Corporate and M&A Knowledge Lawyer

The Corporate and M&A practice is looking to recruit a Knowledge Lawyer with ideally a minimum of five to six years’ PQE to join its successful team. The practice welcomes applications from those seeking a full-time role but is happy to consider a part-time position for the right candidate.

Practice overview

Our Corporate and M&A practice consists of 18 Partners, 5 Senior Counsel, 51 Associates, 10 Trainees, 1 Head of Knowledge, 1 Knowledge Lawyer, and 1 Knowledge and Research Officer (KRO). The practice covers a broad range of work, including private equity and venture capital, public and private M&A, corporate finance (including equity capital markets), partnerships and LLPs, corporate governance, joint ventures, reorganisations and restructurings, and general corporate advisory.

The role

The practice seeks an excellent candidate. The role can be adapted to reflect the experience, seniority and skill sets of the successful candidate. However, as a guide, areas the role may cover include:

• Providing professional support for fee-earning staff
• Knowledge management
• Maintaining standard legal precedents
• Organising internal education and training
• Creating internal and external content and publications
• Deal debriefing and data collation
• Harnessing legal technology

You will work with the practice’s Knowledge Lawyers and KRO and report formally to the firm’s Head of Knowledge and the Corporate and M&A practice group co-heads. Typical tasks which the role might involve include:

• Precedents: Reviewing, updating and maintaining the practice’s standard precedents, including legal agreements, practice notes and forms.
• Internal counsel: Using your accumulated specialist knowledge and expertise to provide advice and support to fee-earners on specific points of law.
• Knowledge management: Maintaining the practice’s know-how resources, including pro-actively sourcing know-how and precedent materials from fee-earners.
• Education and training: Working with the other team members on developing and organising legal training for the practice.
• Content and awareness: Keeping abreast of legal and market developments relevant to the practice and its clients.
• Research: Conducting research on topics that are relevant to the practice generally.
• Deal tracking: Maintaining familiarity with deal activity within the department.
• Legal technology: Together with the firm’s Lawtech practice, utilising legal technology available to the practice to improve service delivery.

This job description encompasses the main duties the role may entail and is by no means exhaustive. Duties may vary from time to time according to the needs of the practice area.

The candidate

You will:

• Be a qualified lawyer with a strong background in corporate law and in the law of England and Wales generally.
• Have a depth of knowledge and enthusiasm for the law and its application.
• Be confident in understanding the commercial context in which the firm and its fee-earners work.
• Be dynamic and self-motivated and committed to providing high-quality, technical legal support to fee-earners.
• Demonstrate attention to detail and the ability to work with complicated and unfamiliar concepts.
• Be highly computer-literate and have an aptitude for working with technology.
• Be personable and able to quickly gain the confidence of fee-earners at all levels.
• Demonstrate excellent people skills and the qualities that fit with a cohesive, supportive and friendly team.

This is an exciting role with room for growth and personal development and the opportunity to engage with a friendly, intelligent and motivated team known for its commercial and technical excellence.

Application screening

Any offer of employment with us is subject to our pre-employment checks, which are conducted by a third-party screening provider. These may include, but are not limited to, your professional and academic qualifications, any criminal records and employment references.

About Macfarlanes

We are a distinctive London-based law firm with a unique combination of services built and shaped around the needs of our clients. Our culture is thoughtful, challenging and supportive, and we are a place where everyone, at whatever level, can thrive.

Our commitment to inclusion is one of our key priorities and it is a goal we are actively working towards. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, bringing different perspectives and experiences.