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Travers Smith is a leading full-service law firm, with a wealth of experience in its areas of specialisation. The firm has a market-leading reputation for its international expertise in Asset Management, M&A and Dispute Resolution & Investigations. Clients include asset managers across the alternative asset classes (private equity, venture, credit, infrastructure and real estate), publicly listed and private companies, financial institutions, and other business enterprises involved in large and complex UK and cross-border matters, transactions and disputes. Our purpose is to provide the highest quality of service to our clients whilst enabling our people to achieve professional fulfilment in a supportive, inclusive and enjoyable working environment.
Department
We are one of the largest transactional teams of private equity lawyers in the City and have acted on over £120 billion of private equity backed transactions since 2020. Our market leading practice has been helping clients to implement innovative strategies and structures for over 20 years, and we continue to be involved in many challenging and ground-breaking deals. We cover all types of private equity transactions: buy-outs, public-to-privates, portfolio management, recapitalisations and exits by sale to trade/financial buyers or by IPO, secondary and continuation vehicle transactions and GP stake deals. Our expertise reaches far beyond investment work, drawing on the skills of all of our specialist practice areas across the firm, including within tax, funds and finance.
The Role
The Knowledge Lawyer will play a central role in supporting the ongoing technical development, profile and efficiency of Travers Smith's market-leading Private Equity practice. This is a highly collaborative post, working with colleagues across the Private Equity, Funds and Corporate M&A practices, as well as the firmwide Knowledge Management ("KM") team, Business Development ("BD"), Legal Tech and other stakeholders to support the delivery of outstanding legal service and client offerings in the private equity space.
Key Responsibilities
* Legal Updates and Market Developments: Proactively monitor legal, regulatory and market changes relevant to private equity, ensuring timely communication and analysis for internal stakeholders. Produce and circulate or present horizon-scanning briefings, topical updates and thought leadership content for both internal and client audiences.
* Strategic Precedent and Know-how Management: Contribute to the maintenance and development of the private equity know-how bank and precedents, ensuring all materials are up-to-date and reflect current law, regulation and market practice. Coordinate precedent reviews and updates, leveraging the expertise of team members and legal tech and ensuring the accuracy of contributions.
* Internal Training and Knowledge Sharing: Design, coordinate and deliver training sessions for lawyers within the Corporate team and firmwide, including induction sessions for new joiners, apprentices, trainees and ongoing learning programmes for associates. Collaborate closely with practice leaders to identify knowledge gaps and develop targeted training and resources. Act as a mentor to lawyers in problem analysis, research and process innovation.
* Cross-Team and Firmwide Collaboration: Play a prominent role in facilitating knowledge sharing across teams, especially with Funds, Tax, Finance and Corporate M&A. Work with the firmwide KM team to promote the integration of knowledge systems and to harmonise knowledge initiatives across the business.
* Legal Tech, Process Improvement and AI Integration: Champion the adoption and integration of legal technologies, including AI tools and document automation, to enhance knowledge management, process efficiency and client delivery. Lead and participate in innovation initiatives, collaborating with the KM, Legal Tech and IT teams to identify, implement and train on new and emerging technologies that deliver value to the private equity team.
* Profile Building, Thought Leadership and BD Support: Develop and deliver knowledge products (briefings, client alerts, seminars) aligned with BD objectives, working closely with the BD team to enhance the external profile of the private equity practice. Participate in knowledge sharing events for clients, networking opportunities and relevant professional and industry groups.
* Knowledge Resource Management: Ensure the effective storage, version control and accessibility of all private equity knowledge and training resources, leveraging firmwide platforms and systems. Conduct regular audits of resources and implement best practices for knowledge management, retention and compliance.
* Reporting and Stakeholder Communication: Provide regular strategic reports to the private equity team leadership, keeping key stakeholders informed about knowledge initiatives, training impact, innovation progress and legal/market changes.
Reporting Line
The successful candidate will report into the PEFS Senior Knowledge Lawyers and relevant PEFS Knowledge Partners, who lead the knowledge strategy for the firm's private equity practice. For pastoral purposes, the candidate will sit within the broader PEFS team, working closely with partners and associates to deliver best-in-class knowledge services and ensure full integration within the practice and wider firm.
Personal Specification - Experience, Knowledge & Skills
An excellent technical lawyer with superb people and project management skills who can keep pace with a fast-moving transactional environment. The role would suit:
* Qualified lawyer (England & Wales) with at least 5 years' experience in private equity or a closely-aligned corporate practice.
* Significant experience in a top-tier private equity or closely-aligned corporate practice is essential. Prior PSL/Knowledge Lawyer experience preferable but not essential for high-performing candidates.
* Excellent technical skills in private equity and private M&A, with strong drafting, research, analytical and presentation abilities.
* Ability to communicate complex information in a clear, engaging and business-focused manner to a variety of audiences.
* Strong organisational and project management skills, with experience managing multiple priorities and delivering high-quality work to tight deadlines.
* Strategic thinker, comfortable with influencing and advising senior stakeholders.
* Experience with legal technology, document automation and/or AI tools is highly desirable; interest in driving digital transformation and innovation within the team is essential.
* Collaborative team player with a positive, proactive attitude and strong mentoring abilities.
* Commitment to the firm's values and approach to diversity and inclusion.
* [Part time applicants will be considered and the role is subject to our agile working policy]
We are excited to have moved from our London headquarters in Snow Hill, to a brand-new building in the City - Stonecutter Court.
Diversity & Inclusion statement: We value and celebrate the unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences of every individual including differences in gender, ethnicity, disability, faith, and more. We're committed to building an inclusive workplace that reflects the diversity of our clients and communities, where everyone feels empowered, respected, and heard. We actively partner with organisations and networks that champion equality and fairness, ensuring our policies and practices uphold these values.
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Support and Adjustments for candidates: We are committed to ensuring that people who are disabled or have a long-term condition are empowered in their identity, valued equally, and listened to. If we can adjust the recruitment process to make it more accessible, please let us know. For further information please visit our website: Recruitment - Support and adjustments for candidates | Travers Smith