Managing Lawyer, Risk and Compliance

Freshfields; Hong Kong; On-site; HKD 1,800,000 - 2,100,000; Full time

Job summary

Freshfields is seeking a Managing Lawyer to join the Asia team within the Legal Department. The role leads the Asia Business Acceptance function, advising on complex legal, regulatory and commercial risk matters across the region, and supporting risk-based decisions for partners and teams.

The candidate will oversee the Asia Business Acceptance team, drive policy, training and governance, and contribute to strategic initiatives, including automation and responsible AI adoption, across Asia.

Qualifications

• Qualified lawyer with strong experience in legal, regulatory, risk or compliance matters.
• Confident advising senior stakeholders on complex, sensitive and time-critical issues.
• Strong analytical, drafting and communication skills with a practical, commercially focused approach.
• Collaborative leader with experience managing, mentoring and developing teams.

Responsibilities

• Advise on complex business acceptance matters, including conflicts, confidentiality, client due diligence, AML, sanctions, reputational risk and engagement terms.
• Provide legal, regulatory and governance support across Asia, including policy, guidance, training, regulatory developments and emerging risk issues.
• Act as a trusted technical adviser and escalation point for complex, novel or sensitive risk matters.
• Lead, manage and develop the Asia Business Acceptance team, promoting consistency, collaboration and best practice.
• Contribute to strategic, operational and technology-enabled initiatives, including process improvement, automation, data and responsible AI adoption.

Skills

Legal leadership

Regulatory risk

Compliance

Stakeholder management

Risk assessment

Mentoring

Education

Qualified lawyer

Job description

We are seeking a Managing Lawyer to join our Legal Department's Asia team. This is a senior role leading the Asia Business Acceptance team and advising on complex business acceptance, legal, regulatory and commercial risk matters across the region, while supporting practical, risk-based decision-making for partners, lawyers and business services teams.

Key responsibilities

• Advise on complex business acceptance matters, including conflicts, confidentiality, client due diligence, AML, sanctions, reputational risk and engagement terms.
• Provide legal, regulatory and governance support across Asia, including policy, guidance, training, regulatory developments and emerging risk issues.
• Act as a trusted technical adviser and escalation point for complex, novel or sensitive risk matters.
• Lead, manage and develop the Asia Business Acceptance team, promoting consistency, collaboration and best practice.
• Contribute to strategic, operational and technology-enabled initiatives, including process improvement, automation, data and responsible AI adoption.

About you

• Qualified lawyer or senior risk professional with strong experience in legal, regulatory, risk or compliance matters, ideally within a law firm or professional services environment.
• Confident advising senior stakeholders on complex, sensitive and time-critical issues.
• Strong analytical, drafting and communication skills, with a practical and commercially focused approach.
• Collaborative leader with experience managing, mentoring and developing teams.
• Interest in legal operations, technology and innovation would be an advantage.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced lawyer or risk professional to take on a visible regional leadership role, working closely with colleagues across Asia and the global Legal Department to support high-quality, practical risk management.