Compliance and Risk Counsel

Join to apply for the Compliance and Risk Counsel role at Charles Russell Speechlys. The firm’s Compliance & Risk team, led by the firm’s General Counsel, includes 10 lawyers and 2 paralegals advising on all aspects of legal risk, including financial crime compliance, claims, complaints, insurance, engagement terms, contracts, data privacy, SRA STaRS compliance and conduct issues and regulatory engagement. In addition, the New Business Intake team (approximately 30 managers and analysts) sits within the Compliance & Risk function, reporting up to the Director of Compliance. At present, the firm’s London head office handles all compliance and risk matters across the firm’s global footprint.

The firm has recently appointed a new role, Head of Corporate Risk & Governance which in turn reports to the General Counsel. The role arose due to the expansion of the firm’s General Counsel team in response to growth within the firm and increasing regulatory requirements within the sector in the UK and internationally. The Head of Corporate Risk & Governance is responsible for firm governance (including the LLP Members Agreement, intra-group agreements and related documents), ensuring compliance with professional standards (including through policy work, file auditing and training), and contractual work relating to both client engagements and the firm’s suppliers. This new Compliance and Risk Counsel role will support and report to the Head of Corporate Risk & Governance, although the successful applicant will also undertake work with the General Counsel and potentially other members of the Risk Legal team.

Role and Responsibilities

• Drafting and updating client engagement letters and standard terms of business
• Advising on outside counsel guidelines and client bespoke terms
• Providing Risk team assistance for client pitches, RfPs and Panel applications
• Advising on barrister, expert witness and local counsel engagement terms
• Working with the Head of Procurement to review and negotiate supplier contracts
• Drafting updates to LLP corporate documents and member resolutions
• Advising on SRA regulatory requirements
• Assisting with regulatory engagement
• Assisting with practising certificate renewals process
• Drafting firm policies
• Auditing files for compliance with regulatory requirements
• Assisting with COLP internal investigations
• Supporting the Head of Corporate Risk and General Counsel with strategic risk management initiatives
• Supporting the opening of any new offices
• Comply with all relevant legal and regulatory obligations including the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Standards and Regulations, and Principles.

Skills and experience

• Qualified solicitor (or equivalent) with around 2-4 years’ Post Qualification Experience, with a commercial law background
• Relevant experience may have been gained either in a fee-earning or in-house role
• Strong drafting skills, especially contract drafting
• Experience of negotiating contract terms
• Understanding of SRA Code of Conduct
• Motivated to develop expertise in regulatory requirements in the UK and internationally
• Understanding of conflicts of interest and conflicts resolution would be advantageous but not essential

Person specification

• Be able to work with minimal supervision and using own initiative
• Able to work effectively with and build strong relationships with colleagues at all levels across the firm
• Able to articulate difficult messages and decisions to the business through effective communication
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Resilient, flexible in approach and responsive
• Able to balance competing priorities effectively
• Self-motivated and able to take responsibility for taking matters through to completion or resolution
• Experience of working in a large City or international law firm is desirable

Client service

• Integrity and respect
• Interpersonal skills
• Inclusive
• Delivery focus
• Working in a team