Director/Senior Director, Litigation
About Hawthorn
Hawthorn Advisors is one of London’s fastest growing strategic communications consultancies and one of the most dynamic and rewarding places to work in the sector. We are based in London and are launching in New York and internationally. We are completely focused on helping businesses, organisations and their leaders navigate the complex and rapidly changing economic, political, and social landscapes in which they operate, whilst developing our people to help them achieve these objectives.
A career at Hawthorn presents opportunities to work across different specialisms and a range of sectors, and to broaden and deepen experience, working with some outstanding talent. The specific services we offer derive from our own expertise and include advising our clients in the following areas: Corporate reputation and leadership; Crisis and Litigation; Political advisory; Growth Companies and Capital Markets; Digital Strategy; Purpose and ESG; Employee Communication and Engagement and International.
Hawthorn comprises an ambitious senior leadership team, all with acclaimed expertise from the highest levels of the corporate, political and media worlds. We combine the knowledge and wisdom of our senior leadership team with an exceptional team of strategic communications and digital specialists across our consultancy to deliver truly impactful and commercially successful projects for our international client base.
Renowned for honest and experienced counsel, Hawthorn uses in-depth intelligence, creativity, and its connectivity and knowledge to build communication programmes across all platforms that respond effectively to our clients’ needs.
Our People
At Hawthorn, we put our clients and our people at the heart of everything we do. We empower our colleagues with the freedom and autonomy that enables them to deliver outstanding results for our clients. We thrive on challenges, embrace innovative ideas, and believe in having fun along the way. If you’re seeking a dynamic environment that values creativity, ambition, and entrepreneurial spirit; offers diverse and challenging opportunities; fosters continuous learning; and encourages collaboration among big thinkers, then Hawthorn is the place for you.
Building an inclusive and connected culture is crucial to our success. Hawthorn is a sum of its people, and we believe the best way to drive collaboration, unlock creativity, and enable innovation is through combining different perspectives, experiences, and ideas. Therefore, we are committed to building a diverse and equitable environment where everyone at Hawthorn feels they belong.
Our Values
- Creative: You are an innovative thinker who brings originality and flair to every challenge.
- Ambitious: You are driven and passionate, with an unwavering commitment to achieving both your personal goals and the company’s objectives.
- Entrepreneurial: You are a proactive self-starter, always looking to build networks and capitalize on new opportunities.
- Collaborative: You are a dedicated team player who supports colleagues, builds strong partnerships, and is committed to helping others succeed while delivering impactful results.
- Connected: You excel at forging and maintaining strong relationships, ensuring that ideas and opportunities flow smoothly within the team and with clients.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership and Management
- Contribute to and support the day-to-day management of Hawthorn, including sitting on the Management Board and leading internal initiatives, committees, or workstreams.
- Display exemplary leadership and management skills, ensuring effective and appropriate people management on accounts.
- Provide advice, guidance, and mentoring to team members, supporting recruitment, retention, and staff development initiatives.
- Champion change initiatives that align with Hawthorn’s vision, communicating effectively and leading others with positivity and clear direction.
- Promote a culture of collaboration and respect, encouraging a partnership mindset across the consultancy and celebrating the successes of peers and colleagues.
- Write articles and contribute to publications, staying updated on sector trends.
New Business Acquisition
- Identify, secure, and convert new business, meeting targets set by the CEO.
- Grow the litigation work to build a practice with a clear offer for the market.
- Actively initiate and maintain relationships, particularly with key law firms, to acquire new clients and maximize organic growth opportunities with existing clients.
- Leverage cross-selling opportunities across disciplines at Hawthorn, collaborating with senior colleagues.
- Proactively identify and pursue new marketing and networking opportunities, attending events as required.
- Lead new business pitches and presentations, delivering insights and advice with energy and confidence.
- Enhance Hawthorn’s reputation as a thought leader in litigation comms through speaking engagements, and writing for relevant industry titles.
Client and Account Team Management
- Run client accounts to the highest standards, supporting Partners in setting the strategic and operational direction and setting a high standard for the team.
- Lead crisis management engagements for key clients, ensuring the highest standards of reputation resilience, and delivering strategic solutions.
- Oversee the execution of annual plans for each account, ensuring clarity on direction, objectives, roles, and responsibilities for team members.
- Monitor team performance and output, intervening or providing support as needed to maintain high standards.
- Actively support the training and upskilling of teams, ensuring that they are equipped with the latest digital and AI tools to shape strategic thinking.
- Facilitate regular check-ins with client leads to ensure satisfaction, manage emerging issues, and navigate difficult conversations as needed.
- Nurture senior-level relationships across client portfolios, offering strategic counsel and ensuring ongoing trusted relationships with a network of media and political contacts.
- Oversee contract status, fee renegotiation, and address broader commercial pressures.
Best Practice
- Participate in and lead training and continuous professional development (CPD) initiatives as required by Hawthorn.
- Act as an ambassador for Hawthorn, upholding the firm’s policies and procedures, and always conducting oneself in a professional manner.
- Engage in thought leadership activities, contributing to internal and external platforms, and providing insights that drive client work and new business.
- Maintain a high profile within the consultancy, mentoring colleagues and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace culture.
- Lead and manage crisis situations effectively, offering senior counsel and ensuring strategic responses to media inquiries.
- Lead client presentations, new business pitches, and use digital and AI tools to shape strategic thinking.
- Actively participate in Management Board workstreams, contributing to the annual management action plan and the broader commercial objectives of the business.
Candidate specification
- Candidate must have extensive experience in corporate communications and litigation comms with an innate understanding of the media landscape.
- Strong leadership skills. An inspiring person to work with, clearly showing a collaborative approach to account management and showing an ability to think creatively.
- Strategic advisor to clients with a deep understanding of their industries and markets.
- Wide-ranging experience of leading responses to issues and crisis management and advising clients.
- Adept at handling sensitive media relations issues.
- Strong relationships with media and broader stakeholder contacts.
- Skilled in business development, client retention, and operational efficiency.
- Exceptional written and verbal communications skills.
Benefits
We offer competitive salaries that fully reflect your skills and experience, and benefits that support your mental, physical, financial, and social wellbeing including:
- Benefits including Pension, Salary Exchange, medical and life insurance, plus cycle to work and technology schemes.
- Flexible working options based around home and office locations, with flexible working patterns.
- Time-off including annual, parental, sabbatical, and volunteering leave.
- 25 days annual leave in year one, 26 days thereafter.
- Annual charity day where an employee can volunteer their time to a chosen charity of their choice
- A continuous learning culture to support your growth.
- Proactive wellbeing support including our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), sick leave provision, mental health first-aiders, and menopause app Peppy.
- Office perks including breakfasts, lunches, snacks and drinks.
- A packed social calendar which includes sports and cultural activities, charity bike rides, plus not-to-be missed summer and Christmas parties each year.
