Senior Solicitor (Band 4) - Max Rate

Employment, Criminal & Commercial Litigation Team Westminster City Council Working Style: Agile – minimum 1 day per week in the office About Westminster City Council At Westminster City Council, we're committed to creating a Fairer Westminster by putting residents first in everything we do. Our diverse and dynamic city presents unique legal challenges, offering an exciting opportunity for ambitious lawyers who want to make a real impact. We foster a culture of openness, integrity and collaboration, where everyone is encouraged to develop professionally and contribute to meaningful outcomes for residents, businesses and visitors. Through the Westminster Way, we invest in our people, value diversity and empower everyone to lead. The Opportunity We are seeking a talented litigation lawyer to join our Employment, Criminal & Commercial Litigation Team. We are open to candidates from either of the following backgrounds: Property Litigation Solicitors with experience handling commercial landlord and tenant disputes, development land matters, telecommunications disputes, possession proceedings, dilapidations, forfeiture, break notices and related contentious property work; or Commercial Litigation Solicitors with strong experience managing complex civil litigation matters, contractual disputes, injunctions, debt recovery, insolvency-related disputes and broader commercial litigation caseloads. This is an opportunity to work on high-profile, complex and politically sensitive matters, advising one of the UK's most prominent local authorities. You will manage your own caseload while helping to support junior colleagues and contributing to the strategic objectives of the Council. Key Responsibilities

Manage a varied caseload of complex civil, commercial and/or property litigation matters with minimal supervision. Conduct litigation in the County Court, High Court and relevant Tribunals. Provide clear, pragmatic and timely legal advice to Council departments and senior stakeholders. Draft pleadings, witness statements, legal agreements, reports and advisory documents. Negotiate favourable outcomes on behalf of the Council. Attend meetings with officers, elected members, external organisations and government bodies. Prepare and advise on reports for Cabinet, Committees and Sub-Committees. Support and mentor junior team members. Monitor legal and regulatory developments and advise clients on their impact. Maintain accurate case management records and ensure compliance with all procedural requirements.

About You You will be a qualified Solicitor, Barrister or CILEX Lawyer with practising rights and at least 2 years' post-qualification experience. We would particularly welcome applications from candidates with experience in either: Property Litigation Landlord and tenant disputes. Commercial possession claims. Dilapidations. Forfeiture and breach of covenant matters. Break notices. Development land disputes. Telecommunications and infrastructure disputes. Property Tribunal proceedings. Commercial Litigation Contractual disputes. Complex civil litigation. Debt recovery and enforcement. Injunctive proceedings. Professional negligence claims. Insolvency-related disputes. General commercial disputes and risk management. Essential Requirements Qualified Solicitor, Barrister or Fellow of CILEX with practising rights. Minimum 2 years' post-qualification experience. Strong litigation experience with the ability to independently manage complex cases. Excellent drafting, advocacy and negotiation skills. Ability to explain complex legal issues to non-legal stakeholders. Commercially minded with a focus on achieving value for money. Able to work effectively in a fast-paced, digitally enabled environment. Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.

Desirable

Experience working within local government or the public sector. Knowledge of local authority powers and duties. Experience of insolvency law. Experience of construction litigation.