Team overview:

The Strategic Governance and Advisory team provides advice on current and emerging risks, with a particular focus on 'ESG' related issues such as climate-related risk disclosures, energy transition, supply chain risks and social impact. We advise clients on other operational and reputational risks such as cyber incident response and financial crime.

We also assist with specialist governance matters such as annual and other periodic reporting, AGMs and other shareholder meetings, continuous disclosure, governance structures, directors' duties, legal and regulatory compliance, conflict matters, securities and insider trading issues, best practice principles and other corporate law matters.

Job overview:

Description of Lawyer Role

• You will be responsible for researching and drafting advice to clients on corporate governance matters (e.g. on directors' duties, conflicts of interest, regulatory compliance, etc).
• You will draft constituent documents (e.g. constitutions and shareholders' agreements), board committee terms of reference and policies (e.g. audit and risk committee terms of reference, conflicts of interest policies) and required shareholder correspondences (e.g. notices of meeting and resolutions).
• You will research and draft advice to boards, non-executives, executives, general counsel and company secretaries on various topical and emerging strategic issues such as directors' duties in the context of data breaches, ransomware demands, greenwashing and ESG.
• You will review and in some cases draft shareholder-focused documentation including notices of AGM and annual reports.
• You will work with lawyers across various practice groups to assist them with corporate governance matters, queries relating to their transactions/clients and to advise on the emerging strategic issues that arise at board level (e.g. advising the board on director liability and incident response in the aftermath of a major data breach).
• You will be responsible for researching and drafting thought leadership including articles, client alerts and client presentations on relevant legal and regulatory developments and other corporate governance matters.

Essential skills and experience:

• At least 2 years of post-qualification experience in corporate governance, corporate or other transactions or a demonstrable interest in governance matters such as ESG.
• Solid analytical, drafting, writing and communication skills.
• Familiarity with the Companies Act 2006, the FCA Handbook (specifically, the Listing Rules and Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules), the AIM Rules for Companies, the UK Market Abuse Regulation, the UK Corporate Governance Code, QCA Code and Wates Principles.
• Takes a commercial approach and has a strong desire to provide nuanced and practical solutions to complex problems.
• Able to work independently and with initiative, but also thrives in a close-knit team environment.
• Strong legal research skills.
• Manages time effectively and is able to prioritise.