The responsibilities of the Legal Counsel role are expected to include the areas outlined below. While the successful candidate may not have experience across all these areas, relevant prior experience combined with a willingness to develop new skills and build expertise where required is essential.
What you’ll be doing:
Documentary advice and support
- Advice on Outside Counsel Guidelines, proposed changes to Letters of Engagement or Terms of Engagement
- Keeping relevant WFW precedents under review (e.g. Code of Conduct, Escrow Letter, Global Letters of Engagement, Global Terms of Engagement, NDAs, Process Agent Letter)
- Advising fee-earners in response to queries on the firm’s documents such as legal opinions, escrow agreements, reliance letters, undertakings, process agent appointments
- Drafting, advising on and updating firmwide policies
Data privacy
- Implementing recommendations of a recent Data Privacy review, which may involve creating or amending policies or processes.
- Assisting with ongoing Data Privacy requirements including considering contractual arrangements with new suppliers
Company secretarial and corporate governance
- Providing corporate governance support to the group including in relation to the group structure, intra group agreements, attending to any matters requiring partner approval, changes to the composition of the various boards and bodies and ongoing advice on constitutional documents for UK and overseas entities
- Providing company secretarial support to the UK entities including all Companies House filings and attending to any Companies Act procedures as and when required.
Sanctions
- Supporting the compliance team in considering possible sanctions implications for WFW of proposed client engagements (but not advising on any sanctions implications for clients)
- Representing the GC team in providing legal support on firmwide strategic projects, for instance relating to new offices openings, or new product or service launches.
Support to global Business Functions
- Supporting the HR team on issues relating to incoming or departing partners, secondments and consultancy arrangements (internal and external), contractual arrangements with recruitment agencies and advising on regulatory training requirements
- Supporting the finance and tax teams in relation to global entity annual accounts completion and approvals, responses to audit requests, partner capital loan arrangements, group loan arrangements (internal and external), security arrangements for entity lease agreements, bank KYC and bank mandates for all group entities, intra group loan and service agreements
- Responding to day to day queries from global office and finance managers
- Supporting business services functions in legal issues arising from their work (e.g. supplier contracts (including working closely with the procurement team), audit requests, pitch and tender documents)
Regulatory support, complaints and requests
- Responding to requests for information or other investigations from regulators in the UK and overseas
- Responding to DSARs
- Supporting the General Counsel in responding to complaints or potential claims against the firm.
- A qualified solicitor with at least 3 years’ post-qualification experience covering a number of the areas referred to above – and a willingness to learn and gain experience where it does not currently exist, to be able to provide advice to internal clients
- Ability to deliver advice that is legally robust, pragmatic, and commercially focused
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities
- Collaborative team player who values effective working relationships
- Strong analytical skills, sound judgment, and the ability to use initiative
- Clear and effective written and verbal communication
- High attention to detail
- Ability to work effectively across diverse cultures; international experience is advantageous
- Comfortable working under pressure and to tight deadlines
- Flexible approach with strong interpersonal skills
Please note:
We conduct thorough pre-employment screening checks as part of our recruitment process.
What we can offer you:
We offer a competitive benefits and wellbeing package for all employees.
Who we are:
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) is a sector-focused international law firm with extensive expertise and industry insight across its core sectors of energy, infrastructure and transport. Through its network of 19 offices, the firm advises clients on complex, high-value transactions and disputes – matters requiring precise legal execution and a nuanced understanding of global market dynamics.
The firm’s success is driven by its people. It fosters a collaborative, inclusive and supportive environment where everyone can grow, share ideas and make an impact. Guided by its values —We are experts, We are united and We care — the firm delivers exceptional service through strong relationships and teamwork. The firm is committed to clear career paths, championing diversity and investing in its people so they can thrive.
Diversity and inclusion are integral to the firm’s strategy and underpin its efforts to attract and retain top talent. All employment decisions are made objectively, based on merit and ability and the firm is committed to inclusive and barrier-free recruitment. As a Disability Confident employer, WFW welcomes adjustments for candidates with disabilities or long-term health conditions and participates in the Disability Confident interview scheme. If you would like to apply through this scheme or require adjustments during any stage of the process, please contact London_Recruitment@wfw.com.
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