JOB DESCRIPTION
About Herbert Smith Freehills
As one of the world’s leading law firms, we advise many of the largest and most ambitious organisations across all major regions of the globe. With over 5,000 people, including 3,100 lawyers and over 2,000 business services professionals, operating from our global network of offices across Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and North America, Herbert Smith Freehills is at the heart of the new global business landscape providing premium quality, full-service legal advice.
We recognise that the success of our business and our clients relies on the skills, knowledge and ideas of all our people. Our environment is one in which high performance is expected, in return, we will provide you with rewards and opportunities tailored to your personal and professional goals.
The Opportunity
About HSF Construction
HSF UK non-contentious construction team is ranked Tier 1 by both Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners. The team focuses on large-scale construction and engineering projects including landmark commercial real estate developments and on major infrastructure and energy projects. Our clients include leading developers and financiers, government procuring authorities and contractors.
ALT Construction
Our ALT Construction team work seamlessly with our London Construction and Real Estate teams on a full range of high-profile non-contentious construction work, drafting and negotiating all forms of construction contracts and advising on the construction aspects of Real Estate and Corporate transactions.
Our ALT Construction team have recently worked on the following major projects:British Land's regeneration of Canada WaterArgent Tottenham Hale redevelopment schemeCain Hoy's mixed-use redevelopment of the Stage, Shoreditch High Streetthe development and procurement of Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C for EDFOther important clients include Blackstone, abrdn, Britannia Invest and Hermes Real Estate.
The Role
The successful candidate will work as part of the ALT Non-contentious Construction team to support the delivery of our development and transactional work. They will work closely with our London Construction and Real Estate teams and liaise directly with clients and counterparties, frequently acting as a direct point of contact.As experienced qualified lawyers, Senior Solicitors are expected to be able to take the lead on certain matters and projects, escalating to the senior team who will support as necessary. They will have responsibility for supervising and supporting the development of our junior team including Solicitors, Trainees, Senior Legal Analysts and Legal Analysts. Senior Solicitors also play an important role in supporting the Construction and Real Estate senior team with strategic management.Limited travel, including to the HSF London office, may be required from time to time.
The Alternative Legal Services business delivers high quality, cost-efficient legal services for document or information intensive, defined process work.The team works in a complementary and seamless way, offering a combination of legal expertise, process efficiency and client technology solutions to our clients. The key products and services of our Alternative Legal Services business include document review, regulatory claims assessment, due diligence, verification commercial contracts, funds' repapering, client technology services (including advisory and document review software) and asset management for real estate clients.
Key Responsibilities
1. Manage workload to support optimal utilisation; assist senior team as required, acting as lead solicitor, where appropriate; delegate and provide feedback to juniors and communicate progress on tasks to supervisor and team members, consulting and offering solutions on technical client issues; and manage the billing process as appropriate.
2. Manage, develop and strengthen client relationships through anticipating client needs and expectations; and provide prompt responses and updates on progress.
3. Work closely with the ALT senior leadership team to further develop the ALT Construction practice.
4. Comply with risk requirements, firm policies and all relevant professional responsibilities and legislation and contribute to billing, engagement and client acceptance processes.
5. Liaising with clients and teams in London or elsewhere in the firm as required on fee-earning or other projects.
6. Maintains an up-to-date knowledge of relevant areas of law, providing technical excellence in relation to the relevant specialist areas of the ALT Real Estate practice.
7. Working with legal technology tools appropriate to the relevant matter (e.g. artificial intelligence tools for due diligence) and keeping up to date with legal technological advances.
8. Assists with preparing pitch documents, attend client presentations and assist more generally with business development.
9. Line management responsibility for Solicitors, Trainees, Senior Legal Analysts and Legal Analysts, as directed by the ALT Real Estate senior team.UK travel may be required from time to time.
10. There may be opportunity for international travel (although this is not a pre-requisite for the role).
11. The responsibilities outlined above cannot totally encompass or define all tasks that may be required of the post-holder.
The outline of responsibilities given above may, therefore, vary from time to time without materially changing either the character or level of responsibility or grade.
Qualifications, skills and experience
12. Qualified solicitor in England and Wales or Northern Ireland. Republic of Ireland or other common law jurisdictions will be considered. If not qualified in England and Wales, then willing to complete process to requalify as such, if required.
13. At least four years' relevant PQE (unless exceptional circumstances exist, in which case please submit a supporting statement outlining why you are an exceptional candidate (including relevant skills and experience).
14. Proven track-record of non-contentious construction experience (including JCT contracts and advising on the construction aspects of Real Estate and Corporate transactions).Strong legal skills, including drafting, negotiation and project management skills.
15. Foundation level people management and business development skills.
16. Good understanding of law firm profitability and key drivers for financial efficiency; and ability to help manage costs and budgets.
Closing date for applications is Friday 15th March 2024 at 17:00pm
Team
Alternative Legal Services (ALT)
Working Pattern
Full time
Location
Belfast
Contract type
Diversity & Inclusion
At Herbert Smith Freehills you will be part of a diverse, innovative culture where high performance, client focus and highly engaged people are our differentiator. People at our firm come from a range of backgrounds and bring a wide variety of experiences and perspectives to their work with us. We strive to ensure that our inclusive environment means you feel valued and able to perform at your best by being your authentic self at work. We know that our future success not only depends on being innovative and progressive in the changing legal market but, most importantly, on our people feeling highly engaged in meaningful work.
We understand that you have commitments and personal interests outside of work and we strive to create a working environment based on mutual trust and respect, in which you can perform at your best whilst maintaining sustainable balance across your life.