The Position
The Professional Standards function at HGF works with the firm on matters relating to professional standards, compliance and regulation. Professional Standards at HGF also provides firm wide (UK and international) knowledge of IP law and legal and procedural developments, both internally (HGF fee earners and formalities) and externally (clients and associates).
HGF is recruiting in order to grow the Professional Standards team to include a dedicated compliance/risk role. The person carrying out this role will be expected to advise on firm specific regulatory and governance matters, risk management, data protection, compliance and assurance including on matters relating to anti-money laundering (AML), modern slavery, anti-bribery and corruption and client care/onboarding.
Key Deliverables of Role:
* Build and maintain a regulatory compliance document framework and ensure the business adheres to its various compliance requirements
* Conduct internal audits and investigate potential breaches of compliance policies
* Assessing, advising on and mitigating strategic risks
* Provide compliance and audit leadership in the onboarding of new clients
* Review and build upon the businesses current GDPR and data protection policies
* Work with our Learning and Development team to build out staff training on compliance matters
About You
We are keen to hear from candidates with a minimum of 5 years’ experience in a legal compliance position within an international firm. Beyond this some key experience/skills are:
* A minimum of five years' legal compliance experience in an international firm
* Legal & Regulatory Knowledge – of data protection, anti-money laundering, sanctions, anti-bribery and corruption and anti-modern slavery rules and application, Regulatory Codes of Conduct relevant to HGF (IP Regulatory and SRA experience would be advantageous but not essential)
* Excellent written legal skills – required to draft and review policies, procedures
* Analytical Thinking – ability to assess risk and ensure policies align with legal obligations
* Outstanding communication skills, with the ability to communicate and deal with queries in a confident and assertive manner firm wide
* High levels of discretion, confidentiality and diplomacy
* Flexibility to travel to the firms offices
* Strong communication & Training Skills
* Problem-Solving – Addressing compliance challenges proactively
* Strong organisational and IT skills
About HGF:
HGF Limited is one of Europe’s largest intellectual property specialist firms offering a fully integrated IP solution, bringing over 200 Patent Attorneys, Trade Mark Attorneys and IP Solicitors together to provide a full-service IP solution.
With 25 offices across the UK, Ireland, Germany, Netherlands, France, Switzerland & Austria, HGF’s Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys provide specialist technical and legal advice to blue chip organisations and small to medium businesses across the world. Many of our clients are household names and the work HGF does allows them to protect and exploit their inventions, new products and branding.
Why move to HGF?
* HGF takes a transparent and merit-based approach to your career development and you will have the opportunity to shape your long-term progression.
* We’re a firm with a focus on DEI (Diversity, Equality and Inclusion), with a staff led DEI Focus Group, affinity networks and a DEI Board sponsor
* As a business we have a dedicated Learning and Development team focused on career long development of your skills along with a digital learning platform covering a wide range of content
* Benefits including our award winning enhanced parental leave policy, 27 days holiday, bonus scheme and flexible working
HGF Values
People - People matter. We treat people fairly, with respect and compassion. We foster a friendly, inclusive and enjoyable culture for everyone to prosper in. We invest in our people and offer appropriate coaching and training to assist with development and learning. We promote a healthy work-life balance. Progression is based on merit.
Excellence – We strive to be the best. We pursue excellence in all our individual roles resulting in outstanding legal and technical advice for our clients. Our people are pragmatic, responsive and commercially minded. We do not presume but listen to understand so we can engage proactively and appropriately.
Teamwork – We stand together. We work with our clients to protect their interests, and with each other as a mutually supporting firm. We value, appreciate and listen to others, regardless of role, recognising each individual’s particular blend of talent, skill and experience. We are individually and jointly accountable and take responsibility for our actions and decisions.
Progressive – We innovate. We continually improve our services and processes through understanding, creativity, and investment. We evolve by taking opportunities and adopting new business procedures, unencumbered by historical structures or out-of-date attitudes. As a firm, we have an entrepreneurial spirit, and encourage new thinking in our people.