Who we are 

Slaughter and May is a leading international law firm, recognised throughout the business community for its exceptional legal service, commercial awareness and commitment to clients. We advise across the spectrum of legal matters including high-profile, ground-breaking and complex transactions, contentious matters and all aspects of risk. We deliver innovative and bespoke solutions to our clients, domestically and internationally. We provide clear legal advice that spans the globe whilst tackling the cultural nuances between jurisdictions. Our lawyers understand how to coordinate and manage matters in the jurisdictions most relevant to our clients.

We are now offering the opportunity to become part of our dynamic Business Development team, which supports our lawyers in providing first-class legal advice to some of the most prestigious and well-known global businesses.

At Slaughter and May, with over 1,200 partners and staff worldwide, everyone's contribution is valued, and we all enjoy an open, friendly and supportive environment. We have an underlying sense of pride in who we are and what we do, and our inclusive culture gives rise to a unique diversity of thinking, which is critical to our success and helps maintain our position as a true market leader. To support our employees in achieving their professional development objectives, we offer an unrivalled variety of learning and development opportunities to everyone, as well as a highly competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package. In light of the continuing coronavirus pandemic, the firm has evolved a new hybrid approach to working, which sees our people working between their respective remote environments and our prestigious Headquarters at One Bunhill Row, in the heart of the City of London.

Would you like to join one of the world’s most prestigious law firms?

We are offering a fantastic opportunity for a professional, engaging individual to join us as a Business Executive Assistant, supporting our London-based Business Development Team.

ROLE OVERVIEW 

We are recruiting a Business Development Executive Assistant within the Business Development (“BD”) department within the Business Services function, based at the firm’s Head Office in London. The Business Development Executive Assistant will provide professional and client-focused support to the Co-Heads of Global Client Development primarily, as well as support across the wider Global Client Development and Communications teams.

This role will support the Global Client Development and Communications teams with a 60:40 split between the two teams in the London office. The Business Development Executive Assistant role will include undertaking complex tasks and projects, providing day-to-day support and playing a critical role in managing all routine and daily departmental administrative tasks. As with all client-led industries, a degree of flexibility is required.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

The key responsibilities of this role are set out below and there may be others which are not listed. You may be required on occasion to work outside our normal working hours of 9:30am to 5:30pm.

• Being the EA support for the Co-Heads of Global Client Development.
• Proactively manage diaries and emails, including highlighting and rectifying clashes, ensuring Outlook invitations are responded to and understanding the Head’s priorities for the day and individual preferences.
• Being the EA support for the wider Global Client Development and Communications teams.
• Organise internal and external meetings, to include law firm meetings, regular team meetings/social events, including all ancillary arrangements such as booking meeting rooms and refreshments and proactively preparing any necessary paperwork. Attend these meetings and progress action points as appropriate.
• Supporting on certain compliance projects including the Code of Business Conduct and Due Diligence Programme.
• Managing the International “Master Events List”.
• Arrange all team business travel, including ordering currency and creating itineraries and maintaining up-to-date knowledge and training in relation to the current travel booking policies and procedures.
• Maintain and monitor the team’s budget, process all payments and expenses and keep records of what has been paid.
• Manage and monitor team holidays, sickness and other absences where appropriate, ensuring they are kept up to date in the HR absence calendar.
• Update team email distribution lists and team specific documents where necessary.
• Update the team intranet pages (OneNet) to ensure key information, contacts and organisational/structure charts are created and maintained.
• Support the Comms team to deliver the Weekly ONE internal newsletter on the firm’s email and intranet platforms.
• Provide central admin for the ‘Around the Firm’ Carousel of content posted to the homepage of OneNet, the firm’s intranet.
• Liaise with Digital Team to access regular reports on performance of the Weekly ONE digital newsletter.
• Track and produce media coverage reports for the Comms team using media monitoring platform.
• Maintain and update process and procedure manuals and suggest improvements for greater efficiency where appropriate.
• Liaise with other business services Executive Assistants, and Practice Support Managers in the legal groups, to ensure collaboration, sharing of ideas and best practice, consistency of approach and to work as a seamless Executive Assistant function for the firm.
• Provide team support to cover absences for other business services Executive Assistants and during times of increased workload.
• Provide administrative support for new joiners to the department where relevant, including arranging introductory meetings and induction schedules.
• Draft, create, amend and format high quality correspondence, letters, documents, agendas, reports, presentations, diagrams and spreadsheets.

• Act as a change champion and first- responder, supporting issues and challenges experienced by BSD’s and Heads Of following the introduction of new processes and systems.

• Provide general administrative support, such as minute taking, fielding queries, processing expenses, filing, printing, photocopying and scanning. Liaising with facilities and premises on office moves, health and safety requirements.

• Maintain a comprehensive knowledge of, and ensure compliance with, quality standards, and the firm’s policies in general.

• Undertake additional ad hoc duties to support the group, as identified by the team Head and as necessary.

• Inputting and maintaining Dynamics content for key contacts.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

Candidates for this position must have:

• Excellent attention to detail and use of grammar.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work well within a team/be a strong team-player, and to interact at all levels.

• Ability to build strong relationships with internal and external clients.

• Commercial acumen and a solution- focused attitude.

• Accuracy and pride in their work product. 

• Collaborative and supportive of the business and its initiatives, and a willingness to get to grips with new technology, taking the training opportunities provided by the firm.

• Proficiency in all Microsoft Office packages. Fast and accurate touch typist.

• Resilience and ability to work in a fast paced, high demand environment.

• Knowledge of or ability to learn basic, day-to-day aspects of email marketing and intranet systems like Concep and SharePoint.

• The ability to confidently manage and prioritise a varied workflow, and to remain proactive and flexible at all times.

• The ability to anticipate and identify potential problems and provide innovative solutions.

• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to multi-task, keep calm under pressure and work to tight deadlines.

• Experience of working in a diverse team whilst fostering an inclusive team culture.

• Adaptable and open to change and a willingness and confidence to make suggestions for change where appropriate.

• High level of professionalism and integrity; displaying the highest standard of professional ethics.