Managing Lawyer, Risk and Compliance

0400 FBD USA LLP; Hong Kong; On-site; HKD 1,500,000 - 2,100,000; Full time

Job summary

Freshfields is seeking a Managing Lawyer to lead the Asia Business Acceptance team, advising on complex business acceptance, regulatory and commercial risk across Asia. You will support risk-based decision-making for partners, lawyers and service teams, and mentor the Asia team while driving process improvements and governance initiatives.

This is a senior regional leadership role with cross-border scope. This role provides visibility across Asia and the global Legal Department, enabling

Qualifications

• Qualified lawyer or senior risk professional with strong experience in legal, regulatory, risk or compliance matters.
• Confident advising senior stakeholders on complex, sensitive and time-critical issues.
• 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

Leadership

Advisory

Regulatory risk

Stakeholder management

Drafting

Education

Law degree

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.

Freshfields is a global law firm with a long-standing track record of successfully supporting the world’s leading national and multinational corporations, financial institutions, and governments on ground-breaking and business critical mandates.

At Freshfields we seek to create a better future for our clients, our people and the communities in which we work. Our global teams bring together individuals with different experiences, skills and strengths in a culture where we support all to belong, engage and excel.