Senior Knowledge Lawyer

Allen & Overy; London; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading international law firm in London seeks a Senior Knowledge Lawyer for its Litigation & Investigations team. The role focuses on providing expertise in financial services regulatory investigations, supporting both internal training and client engagement. Candidates should have extensive experience, preferably over 7 years, in this legal area. The firm offers a hybrid working model requiring on-site presence for part of the week, along with a comprehensive benefits package.

Benefits

Occupational pension scheme

Private medical insurance

Mental health resources

Onsite gym

Holiday entitlement increasing with length of service

Qualifications

• 7 PQE+ qualified lawyer with knowledge of financial services investigations.
• Experience working on client investigations.
• Ability to communicate effectively at all levels.

Responsibilities

• Provide support to financial services regulatory investigations team.
• Stay updated on legal developments and trends.
• Design and present training on financial services investigations.

Skills

Strong technical knowledge of FCA and PRA requirements

Excellent client relationship skills

Detail-oriented and self-motivated

Strong organizational skills

Collaborative team player

Education

Qualified lawyer with 7 PQE+

Job description

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We are recruiting a (Senior) Knowledge Lawyer to join our Litigation & Investigations Practice in London.

Department purpose
The London Litigation & Investigations team focuses on investigations (both civil and criminal) and litigation for financial institutions and corporates. It operates at the pinnacle of the market and is top ranked by the legal directories across a range of contentious areas.

Our litigation practice handles the full range of corporate and commercial disputes, including competition and antitrust litigation, derivatives and structured finance disputes, insolvency and restructuring litigation, class actions, insurance litigation, securities litigation and M&A disputes. We are also at the vanguard of emerging disputes driven by sustainability/ESG related issues and those involving data, cyber-security, fintech and digitalisation. Our litigators work seamlessly in integrated teams with our transactional and advisory colleagues, providing in-depth market expertise and product knowledge that gives clients an edge in disputes and enables us to pre-empt and protect against potential risks to their businesses.

Our investigations practice has worked on some of the most high-profile investigations and enforcement proceedings, both for financial institutions (including banks, insurers, asset and fund managers, payment and e-money firms) and corporates. We help clients navigate regulatory proceedings involving the main UK enforcement authorities, including the Financial Conduct Authority, Prudential Regulation Authority, Competition and Markets Authority, Information Commissioner’s Office and the Serious Fraud Office. We also regularly conduct internal investigations into our clients’ most sensitive matters, including whistleblowing investigations. Much of our work is cross-border in nature, and we are frequently involved in investigations involving overseas authorities. A&O Shearman is one of very few firms that can truly handle global enforcement proceedings, working seamlessly across borders through our international network.

Role purpose
We are currently recruiting for a Senior Knowledge Lawyer to lead the provision of focused support to our financial services regulatory investigations team, principally in London but also supporting global initiatives. We are looking for an experienced individual with expertise in UK financial services regulatory investigations, whether as a private practice or in-house lawyer, in a professional support capacity or through working for a financial services regulator.

Role and responsibilities

Internal knowledge, training and development

Staying up to date on legal developments and trends in relation to financial services investigations and producing alerts and updates on developments for fee-earners.

Acting as a sounding board on queries from around the firm on financial services investigations issues.

Designing, developing and presenting internal training on financial services investigations issues.

Designing, organising and running regular internal know-how meetings for our financial services investigations lawyers.

Creating, maintaining and curating know-how in relation to financial services investigations topics.

Working with and providing input into the work of our market-leading non-contentious regulatory team.

Coaching junior lawyers wishing to build a practice focused on financial services investigations and briefing new trainees and other new joiners.

Client engagement

Designing, developing and presenting at both regular and ad hoc client seminars and training events on issues relating to financial services investigations.

Leading on our client publications relating to financial services investigations issues, including identifying topics, drafting and/or commissioning and editing content, helping to run our A&O Investigations Insight blog, and managing associated social media campaigns.

Matter Support

Supporting fee-earners (partners, associates, trainees and Knowledge Lawyers in other departments) on client matters by acting as a sounding board on complex legal and regulatory issues relating to financial services investigations

Key requirements

7 PQE+ (or equivalent) qualified lawyer with a solid knowledge and understanding of issues relating to financial services investigations, including practical experience of working on and/or advising financial services institutions in relation to external regulatory and/or internal investigations.

Strong technical knowledge across the following areas:The key regulatory requirements of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA).The approach of the FCA and/or the PRA to conducting external regulatory investigations and key issues that may arise in relation to those investigationsThe approaches taken by financial services institutions to conducting internal investigations, and key issues that may arise in relation to those investigations

Intellectual curiosity and versatility

Self -starter with the desire and ability continuously to acquire, develop and share knowledge

Detail-focused and self-motivated approach

Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines

Excellent client relationship skills with demonstrable evidence of adapting approach to clients in light of legal, regulatory and market changes

Sound experience of operating at a senior level within a complex international organisation

Strong commercial/business acumen with the ability to deliver creative and pragmatic solutions and advice

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interface at all levels and particularly to win the respect of the partner and fee-earner community, building strong relationships with both internal and external stakeholders

Collaborative team player with the ability to develop and work in a fast paced, intellectually rigorous environment

A person of sound judgment, able to establish a high level of credibility at all levels of the business

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 our recruitment team who will work with you to provide any 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.

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.

Our approach to hybrid working seeks to combine and maximise the benefits of effective remote working with the benefits of being in the office. Our current hybrid working arrangements require office based working for a minimum of 60% of your time (i.e. three days per week for a full time role) in accordance with our hybrid working policy.