Job description

We are currently recruiting for a qualified lawyer with significant PQE and experience of conflicts management to join our Business Acceptance Unit (BAU) in London or Belfast on a 12 month contract.  This role would be required to work a standard pattern of 9:30am to 5:30pm, Tuesday to Saturday.

The BAU process requests from partners to accept new legal matters including performing anti-money laundering, sanctions and background checks on new clients and performing conflicts checks on each new matter for both new and existing clients.  The team work closely with partners and other senior stakeholders to facilitate resolution of legal and business conflict issues and to ensure that regulatory obligations with respect to client identification and ongoing monitoring are met in jurisdictions in which Allen & Overy operates.

The role of the In-House Lawyer is to be a trusted adviser to the business, providing high quality, proactive business-focused support and solutions to colleagues on a variety of "business as usual" and complex regulatory, compliance and professional conduct issues. It requires an individual with the ability to develop strong working relationships in order to be a "go to" and accessible person for queries and concerns about regulation, compliance and conduct from around the world from stakeholders of all levels.  In addition, the In-House Lawyer will participate in strategic projects and will be part of the horizon-scanning team, inputting into the strategic direction of the firm's regulation.

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.
• 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.

Role 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.

Key requirements

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

Should you require additional support at any stage of the recruitment process due to a disability or a health condition, please do not hesitate to contact a member of Allen & Overy’s recruitment team who will work with you to provide any reasonable adjustments as required.

We are an equal opportunities recruiter and do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or any other protected characteristic.

At Allen & Overy, we recognise that our people are our most valuable asset, which is reflected in the wide range of benefits that are available to our employees. Some of these benefits include: our occupational pension scheme, group income protection cover, private medical insurance, mental health resources and free apps, health and wellbeing services encompassing an onsite gym, wellbeing centre and GP service, emergency back-up care support, parental and special leave, holiday entitlement increasing with length of service, holiday trading, season ticket loans and online discounts and lifestyle management services.

Allen & Overy recognises the value of flexible working and embraces hybrid working, allowing our people to work from home up to 40% of their working time. We do however remain committed to working together in person for the remaining 60% of time so that we can learn, grow and succeed together. If you would like additional flexibility we will of course consider this in line with business needs.


Additional information - External

Allen & Overy is a leading global law firm operating in over thirty countries. We work on some of the most challenging and important deals and have built a reputation for delivering exceptional legal solutions that help our clients grow, innovate and thrive. The legal industry is changing, and we're committed to leading that change, putting our people first, embracing new ways of thinking and integrating technology into our everyday work. Our business teams work hand-in-hand with our lawyers, Consultants and other specialist teams, and are ambitious, driven and leaders in their field.

With us, you will constantly be learning and growing. We invest in you by offering exceptional professional and personal development – providing training, mentoring and practical support. We offer rewarding careers that are built around your strengths and designed to ensure you can achieve your personal and professional goals, recognising that those may look different for everyone.

We have a powerful commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. We’re determined to play our part in advancing a workplace where progress is made by harnessing our differences – whatever defines you, we ask you to bring your whole self to work.

What truly defines a career at Allen & Overy? We recruit the best and ask for the best of you. We provide challenge, support and a place for you to belong. And together we excel, working on meaningful projects of global significance.