Job description

We are currently recruiting for an In-House Lawyer/Senior Lawyer to join our Business Acceptance Unit in London.

Role and responsibilities

• Analysing and resolving (or, where appropriate, facilitating resolution of) professional, legal, regulatory and commercial issues relating to business acceptance and client engagement which are referred by business acceptance analysts and by partners and all other levels of lawyer and support staff including:
  • business/commercial conflict issues
  • professional and legal conflicts issues;
  • anti-money laundering client ID issues; 
  • reputational and suitability issues; 
  • client confidentiality issues; and
  • handling client engagement letter queries.
• Exercising judgment as to when to refer issues (of the type listed in 1 above) to the Partner and the Head of the Business Acceptance Unit and facilitating the resolution of any such issues referred.
• Responding, and managing the team's responses, to queries addressed to the members of the BAU relating to business acceptance and client engagement including, in particular, in relation to the areas listed in 1 above.
• Where urgency and/or workload/an absence of analyst team cover require, to provide support to the analyst team by performing conflicts checks (within internal databases) on new matters.
• Monitoring changes in practice, professional rules, regulations and the law as affects business acceptance and client engagement globally so that these can be reflected in the business acceptance and client engagement process and policies.
• Monitoring changes and developments in practice, professional rules, regulations and the law as relate to client ID and KYC obligations under anti-money laundering requirements.
• Assisting in the creation and maintenance of precedents and know how resources for use within the business acceptance and client engagement team and the development of appropriate business acceptance and client engagement know how (e.g. briefings) for use throughout the firm.
• Assisting in the development of the analyst team’s regulatory expertise and work type experience.
• Mentoring, supervising and assisting in the management of the Business Acceptance Unit's Analyst and Administrative staff.
• Assisting in the creation, ongoing development and implementation of the firm's global business acceptance and client engagement policies, processes and systems.  For example those relating to:
  • client confidentiality and information barriers;
  • matter inception;
  • new client acceptance;
  • conflicts and conflict checking;
  • internal matter records databases (for conflicts management purposes);
  • other external database resources used for business acceptance purposes;
  • use, and development, of functionality within the firm's existing systems for business acceptance purposes;
  • the business acceptance watchlist (listing sensitive areas being actively monitored); and
  • the content, collection and storage of engagement letters.
• Screening, and advising on, the terms of pitch documents and engagement/relationship letters and ensuring that any relevant terms are noted and taken into account in the course of the business acceptance process.
• Intervention (where required, at the point of business acceptance) to issue directions on specific formalities required for business acceptance purposes e.g. levels of virtual file security and any need for formal information barriers.
• Assistance in monitoring information barriers including:
  • setting up information barriers;
  • information barrier clearances on walled matters; and
  • responding to queries on the firm's procedures.
• Assisting in the design, implementation and delivery of training presentations and other development programmes for lawyers and support departments regarding risk management and, in particular, business acceptance and client engagement.
• In relation to all of the above, reporting to the Head of Business of Acceptance.

Key requirements

• Interest in, and potential for, developing mentoring skills;
• Commercially minded and possessing a strong legal skill set;
• Ability to analyse facts and scenarios thoroughly (and yet quickly) and proactively to put forward resolutions to legal and commercial problems;
• Excellent task management skills and a proven ability to manage multiple tasks under time pressure; and
• Enthusiastic, self-motivated and pro-active.

Who we are looking for

• Qualified lawyer with significant PQE. 
• Must have strong academic background minimum of a 2:1.
• International experience with a leading top tier firm is highly advantageous with a strong background in multi-jurisdictional transactions or dispute resolution.
• Experience in relation to Conflicts Management is essential.

Additional information - External

It’s Time

Allen & Overy is a leading global law firm operating in over thirty countries. By turning our insight, technology and talent into ground-breaking solutions, we’ve earned a place at the forefront of our industry. Our lawyers are leaders in their field – and the same goes for our support teams. Ambitious, driven and open to fresh perspectives, we find innovative new ways to deliver our services and maintain our reputation for excellence, in all that we do.

The nature of law is changing and with that change brings unique opportunities. With our collaborative working culture, flexibility, and a commitment to your progress, we build rewarding careers. By joining our global team, you are supported by colleagues from around the world. If you’re ready for a new challenge, it’s time to seize the opportunity.