Contracts Lawyer – 12M FTC in Newcastle

We are one of the largest international law firms in the world. With over 30 offices across the globe, we strive to exceed the expectations of our clients, providing them with the highest-quality advice and legal insight, which combines the firm’s global standards with in-depth local expertise.

The Client Terms and Contracts Solutions Team, in which the Contracts Lawyer sits, forms part of the firm's General Counsel function providing crucial in-house legal support to the firm's offices globally. The Team is primarily responsible for reviewing, negotiating and concluding contracts which the firm is entering into with clients as well as suppliers of goods and services to the firm.

The role will be to work directly with partners, other lawyers and business professionals, focusing on:

• The review and negotiation of commercial contracts under which the firm, globally, acts for its clients.
• Delivering advice to the firm on a range of contractual issues including in relation to events and business development initiatives, secondment arrangements and NDAs.
• Reviewing and providing input on the commercial contracts which the firm enters into with its material suppliers (IT and non-IT).
• Updating terms associated with client use of legal technology tools and platforms made available by the firm.
• Providing in-house legal input to ad-hoc firm projects as well as assisting with updates to the firm's standard Terms of Business, templates, internal policies and processes.
• Supervise the Contracts Executives as needed.
• Drive efficiencies in the Team's knowledge management and processes, including leveraging technology where appropriate.

Your experience:

• You will be detail-focused with strong drafting skills.
• You will have strong influencing and negotiation skills.
• Flexible to the demands of others and have the ability to work under pressure and on your own initiative.
• The ability to plan and organise effectively in order to meet business priorities.
• You will have the ability to adapt quickly to new processes and technology.
• The ability to form working relationships with others, both inside and outside of the immediate team.
• Sound awareness of commercial issues and ability to resolve them pragmatically.
• Flexible and effective verbal and written communication skills.
• You will be commercially minded with strong analytical, organisational, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work both unsupervised and as part of a team.

Experience:

• Prior experience as a practicing lawyer.
• Experience in reviewing and negotiating commercial contracts.
• Previous experience of gathering and analysing information, using it to solve problems in a methodical and practical way.
• Experience working within or alongside a Risk or Compliance function in a professional services firm would be beneficial but is not essential.

Qualifications:

• A Law degree.

From your first day with us, you will have varied opportunities to continuously grow and develop your skills and knowledge. You will be working with partners, lawyers and business professionals from all of the firm's offices and practice areas.

This role follows our 'balanced' hybrid working approach and as long as business needs allow, you will be supported to work in a hybrid way with the expectation of working from the office for a minimum of 50% of your time.

At Clifford Chance, we understand that our true asset is our people. Inclusion is good for our team and their families, our firm and society. We are committed to treating all employees and applicants fairly and equally regardless of their gender, gender identity and expression, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour, national or ethnic origin, social or economic background, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation, or age.