Compliance Lawyer

Our client is a leading international law firm representing many of the most successful companies and institutions in the world and acting in their high-stake transactions and matters. Headquartered in New York, the firm has offices throughout the U.S, Europe and Asia. The London office was established in 1996, and has grown to become the firm’s second largest, and the hub of their European practice. We are now seeking an exceptional Compliance Lawyer to join their busy, growing, and successful team.

Compliance Lawyer

London

£164-224K plus bonus and excellent benefits package.

To be successful in this role:

You will be a confident and qualified Compliance Lawyer with 1-4 PQE and experience of working at a large City / International firm either within an in-house compliance team or as a fee earner with regulatory experience looking to move in-house. Other requirements for this role include:

• Comfortable advising on a wide range of conflict issues under SRA and US rules
• Experience negotiating client and third-party terms and liaising with relevant stakeholders
• Knowledge of the SRA Standards and Regulations
• Good communication and organisational skills
• Ability to work as a team and contribute to its success
• Experience managing projects and implementing changes to processes and procedures
• Ability to assess, draft and update policies and precedents ensuring stakeholder consultation where appropriate
• Solutions orientated with a commercial and pragmatic approach
• Client service focussed and ability to take initiative
• Attention to detail, ability to prioritise and meet deadlines
• Resilience and ability to interact with people at all levels in a constructive and polite manner

Skills desired for this role include:

• Experience advising on data protection issues as they impact law firms
• Experience advising partners (and submitting SARs) on POCA, the Money Laundering Regulations and sanctions issues
• Knowledge of the Bribery Act, Market Abuse regulations and Criminal Finances Act
• Experience reviewing and implementing EU Directives including Whistleblowing, CSRD, and Money Laundering

Position summary:

The London Compliance team is a small team of lawyers and analysts who advise on a broad range of compliance and regulatory issues relevant to legal practice. The London Office Managing Partners also take a keen interest in compliance issues resulting in a strong compliance culture across the office. The New York Conflicts Team and the firm’s General Counsel further support the compliance function. This role is within the London Compliance Team reporting to the Senior Compliance Counsel.

Job role and responsibilities:

As a Compliance Lawyer you will advise the London partners and attorneys on conflicts of interest and confidentiality issues under SRA and US rules. Other responsibilities for this role include:

• Draft, update and review risk and compliance policies and procedures as requested
• Review and negotiate client and third party terms, respond to information requests, questionnaires and engagement letter queries, working closely with teams in New York and other offices as appropriate
• Clear conflicts for incoming lateral hires, setting up screens and arranging client consents as required, working with the New York Conflicts Team
• Work with HR in relation to secondments, including negotiating secondment agreements and ensuring compliance with the firm’s Secondment Policy, and clearing conflicts on their return
• Advise the London partners and attorneys on client on-boarding and related firm policies, including POCA reporting, sanctions and client account queries, working closely with the MLRO
• Respond to a variety of compliance related queries relating to insider lists, reliance agreements, NDAs, contractual arrangements with clients and third parties, practising rights issues, and compliance with the SRA Codes of Conduct;
• Work with HR on the annual professional indemnity renewal process, and updates to mySRA
• Proactively share knowledge in weekly team meetings
• Assist with developing and delivering risk and compliance training to new joiners and general awareness raising amongst partners and employees
• Involvement in and management of other ad hoc risk and compliance projects
• Holiday cover for other members of the team
• Horizon scan for incoming legislation, regulation and guidance which could impact the firm

Benefits:

Our client offers a competitive compensation package which comprises of base salary and discretionary year-end bonus. Benefits include, but are not limited to Contributory Pension Scheme, Life Assurance (4 x annual salary), Income Protection Scheme, Private Medical Insurance, GP Service, 25 days holiday, Subsidised Staff Restaurant, Health Screening, Annual Well Being Allowance, On-site Gym, Employee Assistance Programme and Season Ticket Loan.

The firm takes great pride in its work supporting the community. All employees in the London office are encouraged to spend two days a year participating in Corporate Social Responsibility activities.