Job Details
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
• We are looking to hire a bright, commercial lawyer able to fit into our team to enable us to manage a busy workload in line with the growth of the firm.
• Working closely with the other members of the Commercial and Regulatory team in the OGC, you will play an important role in a broad range of complex, often strategic matters related to the Firm, its clients and the development and growth of the Firm's business. The team is based in the UK but supports the Firm globally.
THE TEAM
• The OGC team comprises over 35 lawyers and other team members. It acts as the internal legal function of the Firm, overseeing regulatory compliance in the jurisdictions in which the Firm operates and supporting the Firm in managing legal risk in the work it undertakes.
• The team has a number of sub-teams that handle claims and complaints, oversee negotiation of the Firm's professional indemnity and other insurances, ensure compliance across the firm with legal and regulatory requirements, manage conflicts, negotiate key supplier contracts for the Firm and terms that govern key client relationships and are involved in strategic activity and support the Firm's board.
• This opportunity is for a Lawyer in the Commercial & Regulatory sub-team, with a particular focus on significant commercial contracts that the Firm may enter into. The role will also involve supporting the Firm's offices (present and future) outside of the UK, too.
• The team, along with the rest of the Firm, has embedded a flexible and agile culture. Our working flexibly policy makes agile working accessible to all, whilst always balancing an individual's needs with the requirements of the team, the Firm and its clients.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIS ROLE
Legal:
• Providing legal advice to all areas of the Firm on a wide range of commercial and regulatory issues
• Contributing information and analysis on upcoming issues, legislation, regulatory change, market intelligence and best practice, and shaping strategies to anticipate change
• Contributing to and leading training in respect of risk and compliance issues to Partners and fee earners across the Firm
• Undertaking company secretarial activity (or equivalent) required in respect of entities that are affiliated to the Firm
Compliance:
• Contributing to the compliance strategy, structure and processes for the Firm, ensuring that compliance systems, processes and frameworks are robust yet practical
• Assisting the Firm's GC/COLP in handling issues arising from the regulatory obligations of the Firm and the individuals in the Firm, including assisting in any reporting obligations to the SRA and other applicable regulators
• Assisting on data protection compliance (including GDPR), policies, approach (including direct marketing) and responses to DSARs
• Support the wider OGC team on client questionnaires and contracts
Risk Management:
• Actively contributing to the development of the risk management culture within the Firm as part of the OGC team
• Contributing to compliance activity led by the team, including assessing current controls and ability to evidence those controls to achieve regulatory objectives
• Supporting on formulating and implementing risk management policies with reference to (and in conjunction with) the Firm's practice groups, and ensuring those policies remain current and fit for purpose
• Advising on specific matters where the work undertaken in the fee earning teams may increase risk to the Firm, including issues relating to liability caps, third party reliance and issuing legal opinions
• Advising on new office openings and queries arising from all jurisdictions in which we have an office
• Working closely with HR on queries such as lateral hires (including large team acquisitions)
• Building collaborative relationships with stakeholders around the business
YOUR AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE
To be successful in this role, you will:
• Be a UK qualified lawyer with at least 2 years' PQE. The ideal candidate will have commercial and transactional experience gained in private practice supplemented with risk and compliance experience gained with the legal/compliance team of another leading international law firm or an equivalent team at a listed/regulated business, a major financial institution or a professional services business.
• Have an eye for detail whilst being able to see ‘the big picture'
• Have an ability to tailor your approach to every client (likely to be a member of the firm) delivering high-quality and tailored legal support.
• The ability to present information in a clear, concise and logical manner and to achieve effective communication across international boundaries, mindful of different cultural norms
• Be prepared to give answers rather than a list of options. Flexible, commercial and solution driven in approach
• Be able to be a ‘lawyer to the lawyers' and demonstrate the judgment, experience and insight which would command respect from that population
• Have an in-depth understanding of the regulatory regime as it applies to law firms in the UK. It would be an advantage to have an in-depth knowledge for other jurisdictions too
• Have excellent influencing and persuasive skills – the ability to win over others and/or to achieve partner sponsorship for projects and initiatives
• Be a team player, able to work independently as well as within a wider team
• Have strength of character and resilience
• Be able to work to deadlines, juggle multiple projects and deliver under pressure
• Have a practical and common-sense approach
• Be able to deal with confidential matters with discretion
OUR FIRM
Addleshaw Goddard is a place where you are valued, encouraged, and challenged to fulfil your potential in a supportive and collegiate environment. Our culture of improvement, growth and collaboration delivers results, drives innovation, and rewards ambition.
We not only provide technical excellence and experience but, crucially, demonstrate real insight into our clients and what really matters to them and as such we are natural choice for FTSE100 clients and their equivalents in other markets.
Our success has been built by people from the widest range of backgrounds, locations, and perspectives. We have a number of employee networks that provide space to discuss the differences that make us who we are and celebrate this at AG.
OUR APPROACH: IMAGINE THE BEST YOU CAN BE
Everything we've accomplished can be traced back to our people and the way we work. Our reputation is something we are proud of, and constantly invest in.
Here, you'll do high calibre work, with high-character colleagues who care for one another and our clients.
Are you up for the challenge?
