Senior Ports & Marine Lawyer (Legal Director / Partner) - Bristol/Exeter
- Open also to candidates currently operating at Senior Associate level looking to progress to Legal Director / Partner level.

A leading Tier 1 Legal 500 practice is seeking to recruit an experienced lawyer to join its highly regarded Ports & Marine team on a full-time, permanent basis. This opportunity is ideally suited to individuals currently operating at Senior Associate level who have clear ambitions to progress to Legal Director or Partner.

The Team

The team is recognised as a Tier 1 practice in the Legal 500 and is widely regarded as a market leader within the ports and marine sector. It acts for an extensive and well-established client base, including a significant proportion of UK port operators, major harbour authorities and marine developers, as well as some of the largest international port groups.
The practice is known for its deep sector expertise, strong industry relationships, and its ability to advise on the full spectrum of legal matters affecting ports and marine businesses.

The Role

The team is looking to appoint a senior lawyer with demonstrable experience advising within the ports and marine industry.

• Relevant experience includes:
• Ports and harbour work
• Marine-related disputes and litigation
• Regulatory and environmental matters
• Commercial/contractual work, including logistics
• Port or coastal development

Candidates with strong, transferable experience connected to the ports sector are also encouraged to apply. The role offers a varied and high-quality caseload, with the opportunity to take on significant responsibility from day one within a collaborative and supportive team environment.

About You

You will be:

• Currently operating at, or ready to step into, a Legal Director role or above
• Experienced in advising clients within the ports and marine sector
• Technically strong, commercially aware, and client-focused
• Confident in managing client relationships and contributing to business development initiatives

Dual qualification (including Scotland) would be advantageous but is not essential.

Career Progression

This role offers a clear and structured progression pathway for ambitious lawyers seeking to advance to Legal Director or Partner level.

Interested? Get in touch with Sam Higgins at Simpson Judge for further information on or via email at