negotiation skills.

The range of the work undertaken means we can accommodate a variety of experiences and aspirations: you might be a technology lawyer looking to continue this type of work, or a data protection or commercial lawyer who wishes to develop specialist legal or sector expertise.

The Firm

Stevens & Bolton – making a positive difference to your career

Stevens & Bolton is a UK law firm with over 250 staff. Of those around 150 are lawyers, approximately a third of them partners, many of whom chose to join us from City law firms. Our office is based in Guildford and our staff work from here and also flexibly.

We’ve made excellence the hallmark of our firm: in the clear advice we give, in the enduring client relationships we build and in our proactive and highly responsive service. We seek to recruit people who will help us maintain and build on this, and in return we offer excellent long-term career and development opportunities.

You’ll work with people who listen, and who actively and willingly support one another within a collaborative and engaging environment. We genuinely care about our people and strive to build and maintain a diverse, inclusive and happy workforce.

We have a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion (D&I). This drives a strategy which focuses on constant promotion of an inclusive culture that encourages everyone to realise their full potential and be themselves at work. In 2020 we were shortlisted for “Best D&I Initiative” at The HR Awards and for “Best Talent and Inclusion Initiative” at The Lawyer Awards.

Our vision is to be one of the UK’s most successful law firms, offering excellence beyond the city, a supportive culture and the best client experience. Always making a positive difference. We were proud to be named Law Firm of the Year: The Independents at The Lawyer Awards 2020.