Apply here by 8 June 2021
Overview of the firm and function
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is a major international law firm, providing business law advice of the highest quality. We want to be the law firm that clients turn to for legal advice where it most matters, wherever in the world that may be. The Firm has over 2,400 lawyers in 28 offices around the world, providing a comprehensive service to national and multinational corporations, financial institutions and governments.
Our people make our firm – we are a people business and want to create a welcoming and supportive environment where all can flourish. We see diversity as a strength which creates fresh perspectives and generates new ideas. We enjoy our work and are determined to do an outstanding job. We deliver best when working in teams. Our culture is a product of the combined mindsets and behaviours of our people which is through the Being Freshfields principles, outlined below:
- we show respect to everyone
- we are there for one another
- we are open with each other
- we are positive role models
We think and work globally – we don’t just say we are one firm; we act like one firm right across the world. We work wherever our clients need us. This is how we define ourselves, not by reference to where we have offices. Cross-border work isn’t just what we do, it is what we excel at. We understand what it really takes to work across different legal systems and commercial environments and to bridge language and cultural gaps.
We aim to add value in everything we do – we are passionate about helping our clients succeed. We use our experience and creativity to help clients make judgements and achieve their goals. In everything we do, we seek to make a real difference to the communities in which we operate.
The Freshfields Hub is responsible for delivering high value, high quality legal solutions, supported by advanced legal technology, to the firm and our clients. The Hub’s Manchester location sits as a strategic part of the firm’s Global Centre there, and is made up of qualified lawyers, Legal Solutions Specialists (“LSSs”), and project management and legal tech specialists. Working closely with other Hub locations in Central Europe and Asia, and with lawyers from around our network, dedicated teams work on complex transactions, disputes and investigations.
Freshfields is committed to promoting equality and diversity and to developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds make important and positive contributions to our business and how we service our clients.
Our Financial Services Regulatory practice
In a world of ever-more complex and interlocking regulatory requirements, compliance is a growing burden, with enforcement action and penalties becoming more severe. Our regulatory lawyers are spread across several practice groups, offering an extensive pool of knowledge. Freshfields are market leaders in proactively identifying risk arising from legislative changes, helping multinational businesses to minimise risk and working closely with regulatory authorities in multiple jurisdictions.
We also have extensive experience working on strategic advisory, transactional, investigative and enforcement issues, and we work with our clients on the ‘people agenda’ and help them embrace the new focus on culture and governance.
We have around 100 partners worldwide with both contentious and non-contentious regulatory expertise, advising on the effects of rapidly developing regulation, building compliance programmes, and guiding our clients to manage regulatory and enforcement risks, often involving multiple regulators.
Qualifications
Role summary/purpose of job
There are a number of associates with a range of specialisms working in the Freshfields Hub in Manchester. The role is for an associate with Financial Services Regulatory experience.
Our Hub associates ensure the efficient delivery of high quality output from the Freshfields Hub to the firm’s partners, fee-earners and clients. Each utilises experience and knowledge within their core area of expertise to supervise, train and mentor more junior members of the team to deliver service excellence to the firm. They act as a source of knowledge on matters within their area of expertise and liaise with clients or colleagues who are instructing the Hub to ensure that jobs are properly structured and efficiently delivered. They may also be asked to provide standalone advice or assistance on client matters.
This role enables the incumbent to understand our market-leading legal technologies and processes and use them to surpass internal and external client expectations. It also provides the opportunity to identify areas for innovation and development and to help market those to the wider firm and to clients. Our Hub associates work closely with the Quality Assurance, Innovation, and Continuous Improvement teams and other fee earners around the firm to ensure an efficient and high quality delivery of legal solutions, and to develop the catalogue of solutions provided to our Financial Services Regulatory practice from the Hub.
The associate will also be involved in business development activities relating to the solutions that the Freshfields Hub can offer to our Financial Services clients of the firm in the Regulatory space. For example, they might be asked to participate in pitches to clients for new mandates which would involve a significant Freshfields Hub or legal tech component.
Our Hub associates benefit from a generous compensation package and a clear career path, with opportunities for development and promotion.
Key responsibilities and deliverables
- Determine the scope of work required on new mandates in the Hub, in collaboration with the partner, other lawyer or client, including: agreeing deliverables and the appropriate level of project management/oversight; determining the appropriate legal tech solutions that can be used to support the project; and pricing.
- Manage the Hub’s delivery of services working closely with colleagues in other offices including management of LSS teams in relation to:
- complex multi-jurisdiction change in control filings;
- multi-jurisdictional surveys;
- Brexit and other re-papering exercises; and
- compliance with law reviews.
- Take responsibility for the delivery of high quality work product to specification, e.g. by reviewing and analysing the output from the LSSs to ensure a high level of service delivery.
- Keep instructing lawyers updated on progress of tasks including attending project team meetings (via phone or video link) to proactively contribute to the delivery of the overall mandate.
- Work on the financial service’s regulatory aspects of a wide variety of large, complex public and private M&A transactions.
- Strengthen own knowledge of the current issues and developments in the financial services regulatory space, and requirements of the firm’s clients.
- Proactively contribute to knowledge management including drafting client briefings, blogs, presentation and conference materials and other internal and external content in relation to regulatory developments, the impact of regulatory change, Fintech, and regulatory aspects of complex transactions including M&A, IPOs and reorganisations.
- Be flexible to work alongside and support the work of other teams within the Corporate department as required.
- Proactively identify opportunities for the Freshfields Hub to provide support to the firm’s global financial services regulatory practice and supporting the roll-out of relevant solutions.
- Support the firm’s global financial services regulatory practice in winning new mandates that involve the use of legal tech and/or the Freshfields Hub.
- Establish effective relationships with partners and clients by displaying a solid understanding of their current and future needs and identifying opportunities for service delivery through promotion of the Freshfields Hub.
- Train/mentor LSSs.
- Participate in training sessions and team meetings within core area practice groups and with the Quality Assurance, Innovation and Continuous Improvement teams.
- Use expertise to design and deliver training both within the Freshfields Hub and to colleagues in the firm’s other offices.
Key requirements
Essential
- Intellectually strong with a top class academic profile.
- Qualified lawyer.
- A strong technical and commercial background in Financial Services Regulation, with the ability to apply this to the needs of the firm’s clients through the services delivered by the Freshfields Hub.
- Interest or involvement in business development activity and innovation, including legal technologies.
- Ability to manage and deliver projects, working across multiple teams and disciplines.
- Ability to advise and influence key stakeholders including partners and the firm’s clients.
- Ability to work internationally with an appreciation for substantive legal/procedural and cultural differences between jurisdictions.
- A positive role model and team player who actively shares knowledge and contributes to the development of the Freshfields Hub.
Desirable
- Previous experience gained within the relevant areas.
- Proficient in the application of legal technologies.
Competencies
- Technical skills: has a good grasp of legal principles within core areas and is able to apply them to real-life situations. Ensures continuous development in technical knowledge and skills.
- Client relationships: understands the needs of both internal and external clients and is committed to delivering top class service whilst looking for opportunities to build relationships with them.
- Business advisor: is able to identify and adapt existing solutions in order to meet the needs of the client, identify key elements of problems, undertake research and apply legal knowledge to offer practice solutions whilst developing own knowledge and understanding of the client’s business, priorities and challenges.
- People and team: is able to work effectively as part of a team (including seeking feedback to improve own performance), to support and mentor others, and to build relationships across the firm. Respects and values colleagues’ contributions and is keen to contribute to the success of mandates and of the firm. Contributes to the firm’s initiatives in relation to diversity and inclusion, responsible business, and to other firm programmes.
- Project management: able to manage own areas of responsibility on a project, including time, available resources and the expectations of others in order to ensure timely achievement of deliverables.
- Business development: has a genuine interest in the commercial world and is curious about the firm’s clients and how the firm supports them. Is willing to develop own knowledge of the different services offered by the firm, as well as supporting colleagues in business development activities.
- Personal skills: credible, professional, able to work with a wide range of clients and colleagues. Is willing to embrace change and is accountable for achieving results.
If you would like a confidential discussion about the role, please contact Sophie Ansell: Sophie.ANSELL@freshfields.com
Inclusion
Freshfields is an equal opportunities employer and all applications received by the firm will be considered by the firm on the basis of their merit alone and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of background. All offers of employment will be conditional on the candidate having/securing the right to work in the UK and providing the firm with evidence of that right (as required by the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006) prior to employment commencing. Please note that, in line with the requirements of the UK Border Agency, non-EEA candidates may not be appointed to a post if a suitably qualified, experienced and skilled EEA candidate can fill the position.
Freshfields is a Ban the Box employer. We ask applicants to disclose criminal convictions only when a conditional job offer is made. A conviction does not automatically lead to withdrawal of the offer: we make decisions on a case by case basis and take a number of factors into account (eg the role you are applying for and the circumstances of the offence). You would have the opportunity to discuss the matter with us before we make a decision.
Apply here by 8 June 2021
