Researcher in London

Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) is a sector-focused international law firm with extensive expertise and industry insight across its core sectors of energy, infrastructure and transport. Through its network of 19 offices, the firm advises clients on complex, high-value transactions and disputes – matters requiring precise legal execution and a nuanced understanding of global market dynamics.

The firm’s success is driven by its people. It fosters a collaborative, inclusive and supportive environment where everyone can grow, share ideas and make an impact. Guided by its values –We are experts, We are united and We care – the firm delivers exceptional service through strong relationships and teamwork. The firm is committed to clear career paths, championing diversity and investing in its people so they can thrive.

Unlike other firms of our size, the expertise in sector means we usually find ourselves opposite magic circle or big US firms, and our clients are in the same league. We sometimes describe ourselves as ‘magic circle in sector’ which is our great strength but also our challenge. How to compete with the ‘big beasts’ and continue to grow, while retaining our values and ethos as a friendly and collegiate workplace environment. This includes knowledge and information management, research, training and technical solutions to help our lawyers work efficiently and collaboratively and to ensure that the firm’s collective knowledge is leveraged for the benefit of our clients. Our Researcher role goes to the heart of that.

The Global Head of Knowledge Management leads the wider Knowledge team made up of the firm’s Professional Support Lawyers and the Information & Research team. The Information and Research team works towards achieving the firm’s knowledge strategy by ensuring everyone has access to WFW's knowledge and resources. The team manages the firm’s online and hard copy resources, legal and business enquiries and collaborates with stakeholders across all offices.

Legal and Business Research:

• Ability to respond to legal and business enquiries globally.
• Coordinate and assist with larger projects.

Current Awareness:

• Maintain a portfolio of newswires on specific topics and clients and sectors.
• Ensure alignment of newswires on key campaigns by liaising with BD.
• Maintain bespoke good practice guide.
• Promotion of service to key stakeholders across the business to drive internal. engagement and to add value.

Contract Management:

• Promotion, testing and researching of new services.
• Maintaining good relationships with allocated suppliers and attending update meetings as required.
• Championing of allocated products to the Information and Research team and wider firm to ensure awareness of benefits of existing and new features.

Research resources platform:

• Ensuring the key product entries remain current and accurate.
• Contributing to I&R generated content to help fee-earners navigate resources effectively.
• Promotion of database to the firm as part of responding to enquiries.

Knowledge Management:

• Supporting the firm’s developing Knowledge Management strategy.
• Identifying and implementing process improvements.

Intranet

• Promotion of new subscriptions and tools.
• Promotion and updating of the Information and Research page.

Training

• New trainee induction training and ongoing training during training contract.
• Vacation student inductions.
• Provide new fee-earners training in person/virtual.
• Provide targeted training by department/sector/resource on an ongoing basis.
• Maintaining training collateral.

Ad hoc:

• Provide holiday cover.
• General team admin.
• Undertake other projects as required.

• Several years' experience in a legal researcher role.
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365, Teams, Lexis+UK, WestlawEdge and Practical Law.
• A degree or post-grad degree in Information Science/Library & Information Science or similar course would be advantageous.
• A high degree of written, oral and digital communication skills.
• Highly organised with the ability to meet deadlines under pressure.
• The ability to engage with stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong attention to detail.
• A can-do attitude and a willingness to take on additional tasks as and when required.
• Proven time management and prioritisation skills.
• Pro-active, collaborative team player.
• An appetite for continuous learning and development.
• Experience of carrying out complex legal and business research and working in a legal or professional services environment.

We offer a competitive benefits and wellbeing package for all employees.

The Firm promotes a culture of agility and flexibility and is fully supportive of flexible working arrangements where these can be accommodated.

Diversity and inclusion are integral to the firm’s strategy and underpin its efforts to attract and retain top talent. All employment decisions are made objectively, based on merit and ability and the firm is committed to inclusive and barrier-free recruitment. As a Disability Confident employer, WFW welcomes adjustments for candidates with disabilities or long-term health conditions and participates in the Disability Confident interview scheme. If you would like to apply through this scheme or require adjustments during any stage of the process, please contact London_Recruitment@wfw.com.