In-House Lawyer in Belfast

We have an exciting opportunity for an In‑House Lawyer to join our Advanced Delivery Legal team! Team In‑House Legal is a core part of the Risk Function. Our stakeholders include not only the firm's partners and lawyers, but the entire global firm. We provide legal advice across a diverse range of complex and interesting subject areas, frequently leading on strategic projects, and have several industry experts within the team. We also play a key role in looking to the future and providing strategic advice to the firm's management to help them find solutions and achieve the firm's objectives.

In‑House Legal provides assurance to the firm's key governance bodies on a wide range of matters, including:

• Acting as a leader of, and enhancing, the firm's management of legal and operational risk;
• Responding proactively to risk and regulatory issues, identifying changes to relevant laws/regulations and advising as to their impact on the firm;
• Supporting the firm in the development of its legal technology and innovation strategies;
• Advising on complex risk and regulatory issues for the firm, including by leading regulatory change projects;
• Drafting, reviewing and advising on the firm's complex commercial contracts;
• Advising on legal and regulatory issues relating to the firm's supply chain and use of technology;
• Advising and implementing proposed changes to the group structure, including the opening of new offices and corporate restructurings;
• Acting as the firm's corporate secretariat, including dealing with procedural and other formalities relating to the firm's group structure, inter‑company agreements and other relevant procedural requirements.

A&O Shearman is seeking an experienced lawyer to join its expanding global in‑house legal team on a full‑time permanent basis. This is an opportunity to work regularly with offices around the world, lead on key projects and contribute to the growth of the business. You will be able to develop your career at a leading international firm, offering unique in‑house experience where high performance and embracing innovation is encouraged and recognised. We are looking for an ambitious lawyer with strong legal and commercial skills who enjoys challenging themselves in the context of a varied and rewarding role. The successful candidate will work closely with, and act as a trusted adviser to, senior stakeholders and colleagues throughout the firm's global network.

Responsibilities:

• Structuring and advising on large‑scale and strategic projects relating to the expansion of the global firm (such as new offices, entities and business lines) and group restructurings and reorganisations;
• Drafting, negotiating and advising on complex documents relating to group structure matters (including group constitutional and relationship agreements, restructuring documentation, agreements with associated and relationship firms, board papers, etc.) in a systematic, proactive and forward‑thinking way;
• Helping lead the firm's response to regulatory changes impacting the firm's structure and corporate secretariat, horizon scanning and issue spotting, advising the firm on the wider risk and strategic issues arising from such changes;
• Leading the firm's UK corporate secretariat, organising and managing board and partner meetings and all related organisational and planning activities;
• Acting as trusted adviser on a wide variety of complex constitutional, regulatory and group structure matters affecting the firm, including to senior management and governance bodies;
• Advising on complex legal and regulatory queries raised by partners and other members of staff, including on policy matters.

Qualifications:

• Qualified lawyer (2+ PQE) with a background in corporate, commercial or tax law;
• Strategic mindset with horizon scanning and interpretation skills;
• Excellent communication skills at all levels, including liaising with clients and partners;
• A proven ability to work independently and proactively and take the lead in driving projects forward to completion;
• Self‑motivation and ability to manage new and varied challenges;
• Excellent attention to detail;
• Collaborative approach and ability to work well in a team;
• Project leadership and delivery;
• Team leadership and management;
• Experience of working on international legal issues and/or providing in‑house legal advice in a corporate/commercial or risk setting.

Benefits:

We recognise that our people are our most valuable asset, which is reflected in the wide range of benefits available to our employees. Benefits include an occupational pension scheme, group income protection cover, private medical insurance, mental health resources and free apps, health and wellbeing services including GP service, emergency back‑up care support, parental and special leave, holiday entitlement increasing with length of service, holiday trading, online discounts and lifestyle management services. We recognise the value of flexible working and embrace hybrid working, allowing our people to work from home up to 40% of their working time. We remain committed to working together in person for the remaining 60% of time so that we can learn, grow and succeed together.

Equal Opportunities & Disability Support:

We are an equal opportunities recruiter and do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or any other protected characteristic. Should you require additional support at any stage of the recruitment process due to a disability or a health condition, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our recruitment team who will work with you to provide any adjustments as required.

Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom