Manager, Finance, Digital Legal Delivery

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

Digital Legal Delivery - Finance

Our Digital Legal Delivery Finance team works closely with the London Finance Division to support our clients across a wide range of finance deals and transactions, including derivatives and structured products as well as other areas of the Finance Division including infrastructure finance, real estate finance, acquisition finance, securitisation and derivatives.

Our Digital Legal Delivery Finance teams works also directly on large outsourcings for investment banks, asset managers and other strategic clients of the firm, acting as an extension of the client's in- house legal team, drafting and negotiating a range of derivatives documentation including ISDA Master Agreements, Credit Support Documentation and Repo and Securities Lending Documentation, directly with the client's counterparties and liaising with senior stakeholders within in-house legal and business teams.

Our Digital Legal Delivery Finance team works also on ad hoc finance projects for prime clients of the firm, such as regulatory change projects, financial services reform project and other repapering work.

The successful candidate will work as part of the Digital Legal Delivery Finance senior team, leading on the delivery of BAU outsourcing mandates for banks and asset manager clients as well as ad-hoc and regulatory projects.

This will involve working closely with our London Derivatives team and liaising directly with clients and counterparties. Managers will build and strengthen relationships with clients, acting as the lead lawyer on the matter and as a key point of contact.

As experienced senior lawyers, Managers are expected to work closely with the Partners and senior stakeholders and supporting to deliver key strategic and commercial objectives, growing revenue in line with annual targets, delegating to, supporting and managing the team/more junior colleagues, assisting with new client pursuits and business development activities and maintaining best practice in relation to financial management.

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Limited travel, including to the HSF London office, may be required from time to time.

Key Responsibilities

Deliver excellent client service and manage and deliver discrete pieces of legal work.

Build and strengthen relationships with clients, acting as a direct point of contact.

Be responsible for some management and delegation of work to and support of junior colleagues.

Manage workload to support optimal utilisation; assist senior team as required, acting as lead lawyer; 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.

Manage, develop and strengthen client relationships through anticipating client needs and expectations; and provide prompt responses and updates on progress.

Make an effective contribution to the firm, working closely with the Head of Digital Legal Delivery, Finance and the wider Digital senior leadership team to further develop the Digital Legal Delivery Finance practice.

Comply with risk requirements, firm policies and all relevant professional responsibilities and legislation and contribute to billing, engagement and client acceptance processes.

Liaising with clients and teams in London or elsewhere in the firm as required on fee-earning or other projects.

Maintains an up-to-date knowledge of relevant areas of law, providing technical excellence in relation to the relevant specialist areas of the Digital Legal Delivery practice.

Taking the lead in seeking to improve our processes and offer innovative solutions to clients, including enhancing legal service delivery through the use of legal technology tools (e.g. artificial intelligence for DD).

Co-ordinating business development activities for the Digital Legal Delivery, Finance practice and attending client meetings, conferences and events, to represent Digital Legal Delivery and helping to expand our offering.

Leading on pitching activity for clients and business development, attending client presentations and events.

Line management responsibility for Senior Solicitors, Solicitors, Trainees and Legal Analysts as directed by the Digital Legal Delivery, Finance senior team.

UK travel may be required from time to time.

There may be opportunity for international travel (although this is not a pre-requisite for the role).

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

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).

At least five (5) 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)).

Extensive experience in derivatives, specifically in negotiation of trading documentation ISDA Master Agreements, Credit Support Documentations, GMRA, GMSLA as well as hedging in relation to financing transactions.

Strong legal skills, including drafting, negotiation and project management skills.

Advanced level people management and business development skills.

Solid understanding of law firm profitability and key drivers for financial efficiency; and ability to help manage costs and budgets.

Please note, applications for this role close 12pm on Friday 30th August 2024.

Team

Digital Legal Delivery

Working Pattern

Full time

Location

Belfast

Contract type

Permanent Contract

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.

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