Senior Solicitor (Digital Finance) - UK Remote (19)

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Digital Finance

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer is a leading global law firm. We advise many of the largest and most ambitious organizations across all major regions of the globe. With over 4,000 people, including 2,400 lawyers and over 2,000 business services professionals, operating from our global network of offices across Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and North America, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer is at the heart of the new global business landscape providing premium quality, full-service legal advice.

HSF Kramer Digital Legal Delivery (Digital) is a fast-growing, innovative and fully integrated part of Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer's international network.The Digital team works closely with other practice groups, seamlessly delivering high-quality and cost-effective legal services for clients, deploying sophisticated technology and offering truly bespoke solutions.Since the launch of the Belfast office in 2011, our Digital offering has continued to evolve and now offers a broad range of services to clients across Finance, Corporate, Real Estate and Construction, Employment and Disputes.

Through a compelling combination of flexible and agile resourcing, cutting-edge technology and process efficiencies, our HSF Kramer Digital Practice Group offers a cost-competitive, bespoke offering which can be tailored to individual clients' requirements.

We recognize that the success of our business and our clients relies on the skills, knowledge and talent of our people. Our environment is one in which high performance is expected, in return, we will provide you with rewards and opportunities tailored to your personal and professional goals. Diversity and inclusion are a key part of our culture where we celebrate the uniqueness of our people. Our inclusive environment means people feel valued and able to perform at their best by being their authentic selves at work.

The Role

The successful candidate will work closely with the HSF Kramer Digital Finance senior team, assisting on a broad range of transactions including securitisation and structured finance, energy finance, project finance and infrastructure, real estate finance and leveraged finance.

This will involve working closely with our HSF Kramer London teams and liaising directly with clients and counterparties. Senior Solicitors will build and strengthen relationships with clients, often acting as a key point of contact on the matter.

The role will also encompass working on outsourcing projects involving negotiation of BAU finance and related documents such as NDAs and release letters, working as an extension of the client's in-house legal team.

Senior Solicitors are expected to work closely with the Head of Digital Finance, Senior Managers and Managers, helping to deliver key strategic and commercial objectives, growing revenue in line with annual targets, managing and supervising the team/more junior colleagues, assisting with new client pursuits and business development activities and maintaining best practice in relation to financial management.

Limited travel, including to the HSF Kramer London office, may be required from time to time

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver excellent client service and manage and deliver discrete pieces of legal work.
• Build and strengthen relationships with clients, acting as a direct point of contact.
• Be responsible for some management and delegation of work to and support of junior colleagues.
• Manage workload to support optimal utilisation; assist senior team as required, acting as lead lawyer or key point of contact; delegate and provide feedback to juniors and communicate progress on tasks to supervisor and team members, consulting and offering solutions on technical client issues; and manage the billing process as appropriate.
• Manage, develop and strengthen client relationships through anticipating client needs and expectations; and provide prompt responses and updates on progress.
• Make an effective contribution to the firm, working closely with the Head of Digital Finance, the Managers and the wider Digital senior leadership team to further develop the Digital Finance practice.
• Comply with risk requirements, firm policies and all relevant professional responsibilities and legislation and contribute to billing, engagement and client acceptance processes.
• Liaising with clients and teams in London or elsewhere in the firm as required on fee-earning or other projects.
• Maintains an up-to-date knowledge of relevant areas of law, providing technical excellence in relation to the relevant specialist areas of the Digital Finance practice.
• Actively contributes and, where appropriate, takes the lead in seeking to improve our processes and offer innovative solutions to clients, including enhancing legal service delivery through the use of legal technology tools (e.g., artificial intelligence, generative artificial intelligence etc).
• Contributing to business development activities for the Digital Finance practice and, where appropriate, attending client meetings, conferences and internal/external events, to represent Digital Finance and helping to expand our offering.
• Where required, providing input on pitching activity for clients and business development, attending client presentations and events.
• Line management responsibility for Solicitors, Project coordinators, Senior Legal Analysts, Legal Analysts and Trainees, as directed by the Head of Digital Finance and the senior team.
• UK travel may be required from time to time.
• There may be opportunity for international travel (although this is not a pre-requisite for the role).
• The responsibilities outlined above cannot totally encompass or define all tasks that may be required of the post-holder. The outline of responsibilities given above may, therefore, vary from time to time without materially changing either the character or level of responsibility or grade.

Qualifications, skills and experience

• Qualified solicitor in England and Wales or Northern Ireland. Republic of Ireland or other common law/international jurisdictions will be considered. (If not qualified in England and Wales then willing to complete process to requalify as such, if required).
• At least three years' relevant PQE (unless exceptional circumstances exist, in which case please submit a supporting statement outlining why you are an exceptional candidate (including relevant skills and experience)).
• Good experience in financing transactions, operating at least at mid-associate level.
• Strong legal skills, including drafting, negotiation and project management skills.
• Foundation level of people management and business development skills.
• Foundational understanding of law firm profitability and key drivers for financial efficiency; and ability to help manage costs and budgets.

Team

Digital Legal Delivery

Working Pattern

Full time

Location

London

Contract type

Permanent Contract

Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to attracting people from all backgrounds and creating a respectful and inclusive culture where everyone thrives. We see this as essential to our success, including our ability to innovate and achieve sustained high performance. This is a key part of our Values—Human, Bold, and Outstanding.