Lead Lawyer - Linked & Organised Fraud

Davies is seeking a Lead Lawyer to steer a virtual team dedicated to Linked & Organised Fraud. This is a permanent, full-time, onsite role based in Bolton within the Legal department. It is ideal for a solicitor or CILEX with the right to practise who wants to lead, mentor and deliver strategic counter-fraud outcomes for high-profile clients. Applications close on 19 October 2026.

The successful candidate will act as the lead handler for specific Linked and Organised Operations, coordinating robust, technically sound strategies across each operation while working with clients and the handling team to ensure those plans are delivered. The role sits alongside the Head of Linked and Organised, the Counter-Fraud Strategy Director and Technical Manager, and involves managing a caseload of operations and complex counter-fraud cases. You will hold direct technical responsibility for a team of counter-fraud handlers and assistants, ensuring the quality of work through mentoring, training and appropriate supervision and peer reviews.

Beyond technical excellence, the role emphasizes leadership, engagement and the technical development of team members. It involves interfacing with sophisticated senior claims handlers at long-standing insurance clients, helping to enhance Davies's profile and your own as you attract more work. Strong relationships with existing counter-fraud clients are valued as you look to grow the team, and collaboration with regulators, fraud prevention groups and Counsel will be key to coordinating detection, prevention and disruption across your operations.

Steering the work you’ll do

In this role, you’ll shape strategic and technical approaches to linked and organised fraud, ensuring strategies are not only sound but also deliver innovative, market-leading outcomes for clients. You’ll devise and implement case strategies while aligning with broader KYO or generic strategies, and you’ll keep a close eye on evidence as the case unfolds to refine the approach. You’ll also spot opportunities for strategic litigation and identify cases that warrant complex consideration or referral.

As the technical lead, you’ll supervise and peer-review the team’s work, make full use of the firm’s Case Management System to progress files from receipt to closure, and delegate tasks to ensure assistants contribute toward chargeable hours targets. You’ll aim to improve kick-out rates and ensure compliance with the SRA Code of Conduct 2011. On the client front, you’ll build partnerships to support their strategic goals, maintain high levels of client satisfaction across all cases handled, and ensure timely, accurate client and internal management information and KPI delivery.

Leadership sits at the core of the role: you’ll motivate and engage the team, flag wellbeing or performance concerns with support from the Team Leader, set objectives and development plans, and conduct regular progress checks, including performance reviews. As you grow the team, you’ll help with recruitment and probation processes and contribute to Davies’s broader culture and values as you drive financial targets and client outcomes forward.

What you’ll bring to the role

• Holder of a current practising certificate as a solicitor or CILEX with the necessary rights
• Extensive experience handling non-delegated counter-fraud cases with appropriate handling authority
• Ability to spot trends and turn them into strategies that deliver leading results
• Proven track record of supervising others and advancing junior team members
• A positive, confident and enthusiastic mindset
• Strong listening, verbal and written communication abilities
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a history of building solid client relationships
• Solid IT skills and comfort with technology used to manage case work
• Skill in prioritising tasks, meeting deadlines and performing under pressure
• Ability to earn the trust and confidence of colleagues and clients
• Sound decision-making capabilities
• High concentration and meticulous attention to detail
• Demonstrated drive to achieve objectives with a proven track record

• A positive, confident and enthusiastic leadership style that motivates a team
• Strong client-facing presence and ability to maintain relationships with clients
• Comfort using a Case Management System and other technical tools
• Resilience to work in a high-stakes environment and handle complex matters under pressure

Rewards and practical details in Bolton

Davies offers a broad benefits package designed to support you day to day and over the longer term. Highlights include the Davies Incentive Plan, 25 days of holiday per year (increasing with service and with an option to buy or sell up to 3 days), and private medical insurance through Bupa. There is also a Simply Health care cash plan, 24/7 online GP and wellbeing support, life cover, critical illness protection, and income protection. The firm contributes to a pension at 5% for the employee and 3% for the employer, and supports employee networks, volunteering, and schemes such as Cycle to Work and Tech Scheme, along with a Season Ticket Loan, Gym Flex, online discounts, and membership perks with Gourmet Society and Merlin Attractions, as well as local retailer discounts. Note that some benefits apply after probation.

Tips to stand out for this lead role

Put your qualifications and leadership experience first on your resume, especially your status as a solicitor or CILEX with the right to practise, plus a clear track record managing counter-fraud work and leading a team through complex operations.

Show real evidence of the must-have skills by sharing concrete examples: how you supervised others, the strategies you devised from trend analysis, and the outcomes you delivered in counter-fraud cases. Include details about how you used a Case Management System to move files from receipt to closure and how you improved metrics such as kick-out rates and KPI achievement.

Be prepared to talk through how you work with regulators, clients and Counsel, and how you develop and mentor a team to deliver high-quality work. Expect questions about interface with senior claims handlers, and about maintaining standards under the SRA Code of Conduct 2011 while driving strategic initiatives.

When you get to the interview, consider asking about the current priorities for the Linked & Organised Fraud operations, how success is measured (for example client and internal KPIs, kick-out rates, and strategic litigation opportunities), and what it takes to grow the team further over the next year.