What Do Corporate Lawyers Do?

Corporate law is a highly rewarding and challenging area of UK legal practice. As a corporate lawyer, you have the chance to help businesses handle a range of corporate legal issues that arise in their day-to-day operations, and work with them on major deals such as corporate transactions. As a lawyer in this field, you have the chance to support small to global businesses, across a wide array of industries.

In this guide we will explore what corporate lawyers do, the skills you need for success, the benefits and whether this could be the right career path for you.

What Is the Role of a Corporate Lawyer?

Corporate lawyers work with businesses to help them make sure they meet their legal obligations and achieve their goals. Corporate law (also known as company law) focuses on advising on company related legal matters that affect businesses.

Much of the work involves giving advice on business deals and transactions, helping with compliance with company law matters, and setting up the legal structures.

One of the most high-profile areas of corporate law is mergers and acquisitions. Here, corporate lawyers help businesses to buy, sell, or merge with other businesses. This typically involves heavy project management, including the need to manage due diligence, draft contracts, and make sure the deal goes smoothly and complies with legal requirements from start to finish.

Corporate lawyers can also find themselves involved in helping businesses raise funds and gain investments. In a competitive business market, this type of advice is invaluable for companies looking to grow.

Other transactional work can include helping businesses reorganise, transfer assets, or carry out share buybacks.

A corporate lawyer may also need to advise directors on their duties under the Companies Act 2006 or guide them to make sure the company is meeting its legal obligations.

As such, corporate lawyer can become involved in various work to help business clients comply with the law, manage risks, and run transactions and lawfully smoothly.

What Skills Do Corporate Lawyers Need?

To succeed in corporate law, you will need both strong legal knowledge and practical, commercial skills:

• You will need a strong understanding of English company law principles. However, commercial acumen is equally vital as you will need to be able to apply the law to real life commercial scenarios and the challenges your clients face.
• A big part of the job is strong communication. You will need to be able to explain complex company law issues in simple, clear terms, whether you are drafting a contract, advising a board of directors, or negotiating a transaction.
• Strong negotiation skills are also key. You will often need to negotiate to help secure the best commercial outcomes for your clients, for instance where you are negotiating transactional documents.
• You will also need solid problem-solving and creative thinking skills. Corporate transactions can give rise to challenges and finding ways to tackle tricky issues whilst avoiding unnecessary risks can be a big part of the job.
• Teamwork and project management is essential. Corporate lawyers will rarely work alone. You will often need to closely collaborate with colleagues, clients, and other professionals – such as business brokers, accountants, and your own legal colleagues, on corporate transactions. For example, as a corporate lead lawyer in a corporate transaction you will often need to project manage and delegate responsibilities to other teams such as your employment and commercial colleagues.
• Corporate law requires sharp attention to detail. Whether you are reviewing contracts or drafting company law related documents, precision is vital.

What Are the Benefits of a Career in Corporate Law?

A career in corporate law comes with various benefits e.g.:

• Varied and challenging work where no two deals are the same, and you have the chance to work with a range of different business clients from savvy start-ups to household name brands. 
• Corporate law gives you the chance to make a real impact. Your work can help businesses grow, manage risks, and stay compliant. This tangible result can be hugely rewarding, particularly after completing corporate transactions which are hugely meaningful to clients.
• The career also comes with strong earning potential. Salaries in corporate law are competitive and often high, especially if you seek to work for a top City firm.
• There are also global opportunities within this field such as the chance to work on international projects and lawyers in different jurisdictions, as businesses increasingly need advice on international deals.

As such, the role offers a range of key benefit and the chance to develop strong skills which will set you up for a bright career path.

It is important, however, to note that the role does come with challenges as it can be demanding, with long working hours at times during transactions. But, for ambitious lawyers, this is a change to develop strong skills and experience and challenge yourself and grow.  

How The Legists Can Support Your Career in Corporate Law

If you are considering a career in corporate law, The Legists can help you take the next step. As one of the UK’s leading legal job platforms, we connect lawyers with roles at top City firms, regional practices, and boutique specialists.

Explore a wide range of Corporate Solicitor roles to find your next opportunity.  You can also set up job alerts to receive tailored listings directly to your inbox. For more advice and tips on building your legal career, view our Career Advice hub and article on Corporate Law vs Commercial Law.