Freshfields Overview
Apply here by 16 April 2021
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 Global Centre provides both business and legal services to the firm. Our services are delivered in a way which supports the global nature of our firm and our clients, enables our fee earners to deliver exceptional service to our clients and to do that in a way which is efficient and effective.
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.
Function Overview
The Legal Services Centre provides transactional support to the global firm, using established processes and procedures to ensure consistent and high quality work.
Qualifications
Role summary/purpose of job
The purpose of this role to manage the full operation of the Freshfields Hub, Manchester and to act as the business lead on all legal services projects impacting the Freshfields Hub, Manchester. The focus of this role is to ensure a best in class service provision and maintain excellent client and stakeholder relationships, and engagement with the Hub. There is also a requirement for this role to ensure total operational integration across the Freshfields Hub, Manchester with other Hub sites (in CE and Asia), work in alignment with those sites and deliver an effective reporting and information provision across the Freshfields Hub, globally.
This role will have a high level of interaction with all senior stakeholders of the Freshfields Hub, Manchester, and will be expected to work seamlessly with Hubs across the global network; including (but not limited to) London, Manchester, Germany and Asia to provide an integrated service across the department’s locations.
This role will be a key representative of the Freshfields Hub, Manchester, and be expected to work closely with external and internal clients. Relationship building and maintaining rapport with clients of the Hub will be an integral part of this role, and the development of the Freshfields Hub, Manchester. Delivering a best in class client experience in an inclusive environment, will be at the heart of this role.
Key responsibilities and deliverables
- Continue to build the brand of the Freshfields Hub, Manchester across the global network – maintaining and strengthening stakeholder relationships with internal and external clients; for example, with partners, business specialists, technology leads.
- Attend internal and external meetings/conferences with clients and stakeholders, on behalf of, and as a representative of the Freshfields Hub, Manchester.
- Ensure high quality reviews of matters/projects are completed regularly, engaging with the appropriate stakeholders.
- Identify opportunities where the Freshfields Hub, Manchester can add value, across the global network. In particular, developing relationships with stakeholders who are not regular ‘users’ of the Freshfields Hub, Manchester.
- Act as the business lead on all projects involving the Freshfields Hub, Manchester – this is inclusive of any change management activities relating to the development of the Hub.
- Identify opportunities for continuous improvement throughout the Freshfields Hub, Manchester, and across the teams that the Hub works closely with daily.
- Ensure there is a clear understanding of the Being Freshfields principles across the Freshfields Hub, Manchester, and they are embedded within the core ways of working, ensuring an inclusive and engaging environment.
- Management and coaching of the Senior Legal Solutions Manager(s) (SLSM) – ensuring that the management and development of the 85 strong team of Legal Solutions Specialists (LSS) is in line with the firm’s values and Being Freshfields principles.
- Line management and development of two QA Analysts, PA for the Hub Associates, and Hub Executive.
- Business lead for operational risk and business continuity planning of the Freshfields Hub, Manchester.
- Instructing, presenting and delivery of operational management information for the Freshfields Hub, Manchester, to key stakeholders – managing improvements, suggesting and implementing efficiencies, where required.
- Maintain governance framework of the Freshfields Hub, Manchester.
- Management of budget and financial information for the Freshfields Hub, Manchester.
- Work closely with the HR Manager and Learning and Development to ensure that the team have an excellent ‘people experience’.
- Lead, drive and engage in Responsible Business and other similar initiatives across the Freshfields Hub, Manchester.
- Act as the Hub representative on the Global Centre Leadership team and assist/ support in initiatives from that team across the Centre.
Key requirements
Essential:
- Significant operational management experience, preferably of very large teams;
- Advanced management information reporting experience;
- Demonstrable experience of coaching and mentoring management level roles;
- Project management experience with an eye for detail, a measured approach and determination to see a project/problem through to solution;
- Consultative and analytical mindset;
- Ability to manage ambiguity and able to analyse the issues and generate solutions, with a determination to see a problem through to a solution;
- Has worked and maintained working relationships at all levels of seniority from executive to team member;
- Ability to spot opportunities to develop and grow a business function;
- Strong time management and organisational skills. Ability to handle multiple tasks while working to deadlines and maintaining a high degree of quality, at times, under significant operational pressure;
- Ability to identify and implement improvements to current ways of working e.g. process, organisation, financial, product improvements;
- Experienced manager of building engaged teams in an inclusive and engaging environment;
- IT literate; expert user of MS Office and project management tools.
Desirable
- Experience of operational management within professional services/legal sector.
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.
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
