Talent Development Manager in London

Milbank LLP is an elite global law firm with over 1000 lawyers and 600 business professionals, based in 11 offices across 4 continents. With over 200 lawyers in London providing English and NY law advice on UK, pan-European, Asian and other global matters, we offer our clients real strength and depth of expertise coupled with first rate client service. The strength of our leading US and UK practices also provides us with a unique ability to handle the most complex and demanding transatlantic mandates for our clients.

Our clients span the public and private sectors, including governments, state-owned enterprises, sovereign wealth funds, export credit agencies, development banks and multilateral institutions, as well as private companies, lending institutions, private equity firms, hedge funds, institutional investors and other financial institutions located around the globe who seek guidance on their most important and complex matters.

We are market-leaders across multiple disciplines and practice areas, including Financial Restructuring, Project, Energy & Infrastructure Finance, Transportation and Space, Leveraged Finance, Alternative Investments, Corporate Finance and Securities, Corporate/M&A/Private Equity, Intellectual Property, IT & Outsourcing, Litigation and Arbitration, Tax and Executive Compensation, and Benefits.

Driven to deliver exceptional results for our clients, we push boundaries and challenge assumptions. That’s been core to our ethos since our founding in 1866. It fuels how we work and define ourselves, and it informs our growth and evolution as a firm. Our unified practice is underpinned by our attorneys’ acknowledged technical excellence, sectoral expertise and a strong tradition of innovation and client service. Surrounding ourselves by the best inspires and challenges us to constantly reimagine what’s possible.

This role will support our Global Corporate practice in the London office and, after a period of integration, another practice group at the Firm.

The role is critical in ensuring that we deliver timely and effective support to promote the professional and personal growth of our lawyers and their careers within the Global Corporate team and at the Firm.

This position will be embedded with the Global Corporate practice group, working directly with the partners, associates and trainees. They will also work closely with other Talent Development Managers in the London Office, as well as with the wider Talent Development team in New York.

A career at Milbank means complex work, unique challenges and inspiring results. It also means real collaboration and a supportive environment where you will learn and grow professionally and personally - and even have some fun along the way.

Responsibilities include:

• Build a comprehensive knowledge of the practice group(s) - the work, people, deal flow and clients;
• Build a comprehensive understanding of the associates, counsel and trainees in the group, in terms of key strengths, specialist knowledge, professional development goals and overall performance;
• Work closely with the partners in:
  • coordinating the allocation of counsel, associates and trainees to ongoing and new matters, suggesting assignments based on the workload of the department and the developmental needs of each lawyer;
  • coordinating annual leave and study leave planning to ensure that deals are suitably resourced and that breaks can be taken;
• Assist with, and monitor, workloads to ensure that utilisation is optimised, including reviewing financial analytics and considering team weighting and leverage;
• Ensure that annual and interim performance reviews are completed for counsel, associates, and trainees;
• Work closely with partners to ensure that appropriate developmental and training needs are identified and communicated during performance reviews; attend all evaluation meetings to ensure consistency in the form of delivery;
• Ensure any interim counsel, associate and trainee development conversations are conducted as required (for example, post secondments, feedback meetings outside the review cycle, after significant matters have completed etc.) and those are recorded, as appropriate;
• Provide advice and guidance to associates and trainees on their career goals;
• Work in conjunction with the Training Partner(s), Practice Support Lawyers and the Professional Development team on the creation of training programmes and ad hoc training events, including being an active member of the London Office Professional Development Committee;
• Work with external training providers to create and deliver bespoke team training and development initiatives;
• Ensure that tailored induction programmes are created for new hires, and support the induction of new trainees into the team at seat rotation;
• Involvement in developing and facilitating ad hoc events to foster greater cohesion and communication within the team;
• In conjunction with the Recruitment Manager and partners, support the recruitment of lateral hires and trainees;
• Work with the HR team to ensure any associates recruited with overseas legal qualifications complete the SQE and any other requirements to be admitted to practice in England and Wales;
• In conjunction with HR, ensure any illness in the team is dealt with supportively and effectively, including signposting medical and other support available from the Firm and ensuring alternative team resourcing where necessary.
• In conjunction with the HR Manager, manage the exit procedures for departing associates (appropriate handover, etc); conduct exit interviews;
• Provide active support to the Firm's inclusion initiatives;
• Attend and contribute to regular office and firm-wide professional development and talent management meetings; and
• Ad hoc project work, as required e.g. benchmarking, research, change management projects.

• Minimum of five years’ previous experience as a practising lawyer, ideally in a related discipline (ideally Corporate or another transactional team);
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the confidence and ability to influence at all levels,
• building effective working relationships and using personal networks;
• Very good attention to detail;
• Excellent communication (written and oral) skills, coupled with the ability to listen;
• Ability to meet deadlines, prioritise and demonstrate strong organisational skills;
• Strong analytical and numerical skills;
• Strong IT skills, especially Word and Excel, and generally comfortable manipulating data;
• Resilient, self-motivated and proactive;
• Comfortable with change, eager to innovate and resolve problems; and
• Team player, with a commitment to delivering an excellent service to colleagues.

To facilitate a positive recruitment experience, please let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments to be made for you during the recruitment process. Kindly provide details of your requirements. If you would like to discuss these with a member of the recruitment team, please contact LNRecruiting@milbank.com.