Senior Associate, General Counsel & Risk in London

We’re Norton Rose Fulbright – a global law firm with over 50 offices and 7,000 employees worldwide, providing pre‑eminent corporations and financial institutions with full business law services. Our expansion is driven by global collaboration and innovation, and we value commercial, innovative, and pro‑active lawyers.

This role is based in London and reports to the Head of Conflicts, also in London. It involves providing expert, pragmatic advice to the business across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia on conflicts laws and other ethical rules, supporting colleagues and stakeholders such as junior team members, partners, sector leaders and firm management. The role may involve line management of other GC & Risk team members and requires participation in an evening/weekend rota for urgent matters.

Norton Rose Fulbright is a global law practice with more than 4,000 lawyers in over 50 cities across Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Latin America, Asia, Australia, Africa and the Middle East.

• Evaluate and advise on legal and regulatory risks presented by the firm’s new and existing business.
• Provide senior‑level advice to partners and senior management on conflicts and regulatory issues.
• Assist with complex risk decisions relating to conflicts and confidentiality issues, including different ethical rules that apply across EMEAPAC and the verein, and balancing the firm’s regulatory obligations with its strategic and commercial goals.
• Assist the General Counsel for New Business, the Head of Conflicts and the CMI operational lead in implementing compliance processes that operate effectively across the firm.
• Manage, supervise and/or mentor junior members of the team and be responsible for their development.
• Develop systems, procedures and internal knowledge resources in relation to conflicts and general compliance issues.
• Provide guidance to the business and junior colleagues on the review of engagement and relationship letters, panel appointments and non‑disclosure agreements produced by clients, and advise on their acceptability.
• Lead or collaborate on General Counsel & Risk or firm‑wide projects requiring input from a risk and compliance perspective.
• Devise and/or contribute to the provision and upkeep of a rolling conflicts and confidentiality training programme for the New Business teams.
• Contribute to the promotion of a risk‑management culture throughout the firm, including facilitating training sessions for the Practice and other Business Services teams.

• Qualified Solicitor, REL, RFL, or qualified Barrister or Solicitor in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa or the United States, with 8+ years of qualified experience in an international law firm or in‑house regulatory/general counsel area.
• “Can‑do” attitude and willingness to learn.
• High level of technical expertise.
• Ability to effectively analyse complex legal and factual issues.
• Pro‑active approach; anticipating the needs of our clients and internal stakeholders; looking for ways to add value wherever possible and unafraid to ask questions and test the status quo.
• Strong influencing, written and oral communication skills, including the ability to articulate arguments and complex concepts clearly, succinctly and respectfully to all levels of staff and in different cultural settings where English may not be a first language.
• Ability to deal with difficult and novel situations with poise.
• Confident to exercise initiative and make risk‑based judgement calls on a daily basis, whilst appropriately escalating matters.
• Ability to prioritise and delegate effectively.
• Innovative thinker able to overcome obstacles under time pressure and effectively balance the firm’s legal obligations with its business needs.
• Discrete and professional approach to sensitive matters and confidential information.
• Willingness to take responsibility for deliverables as appropriate; works effectively both autonomously and in a team setting.
• Positive outlook and openness to being a role model and mentor to junior members of staff; able to give and receive constructive criticism positively.
• Globally minded. Willing and able to embrace the firm’s business principles of quality, integrity and unity.

We are proud to be an equal‑opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams. We strive to create an inclusive recruitment process for all candidates and provide a diverse, flexible work model and support programmes and services to enhance wellbeing.