Risk Lawyer (Financial Crime)

Mishcon de Reya; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent law firm in the United Kingdom seeks a Legal Advisor focusing on financial crime. This role involves providing legal advice, managing compliance strategies, and collaborating with various teams. The ideal candidate has substantial experience in financial crime legislation, excellent drafting skills, and is a qualified solicitor. The firm promotes a diverse workplace and offers an agile working culture with flexible options, aiming for continuous development and high legal standards.

Qualifications

• Substantial experience in financial crime focused role in a law firm risk function.
• Experience managing internal investigations on complex AML and financial crime matters.
• Strong organizational and prioritizing skills to meet internal client demands.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice on financial crime risk and investigations.
• Lead on audit and assurance processes in financial crime.
• Engage with the Business Acceptance team and Financial Crime Managers.

Skills

Financial crime legislation knowledge

People management

Drafting skills

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Education

Qualified Solicitor

Tools

Intapp

Job description

Overview

Reporting directly into the COLP/General Counsel (Legal Practice) and working as part of the General Counsel team, this newly created role will provide escalation support and legal advice on all matters relating to financial crime, sanctions, internal investigations on complex AML matters, and liaise with key stakeholders across the business. The role will play a critical part in building the one-team ethos, continuous development and providing the highest legal rigour and advice to the business.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice and input on financial crime risk issues and investigations.
• Support the MLCO and COLP in delivering financial crime strategy, including input on policies and procedures.
• Lead on information requests, external audit and annual reporting requirements involving financial crime issues.
• Lead on audit and assurance processes, managing stakeholders in the wider business acceptance team.
• Input to practice-wide risk assessments and take the lead on updating and reviewing processes as required.
• Lead on the training to be delivered to the Firm regarding financial crime, collaborating with other stakeholders in the Risk team and wider firm.
• Contribute towards other risk and regulatory projects within the department as and when requested.
• Engage actively with the Business Acceptance team and Financial Crime Managers as needed, providing expertise and support where required.
• Build a collaborative team environment that delivers the highest standards of advice and guidance to the business.
• Build relationships across the Firm with key stakeholders, to provide advice and guidance as requested.

Qualifications

• Substantial experience in a financial crime focused role in a law firm risk function is essential.
• Prior experience in new business acceptance escalations would be valuable.
• Experience and knowledge of financial crime legislation and guidance.
• Experience in supervising colleagues and successfully managing and leading a team.
• Experience managing internal investigations on complex AML, sanctions and financial crime matters is valuable.
• Meaningful experience with Intapp (our Matter Opening system) is essential.
• Qualified Solicitor is required – whether through the traditional training contract route or by an alternative qualification route.
• Strong people management skills with proven experience in successfully building a high performing team.
• Strong interpersonal skills to present themselves in a commercial and confident manner to a range of stakeholders.
• The highest standards of legal rigour, delivered with care in a professional and pleasant manner.
• Excellent drafting skills, with meticulous attention to detail.
• A diligent and effective record keeper.
• Strong team player – the role is highly collaborative and requires someone who enjoys working alongside colleagues and takes a supportive and agile approach.
• Strong organisational and prioritising skills to meet the demands of challenging and commercial internal clients.
• Ability to review existing systems and work collaboratively to devise best strategies for the Firm.
• Efficient and responsive with an ability to challenge and influence senior stakeholders.
• Ability to manage own diverse workload and work independently as part of a team.
• Proactive, resilient and calm under pressure.
• Takes responsibility for and attends to self-development.
• Flexible and agile approach to the workload, working in close collaboration with the General Counsel Team.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

Benefits

Mishcon de Reya is an independent law firm employing over 1400 people with more than 650 lawyers offering a wide range of legal services to companies and individuals. The firm has grown rapidly, showing more than 40% revenue growth in the past five years alone. With presence in London, Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore and Hong Kong, the firm services an international community of clients and provides advice in cross‑border, multi‑jurisdictional and complex matters centred around three increasingly entwined and connected sectors: the Innovation Economy, Private Wealth and Capital, and Real Estate. The firm is known as a disputes powerhouse with a formidable capacity for dispute resolution. Mishcon de Reya strives to create a fully diverse and inclusive workplace where all people are empowered to fulfil their potential and enjoys an agile working culture with flexible options.