Overview
This is an exciting opportunity for a candidate with deep expertise in commercial disputes and litigation to be a member of our highly successful commercial disputes practice and our valued global Knowledge function, working in an international and diverse team, in an inclusive environment, directly contributing to the firm’s client and people strategies. The focus of the role is commercial disputes, including providing support on key focus areas such as global private capital and M&A disputes. Knowledge of English law securities litigation is also highly desirable.
Role summary/purpose of job
The Knowledge Lawyer will focus on commercial disputes, working principally with practitioners in London, but with a global mindset and liaising with lawyers across our offices on global initiatives.
The Freshfields litigation practice advises some of the world’s biggest businesses, defending them against serious commercial and reputational threats. We arerecognisedas a market leader, advising on the most complex cross-border commercial litigation and multijurisdictional issues.
The Knowledge Lawyer will monitorandprovideexpert insights into English commercial litigation and related developments, putting those developments in an international context. The Knowledge Lawyer should understand what these developments mean for our clients and practice and translate that into client and internal facing initiatives.
This is an opportunity to work with leading practitioners in considering cutting edgelegal issues, taking a leading role in horizon scanning to help our lawyers and clients stay up to date in a varied and evolving area of the law. Some previous experience of and an ability to cover private capital disputes and M&A disputes, or strong experience in another key sector such as the tech sector, would also be desirable.
The Knowledge Lawyer will support the team on driving the further adoption of tech and AI within the practice, helping to define best practices and AI-enabled approaches that leveragethe team’s unique knowledge.
The Knowledge Lawyer will bring deep expertise of this area and a willingness and ability to continue to develop in this space, with a view to:
* enabling the firm to provide market-leading client service:e.g. providing analysis on key developments, adopting a commercially-minded and practical approach to such analysis to help our lawyers understand the impacts for clients and our work, working closely with lawyers in the practice and other Knowledge colleagues to share relevant insights from client matters, and supporting effective delivery of legal services by helping to drive the appropriate adoption of tech and AI within the practice.
* helping grow the business of the firm:the Knowledge Lawyer will help raise the profile of the practice and strengthen client relationships by identifying opportunities for, and developing, client content, and contributing to reputation-enhancing publications and client conversations and education; and
* developing the legal skills of the lawyers in the practice: through internal training and by acting as a sounding board for legal queries, in each case upskilling our lawyers in this continually developing area of the law.
The Knowledge Lawyer will be welcomed into the wider Knowledge community, made up of Knowledge Lawyers and other Knowledge & Information specialists, led by the firm’s Co-Chief Knowledge Officers who focus on creating the framework for career satisfaction, high performance and excellence by fostering a supportive, inclusive, innovative, collaborative and purpose-driven culture across the function.
Collaboration is key to the success of our Knowledge function. We work closely with colleagues with other specialisms e.g., marketing and business development, innovation and learning and development.
Key responsibilities
Enable the firm’s lawyers to provide market-leading client service (including through the use of AI and legal tech).
* Monitor key legal developments and disseminate to lawyers in the practice – always considering the impact on internal knowledge products, profile raising and business development potential
* Work with partners and other senior stakeholders to develop house views & develop and update internal knowledge products (e.g. guidance notes or checklists) and drive the development of further best practices regarding the use of tech and AI on mandates.
* Capture insights from client mandates to draw out trends and themes and share internally. Reflect them as needed in internal knowledge products or internal and client training.
Helping grow the business of the firm and strengthen client relationships
* Keep up to date on what is happening in the relevant area and help relevant stakeholders identify and pursue business opportunities and raise profile in accordance with the firm’s strategy and priorities – including fostering their own internal and external networks.
* Drive the practice’s approach to the market by identifying opportunities for client-facing knowledge products and thought leadership, in all cases demonstrating the practice’s leading-edge legal technical capability and market awareness.
* Play a key role in client relationships by developing and, where appropriate, delivering, client training, seminars, and talking points.
Developing the legal skills of the firm’s lawyers
* Act as an internal advisor/consultant to lawyers working in the practice, understanding the developments and acting as a trusted sounding board on complex points.
* Working with other colleagues, to design, deliver and contribute (and to engage lawyers in the practice at all levels in delivering and contributing) to relevant training sessions – both on legal issues and practice points such as the appropriate use of AI within the practice area.
International outlook and wider role
* Have an international outlook and share information and connect with colleagues as necessary.
* Build relationships and networks within the Knowledge function, across other disciplines and across the DR practice.
* Work with other Knowledge colleagues to coordinate work, minimise duplication, manage risk, share practical tips and ensure that work product is optimised.
Experience and qualifications Required
* Qualified lawyer in the UK with a strong academic background.
* A high level of relevant successful experience as a fee earner or a knowledge lawyer/professional support lawyer (or a combination) in a commercial disputes practice is essential.
* Strong and demonstrable interest in and experience of private capital disputes and M&A disputes, or another key sector such as tech, is desirable.
* Knowledge of English law securities litigation is also highly desirable.
The individual will:
* Have a very sound knowledge of the law and practice of complex commercial disputes and English litigation.
* Demonstrate strong commercial awareness, always considering legal developments in the practice area through a commercial lens and anticipating the impact for clients.
* Possess a strong technology skills set, demonstrating an innovative mindset and proficiency in AI tools. The individual will lead by example in leveraging AI in their own work and actively contribute to the adoption and effective use of AI across the practice area(s), promoting its relevance for day-to-day work and ensuring strategic alignment of AI use cases with practice and client priorities. They will act as a role model internally and externally in this area.
* Have a growth mindset, a positive approach to managing change and be a self-starter.
* Have the aspiration and commitment to continuously acquire, build on and share knowledge, acting as a Knowledge champion and a role model.
* Be willing and able to act as a leader and take ownership of projects and drive them forward.
* Have excellent oral communication skills, including strong presentation skills, and strong written communication skills in legal drafting and when writing in other styles, with the ability to judge content, style and tone for written work as appropriate to the audience.
* Be a team player who builds effective relationships at all levels, recognised and respected by partners and other fee earners and by other Knowledge colleagues. As part of our core values, demonstrate a collaborative, positive approach when working with others.
* Have sound judgement, be able to establish a high level of credibility with others and act as a sounding board for other lawyers in the practice and Knowledge colleagues. Demonstrate an ability to identify the key elements of complex problems, directing colleagues to appropriate legal or market source materials, and considering the practical nature of advice when proposing a solution, including the risks. Be able to support lawyers in their decision-making process on challenging issues, participating confidently in the analysis as a trusted adviser.
* Have strong networking skills and the ability to create and maintain relationships both internally and externally and identify opportunities for collaboration.
* For senior candidates with previous demonstrable experience in a Knowledge role, we are open to offering this role as a Senior Knowledge Lawyer role.
Inclusion
Freshfields is an equal opportunities employer and all applications received by the firm will be considered based on 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 (e.g. 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 .
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