In-House Lawyer / Senior In-House Lawyer - Conflicts (12 month contract)

We are currently recruiting for an In-House Lawyer or Senior In-House Lawyer (depending on level of experience) to join our Business Acceptance Unit (BAU) in the London office on a 12 month contract to be a trusted adviser to the business, providing high quality, proactive business-focused support and solutions to colleagues on a variety of commercial and complex regulatory issues, focussed mainly on conflicts of interest and other business acceptance matters. It requires an individual with the ability to develop strong working relationships in order to be a "go to" and accessible person for queries and concerns from around the world from stakeholders of all levels from business teams and fee-earning, including practice group heads and senior management.

In-House Lawyers are given a high level of autonomy and expected to take responsibility for identifying solutions and driving them forward. In addition, they will participate in strategic projects and will be part of the horizon-scanning team, inputting into the strategic direction of the firm's regulation.

Senior In-House Lawyers take a lead role in analysing and resolving the most complex issues, as well as enhancing and developing processes and procedures to ensure a first class service is provided to our partners and clients.

Role and responsibilities

• Analysing and resolving (or, where appropriate, facilitating resolution of) professional, legal, regulatory and commercial issues relating to business acceptance and client engagement which are referred by business acceptance analysts and by partners and all other levels of lawyer and support staff, focussing on business/commercial conflict issues and professional and legal conflicts issues.


• Undertaking an initial assessment with regard to anti-money laundering, sanctions, reputational and suitability issues that arise in the assessment of new business and working with specialist teams (such as the Financial Crime and Sanctions team) within the BAU to resolve such issues.


• Referring commercial issues to relevant stakeholders, including practice group heads and office/regional heads.


• Exercising judgment as to when to refer business acceptance issues to the Global Head of Business Acceptance and/or other senior BAU members such as the Head of Financial Crime and Sanctions and facilitating the resolution of any such issues referred.


• Responding, and managing the team's responses, within particular timeframes, to partners' and fee earners' requests relating to business acceptance and client engagement to ensure the service level expected by partners is met.


• Drafting waivers and consent language required in the resolution of conflicts of interest issues.


• Reviewing and analysing conflicts of interest issues with respect to incoming lateral hires.


• Assisting with lateral hire on-boarding, including the coordination of matter opening for transferred matters.


• Assisting the Engagement Terms team within the BAU with reviewing and drafting conflicts of interest provisions within engagement terms, client relationship terms and client panel terms.


• Monitoring changes in practice, professional rules, regulations and the law as affects business acceptance and client engagement globally so that these can be reflected in the business acceptance and client engagement process and policies.


• Assisting in the creation and maintenance of precedents and know how resources for use within the business acceptance and client engagement team and the development of appropriate business acceptance and client engagement know how (e.g. briefings) for use throughout the firm.


• Mentoring, supervising and assisting in the management and development of the Business Acceptance Unit's Analyst and Administrative staff.


• Assisting in the creation, ongoing development and implementation of the firm's global business acceptance and client engagement policies, processes and systems. For example those relating to client confidentiality and information barriers, matter inception, new client acceptance, conflicts and conflict checking, internal matter records databases (for conflicts management purposes), other external database resources used for business acceptance purposes, use, and development, of functionality within the firm's existing systems for business acceptance purposes, the business acceptance watchlist (listing sensitive areas being actively monitored) and the content, collection and storage of engagement letters.


• Intervention (where required, at the point of business acceptance) to issue directions on specific formalities required for business acceptance purposes e.g. levels of virtual file security and any need for formal information barriers.


• Assistance in monitoring information barriers including setting up information barriers, information barrier clearances on walled matters and responding to queries on the firm's procedures.


• Assisting in the design, implementation and delivery of training presentations and other development programmes for lawyers and support departments regarding risk management and, in particular, business acceptance and client engagement.


• In relation to all of the above, reporting to the Global Head of Business of Acceptance.
  
  Experience in relation to conflicts of interest within a law firm environment is essential.


• Qualified lawyer with significant PQE.


• Must have strong academic background.


• International experience with a leading top tier firm is highly advantageous with a strong background in multi-jurisdictional transactions or dispute resolution.


• Interest in, and potential for, developing mentoring skills.


• Commercially minded and possessing a strong legal skill set.


• Ability to analyse facts and scenarios thoroughly (and yet quickly) and proactively to put forward resolutions to legal and commercial problems.


• Excellent task management skills and a proven ability to manage multiple tasks under time pressure.


• Enthusiastic, self-motivated and pro-active.
  
  Allen & Overy is a leading global law firm operating in over thirty countries. We work on some of the most challenging and important deals and disputes and have built a reputation for delivering exceptional legal solutions that help our clients grow, innovate and thrive. Our business teams work hand-in-hand with our lawyers, Consultants and other specialist teams, and are ambitious, driven and leaders in their field. The legal industry is changing, and we're committed to leading that change by putting our people first, embracing new ways of thinking and integrating technology into our everyday work.


We're on an exciting journey to create an even stronger offering for our clients and our people: In May 2023, we announced our proposed merger with Shearman and Sterling, with the intention of becoming a new global leader named Allen Overy Shearman Sterling, A&O Shearman for short.

With a shared commitment to attracting and retaining the best people and an equal focus on creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace, we're confident that this merger will further our efforts to leave a better firm for future generations as well as providing our people with exceptional career opportunities along the way.

Once complete, the merger will combine two of the world's most prestigious law firms, leaders in their respective markets, to create an integrated global elite firm. You can read more about this on our dedicated microsite https://www.announcingaoss.com/.

What truly defines a career with us? We recruit the best and ask for the best of you. We provide challenge, support and a place for you to belong. And together we excel, working on meaningful projects of global significance., A&O Shearman is global industry-leading law firm with 48 offices in 29 countries. We are a partner and trusted advisor to some of the world's most sophisticated companies, governments and financial institutions. With the combined strengths of our legacy firms, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling, we offer unmatched global breadth and depth, a forward-thinking perspective on the future and a one-firm culture of excellence to achieve unparallelled outcomes for our clients and for each other.

We're at the start of an exciting journey, and this offers exceptional opportunities for our people. Whether you're helping clients solve their most complex challenges, transforming the ways we manage our business, or ensuring the smooth-running of our operations, this is an environment where you can belong and excel - whether you're starting out, or taking the next step in your career.

We work to attract and retain the very best people - and we support them to build their future with us. As part of our high-performance culture, we have high expectations of one another in everything we do. We foster a working environment based on collaboration and mutual respect, where everyone is trusted to do their very best work in the way they see fit, to a standard we all share.

With us, you will constantly be learning and growing. We invest in you by offering exceptional professional and personal development - providing training, mentoring and practical support. And we nurture an environment and ways of working that promote positive wellbeing.

We have a powerful commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. Your unique perspective, attributes and experiences are valued here and we invite you to bring your whole self to work.

What truly defines a career with us? We recruit the best, we ask for the best of you, and we support you to achieve your potential. And together we excel.

We recognise that our people are our most valuable asset, which is reflected in the wide range of benefits that are available to our employees. Some of these benefits include: our occupational pension scheme, group income protection cover, private medical insurance, mental health resources and free apps, health and wellbeing services encompassing an onsite gym, wellbeing centre and GP service, emergency back-up care support, parental and special leave, holiday entitlement increasing with length of service, holiday trading, season ticket loans and online discounts and lifestyle management services.

We recognise the value of flexible working and embraces hybrid working, allowing our people to work from home up to 40% of their working time. We do however remain committed to working together in person for the remaining 60% of time so that we can learn, grow and succeed together.