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

Herbert Smith Freehills is a leading global law firm. We advise many of the largest and most ambitious organisations across all major regions of the globe. With over 4,000 people, including 2,400 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.

HSF Digital Legal Delivery (Digital) is a fast-growing, innovative and fully integrated part of Herbert Smith Freehills' international network. The Digital team works closely with other practice groups, seamlessly delivering high-quality and cost-effective legal services for clients, deploying sophisticated technology and offering truly bespoke solutions. Since the launch of the Belfast office in 2011, our Digital offering has continued to evolve and now offers a broad range of services to clients across Finance, Corporate, Real Estate and Construction, Employment and Disputes. Through a compelling combination of flexible and agile resourcing, cutting-edge technology and process efficiencies, our HSF Digital Practice Group offers a cost-competitive, bespoke offering which can be tailored to individual clients' requirements.

We recognise that the success of our business and our clients relies on the skills, knowledge and talent of 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. Diversity and inclusion are a key part of our culture where we celebrate the uniqueness of our people. Our inclusive environment means people feel valued and able to perform at their best by being their authentic selves at work.

About HSF Digital Finance

HSF Digital Legal Finance team is the part of the Digital Legal Delivery practice group of the firm. The HSF Digital Finance provides cost-effective and high-quality managed legal service offerings across a wide range of finance and derivatives products and also works collaboratively with the HSF Finance teams on market-leading finance and derivatives mandates.

The Role

The successful candidate will work closely with the HSF Digital Finance senior team, assisting with the hedging aspects of loan-linked and securitisation-linked matters and with other bespoke derivatives work.

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

The role will also encompass working on negotiation projects (e.g. negotiation of ISDAs, GMRAs, GMSLAs and other trading documentation), ad hoc regulatory-change projects (e.g. Initial Margin projects and similar) and large-scale derivatives outsourcings for asset manager and bank clients.

Senior Solicitors are expected to work closely with the Head of Digital Finance and Managers, helping to deliver key strategic and commercial objectives, growing revenue in line with annual targets, managing and supervising the team/more junior colleagues, assisting with new client pursuits and business development activities and maintaining best practice in relation to financial management.

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 or key point of contact; 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 Finance, the Managers and the wider Digital senior leadership team to further develop the Digital 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 Finance practice. Actively contributes and, where appropriate, takes 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, generative artificial intelligence etc). Contributing to business development activities for the Digital Finance practice and, where appropriate, attending client meetings, conferences and internal /external events, to represent Digital Finance and helping to expand our offering. Where required, providing input on pitching activity for clients and business development, attending client presentations and events. Line management responsibility for Solicitors, Project coordinators, Senior Legal Analysts, Legal Analysts and Trainees, as directed by the Head of Digital Finance and the 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/international jurisdictions will be considered. (If not qualified in England and Wales then willing to complete process to requalify as such, if required). At least three 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)). Good experience in Derivatives, operating at least at mid-associate level. Strong legal skills, including drafting, negotiation and project management skills. Foundation level of people management and business development skills. Foundational understanding of law firm profitability and key drivers for financial efficiency; and ability to help manage costs and budgets.

Applications close on Friday 14th February at 12pm

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.