Commercial Solicitor CV Example (UK, 2026)
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Charlotte Pemberton
Commercial Solicitor (4 PQE)
London, UK
Profile
Qualified Commercial Solicitor with 4 years' post-qualification experience in M&A, joint ventures and commercial contracts at a Top 20 UK firm. Led the legal workstream on a £120M acquisition of a UK logistics business, advising on due diligence, SPA drafting and completion. Seeking an in-house Counsel or Senior Associate role in a FTSE 250 or PE-backed business.
Work Experience
Associate Solicitor — Corporate
Eversheds Sutherland LLP
Sep 2021 – Present
- Led the legal workstream on a £120M acquisition of a UK logistics company: managed due diligence across 8 workstreams, negotiated SPA warranties and drafted board resolutions for completion.
- Advised 3 PE-backed portfolio companies on governance restructures, shareholder agreements and management incentive plans — transactions ranging from £20M to £85M.
Trainee Solicitor
Eversheds Sutherland LLP
Sep 2019 – Aug 2021
- Completed 4 seats: Corporate M&A, Commercial Litigation, Banking & Finance, and Employment — gaining exposure to a cross-disciplinary client base including FTSE 100 corporates.
- Drafted commercial contracts, NDAs and board minutes independently from the end of seat 2; commended by supervising partner for commercial awareness.
Education
LLB Law (First Class) · LPC (Distinction)
University of Bristol / BPP Law School
2015–2019
Key Skills
ATS Score: 91%
This CV passes the ATS filters used by most UK employers. Single-column layout, standard headings, keyword-optimised.
4 Tips for Commercial Solicitor CVs
State your PQE (years post-qualification experience) prominently — legal recruiters and law firms screen for this immediately and it determines the band of roles you are eligible for.
Name the transaction types and values where you can: deal sizes, sector focus, and counterparty types (PE, listed, SME) define your market positioning.
For in-house applications, emphasise commercial contract drafting, stakeholder management, and business partnership skills over pure deal execution.
Include your training seat rotations — these demonstrate cross-discipline exposure and are useful context even years after qualification.
Commercial Solicitor CV — Frequently Asked Questions
How is a legal CV different from other professional CVs?
Legal CVs in the UK tend to be more formal and conservative in presentation. They prioritise firm name, practice area, transaction experience, and academic credentials. Typically 2 pages for experienced lawyers.
Do I include transactions under NDA on my CV?
You can describe the type of transaction (e.g. "PE-backed acquisition in the logistics sector, c.£50M") without naming the client. This is standard practice in legal CVs and gives hiring managers the context they need.
When should I move in-house?
Many lawyers move in-house at 2–5 PQE. In-house roles typically offer better work-life balance but lower starting salaries than private practice at equivalent seniority. The jump is easier from a general commercial or corporate background.
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