HR Advisor in London

Successful businesses rely on a unique set of ideas and people. We help our clients protect and develop those vital assets, unlocking possibilities for future success. From iconic brands and leading multinationals to pioneering start-ups, we are proud to work with a huge range of inspiring clients, helping them to turn their ideas into reality and get the best from – and for – their people.

Our people are not only exceptional at what they do, they also enjoy doing it and consistently give their best to a firm they’re proud to be part of. This stems from our firm culture and our ethos of bravery and kindness. That ethos runs through everything we do, from our approach to recruitment, business practices, and DEI activities to the day-to-day environment in our office and our relationships with clients.

With an internationally minded team of more than 700 working across key areas of law plus strategic partnerships around the world, we’ve got both the combination and calibre of legal experts it takes to enable our clients’ businesses to thrive. Whether it is providing global employment law advice, managing a global IP portfolio or piecing together a multijurisdictional corporate transaction, we are able to have the right people, in the right place, at the right time.

This role sits within the Human Resources team which comprises 34 people specialists based in our London, Manchester and Cardiff offices, working closely together to provide excellent employment conditions for the firm’s people, covering all aspects of the employee lifecycle.

The primary focus of this role will be to proactively support, and work together with, the HR Business Partner (HRBP) and Senior Advisor, to deliver the full employee lifecycle, effectively and efficiently for all in the Employment, Immigration, Reward and Data, Privacy and Cyber Legal Practice Groups (LPGs) (EIR) employees across the firm. The post holder will also have the opportunity to work with the wider HR team on firmwide people projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Working closely with the HRBP and Senior HR Advisor, providing proactive support to the Talent Partners, line managers and relevant Chief Officers across the EIR LPGs on all people-related matters, including employee relations issues.
• Acting as first point of call, and trusted advisor, to identified employee group(s) within the LPGs.
• Supporting line managers with performance management issues and providing best practice guidance to line managers.
• Advising employees and line managers on all matters of HR policy and process and culture.
• Responsible for managing parent leave arrangements, including the provision of new parent support.
• Managing the flexible working process, including individual flexible working requests, as well as wider hybrid working patterns.
• Managing the probationary review process and supporting Talent Partners and/or Line Managers with any performance management concerns and next steps in line with the firm’s policies, where appropriate.
• Working alongside the Talent Acquisition team, supporting the recruitment process for roles across all the EIR LPGs. This will include liaising with stakeholders, clarifying role requirements/budgets and shortlisting and interviewing candidates.
• Working closely with the People Operations team, having oversight of, and ensuring joiner and leaver procedures are effectively implemented and maintained. This will include coordination of onboarding arrangements and presenting induction programmes, as well as having regular new joiner catch-ups to ensure effective integration of new staff.
• Undertaking exit interviews as needed and analysing leaver data to draw out any themes which may require further investigation.
• Working closely with the Talent Development team to design and deliver relevant high-quality development initiatives across all roles within the division.
• Absence management and follow up, including conducting return to work interviews where sickness absence trigger points have been reached and making occupational health referrals where necessary.
• Providing advice and support to employees and line managers in relation to ongoing health and wellbeing concerns and/or disabilities, ensuring appropriate external advice is sought as required, and that reasonable adjustments are implemented effectively, and regularly reviewed.
• Ensuring payroll changes are provided to the People Operations team in a timely and efficient manner and ensuring employment paperwork and changes to terms and conditions are updated as required within the relevant systems.
• Create and produce management information as required.
• Provide input to regular reports and papers as required.
• Assisting the Senior HR Advisor with slide preparation and information for the EIR monthly meetings and the EIR People Bubble meetings.
• Assisting the Senior HR Advisor with the co-ordination of the monthly EIR Reps Meetings, managing the agenda items and circulating the meeting notes as appropriate.
• Ensure the timely delivery of the firm’s appraisal, salary review and bonus and promotion processes, working closely with the HRBP, Senior HR Advisor and Reward team and taking a proactive approach throughout to completion.
• Keeping the HRBP up to date with all HR activity across the LPGs, providing regular updates on activity and on-going matters.
• Additional ad hoc people projects, as required.
• Any other reasonable duty in line with the level of the role.

About you

You will have a professional manner, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and have previous relevant experience working within an HR role. You’ll have a flexible nature and will enjoy working within a fast-paced team and will be highly organised. You’ll also possess strong numeracy and attention to detail skills, which will be key within this role. You’ll be passionate about being a team player, who is keen to support others.

Our Ideal Candidate Will Be Able To Demonstrate

• Prior demonstrable experience of working in an HR capacity at HR Advisor level or above, ideally gained in professional services, partnership or a law firm environment.
• Experience of using employee database software and online recruitment management tools.
• Ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure, with the ability to communicate with internal and external stakeholders, across varying levels.
• Ability to organise workload and re-prioritise as necessary.
• Possess an interest in, and be active in, keeping up to date with HR trends and legal updates, remaining mindful of potential impacts on the duties of the role, or wider HR policies and procedures.
• Excellent numeracy skills with experience using Word and Excel.
• Ability to manage a busy and demanding workload.
• Strong team player skills and enthusiasm.

At Lewis Silkin our ethos is simple. We strive to do the best for our clients, our people and the communities in which we operate. We recognise that an inclusive workplace allows for all kinds of ideas and thoughts, a variety of points of view that can trigger discussions or deliver innovative results, and a wide range of versatile skills and expertise. We are proud of the diversity within Lewis Silkin and of our culture that allows people to be themselves at work, ensuring we provide the best possible service to our clients. We are committed to supporting candidates throughout the recruitment process by supporting anyone who requires adjustments, in order to ensure they have the opportunity to perform at their best. All applicants will be considered equally and fairly. If you’d like to request any adjustments throughout the recruitment process, or would like to discuss flexible working patterns, please email the recruitment team in confidence.