Managing Associate (6+PQE) - Reputation Protection

At Mishcon Private, we have a deep understanding of the dynamics and politics of families, family businesses and personal relationships. We understand the issues our clients face and what keeps them awake at night. Their concerns go far beyond money and wealth preservation: family issues, reputation, their home, the things they love, or their legacy are far more important. Our business is protecting them, their interests and the things that matter most to them. We have been defending our clients' reputations for decades, both publicly and discreetly.

We have wide expertise in tackling and preventing unwarranted attacks, including securing injunctions to prevent the misuse of private information and the spread of fake news, as well as challenging defamatory content and harassing behaviour, and defusing personal and corporate disputes. We are uniquely positioned in the London market as reputation experts sitting within a full-service law firm, able to collaborate quickly with our expert colleagues in tax, fraud, family dispute, investigations and white collar crime, and Cyber investigations, amongst other disciplines.

We advise and litigate on all aspects of media and communication law, for both claimants and defendants, including defamation, malicious falsehood, privacy, blackmail, harassment, reporting restrictions, and data protection breaches and compliance. Specific issues we assist with include:

• Press / pre-publication enquiries about personal / corporate affairs, including from NGOs / regulators / other public bodies
• Online / social media attacks
• Blackmail and / or threats to release private / confidential information or threats to publish damaging allegations
• Obtaining, defending and discharging emergency injunctions
• Challenging the publication of damaging or private material, both in the media and in a more limited, private or commercial context
• Inaccurate KYC / compliance database profiles
• Content clearance and advice to publishers
• Reputation audits and strategy
• Media law training / awareness for journalists and communications professionals

Mishcon de Reya is looking to recruit a 6+ year PQE media litigator with a strong academic background. Candidates should demonstrate excellent technical skills (according to their PQE) and exemplary client handling and communication skills. They should thrive under pressure and think creatively with a focus on providing excellent and commercially sound service to our clients. They should also be able to demonstrate their ability to drive business, and to collaborate and innovate to identify opportunities with new and / or existing clients.

We are seeking candidates with “hands on” media litigation, reputation protection and commercial litigation experience who are comfortable handling the following with supervision appropriate to their PQE:

• Dealing with a varied but exacting client base (including high profile individuals, corporations, families, family offices and charities), quickly winning their trust and confidence and building meaningful relationships
• Advising on potential claims in defamation, privacy, confidentiality, harassment and data protection, and managing pre‑action engagement, litigation (including emergency injunction applications) and regulatory action, often in terms of crisis
• Media crisis management, including responding to media enquiries and threats
• Addressing online publications, including identifying publishers and seeking the removal of objectionable content
• Preparing and submitting complaints and reports to regulators including IPSO, Ofcom, ASA, ICO and the Charity Commission
• Supporting clients out of hours and at weekends on occasion, providing urgent round‑the‑clock advice including on an “on‑call” rota
• Negotiating with the media or other interest groups, and experience addressing campaigns
• Supervision of other fee earners and less experienced colleagues
• Maintaining consistently high standards of financial matter planning and file management
• Securing repeat work from internal / external clients, and contributing towards business development, e.g. through developing own profile both within the Firm and externally, generating new business from existing clients of the Firm or by winning new clients for the Firm
• Very strong technical skills, with the ability to think innovatively in terms of legal solutions, the delivery of legal services, and by adopting new technologies

Skills / Experience:

• 6+ years PQE and have trained and qualified with a leading law firm; some experience of media litigation / reputation protection would be beneficial however, we also encourage applications from candidates with other litigation backgrounds who can demonstrate a real interest in specialising in media litigation/reputation protection and a willingness to learn
• Strong academic record
• Experience of acting for private clients and clients in distressed situations would be beneficial
• High emotional intelligence and resilience
• Strong team player with a collaborative and inclusive approach
• Excellent attention to detail
• Excellent organisational skills
• Ability to effectively manage a busy and varied workload (of multiple client matters), including input / contribution needed from others
• Ability to communicate effectively with people at all levels, both internally and with clients
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team but always with integrity and frankness
• Personable and confident, able to build relationships with partners / key stakeholders
• Resilient and calm under pressure
• Adaptable and flexible approach
• Pro‑active and takes initiative
• Excellent commercial awareness
• Interest in business development

Please note that this job profile is not an exhaustive list of duties but merely an outline of the key components of the role. You may be required by your line manager to take on additional responsibilities when requested.

Mishcon de Reya is an independent law firm, which now employs over 1400 people with more than 650 lawyers offering a wide range of legal services to companies and individuals. The firm has grown rapidly in recent years, showing more than 40% revenue growth in the past five years alone. With presence in London, Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore and Hong Kong, the firm services an international community of clients and provides advice in situations where the constraints of geography often do not apply. The work the firm undertakes is cross‑border, multi‑jurisdictional and complex, centred around three increasingly entwined and connected sectors: the Innovation Economy, Private Wealth and Capital, and Real Estate. The firm is known as a disputes powerhouse with a formidable capacity firmwide for dispute resolution. We strive to create a fully diverse and inclusive workplace where all our people are empowered to fulfil their potential. We are proud of our agile working culture and are always happy to talk flexible working.