Senior Policy Adviser (Part Time)

The Opportunity: As a Senior Advisor / Conflicts Lawyer within the Conflicts, Ethics and Commercial Advisory team, you will be a key member of the global Risk & Compliance function, ensuring that conflicts of interest are effectively managed within a risk-based commercial framework. You will oversee complex conflict assessments, working closely with partners and senior stakeholders to facilitate business acceptance decisions that align with both regulatory and strategic commercial objectives.

This role requires a proactive, commercially aware legal professional who can navigate nuanced conflicts issues while supporting the firm's business strategy. You will play a crucial role in assessing client relationships, contractual obligations, and business conflicts, ensuring that the firm's growth strategy is executed without legal or regulatory impediments.

Hours of Work: Core business hours are Monday to Friday, 9:30 am to 5:30 pm. Flexibility is available, but additional hours may be required, including out-of-hours (on-call) support for urgent conflict matters.

Key responsibilities of the role include:

• Managing conflicts of interest within a structured risk framework, balancing regulatory compliance, commercial priorities, and strategic business execution.
• Conducting conflicts assessments for new clients, matters, and hires, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations.
• Resolving conflicts efficiently, advising partners on confidentiality, disclosure, and business risks, and ensuring business acceptance decisions support long-term client relationships.
• Providing practical risk guidance on conflicts clearance and mitigation strategies, including information barriers, consent procedures, and scope limitations, while supporting policy development and enhancing risk systems and analytics.
• Leading training initiatives, mentoring junior team members, overseeing complex conflicts assessments, and contributing to cross-jurisdictional risk projects.
• Collaborating on AI-assisted risk detection, ensuring conflicts management evolves with technological advancements.

This is a full-time, permanent role based in our London office with hybrid working.

About you: The successful candidate will have:

• Legal & Regulatory Expertise: Qualified solicitor (England & Wales) or equivalent legal qualification, with experience in conflicts, compliance, or risk management within a large international law firm. Deep knowledge of conflicts of interest laws and regulations, including the SRA Code of Conduct, OFR, and other professional rules. Experience in international conflicts management, including regulations in EMEA, APAC, and North America, is advantageous.
• Technical & Analytical Skills: Ability to interpret and analyse legal and commercial information, providing pragmatic, risk-balanced advice. Proficiency in conflicts management systems (e.g., Intapp Open, Elite 3E) and data analytics tools to support risk analysis. Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to develop innovative solutions that align risk management with commercial priorities.
• Communication & Commercial Awareness: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex conflicts issues into commercially relevant advice. Ability to challenge, influence, and negotiate with partners and senior decision-makers, ensuring risk is managed while enabling business growth. Strong relationship-building skills, engaging with stakeholders at all levels across legal, finance, and business development functions.
• Leadership & Strategic Thinking: Proven ability to lead and mentor team members, fostering both technical and commercial development. Highly organised, with the ability to prioritise competing demands and manage high-stakes conflicts assessments. Strong strategic thinking, aligning conflicts analysis with business goals, client strategies, and revenue-generating opportunities.

What makes Ashurst a great place to work? We offer you all the things you should expect from an international law firm, some of which include: competitive remuneration with the flexibility to reward high performance; flexible working; corporate health plans; a global professional development offering for all employees; and an industry-leading programme that celebrates diversity and inclusion. We are committed to delivering positive impacts to our communities through our Social Impact programme. We aim to recruit, retain and promote the best people from the widest possible talent pools. We are committed to offering a safe and welcoming environment for all employees to ensure they are supported to work at their best. Beyond this, what sets Ashurst apart from others is our global strength, our drive to innovate and collaborate, and our commitment to excellence. It is these values that make Ashurst a unique place to work.