Senior Associate Knowledge Lawyer

Company Description

Who we are

We are one of the largest international law firms in the world. With over 30 offices across the globe, we strive to exceed the expectations of our clients, providing them with the highest-quality advice and legal insight, which combines the firm’s global standards with in-depth local expertise.

Our firm, work and people span jurisdictions, cultures, and languages. We offer our clients a truly international perspective. We believe every career should be rewarding and stimulating - full of opportunities to learn, thrive, and grow. That’s why we’re so proud of our inclusive, friendly, and team-based approach to work.

Our one firm global strategy is focused on targeted growth led by the needs of our core clients, those who we can best support with the breadth and depth of Clifford Chance expertise, across the sectors and geographies, which matter most to them.

You’ll find our clients in commercial and industrial sectors, the financial investor community, governments, regulators, trade bodies, and not-for-profit organisations. But no matter who they are or why they’ve reached out to us, we provide a world-class service every step of the way. And that’s possible thanks to the entrepreneurial spirit and conscientious approach to work that you’ll find across all of our teams.

Whichever area of the business you join, you’ll become an integral part an innovative, diverse and ambitious team of people. Clifford Chance is a place where the brightest minds and the best of colleagues meet.

Hybrid Working

This role follows our 'balanced' hybrid working approach and as long as business needs allow, you will be supported to work in a hybrid way with the expectation of working from the office for a minimum of 50% of your time.

Job Description

The Role

This role will support the London commercial litigation practice in respect of knowledge matters, sitting in the London Knowledge, Expertise and Thought Leadership team (KETL team), which consists of experienced Knowledge Lawyers and information specialists.

Our global network provides an exceptional platform for handling major cross-border disputes and in recent years we have helped our clients to achieve success in some of the most complex international disputes and investigations.

We offer a seamless, integrated service across our network of offices for cross-border disputes and investigations, with expertise in individual jurisdictions but also an understanding of the interplay between different legal systems and regulations.

Our KETL team is focused on delivering practical and insightful knowhow and advice to L&DR lawyers. Key to achieving this goal is the need to keep abreast of legal developments and work closely with lawyers in order to ensure that knowhow and insights are collated, analysed and shared across the L&DR Practice.

As well as keeping up to date with, and analysing, all legal and legislative developments relevant to litigation, you will be the "go to" contact for relevant legislative/regulatory developments, template maintenance and knowledge sharing. Your role will, in particular, involve significant assistance with thought leadership initiatives, client briefings and training in respect of commercial litigation.

Who you will work with

Clifford Chance's global Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice has around 600 lawyers based in the UK, Continental Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and the United States, who are experienced in the full spectrum of litigation, dispute resolution and regulatory issues that our clients face. Our highly qualified teams are focused on resolving high risk litigation, international arbitration and regulatory investigations.

The work of our London commercial litigation team includes advising top UK and international corporations, banks and financial institutions on a wide range of complex, often cross border, disputes, including M&A disputes, banking litigation, group litigation, aircraft finance disputes and antitrust litigation.

Our London team group comprises 30 partners and around 100 associates.

You will also work with the following:

• The wider KETL team, including other professional support lawyers and L&DR's two information officers
• Business development team
• Costs team
• Practice Assistants
• Paralegals
• The forensics group
• Business Professional Support services such as IT, mailroom and records
• The Best Delivery Team

What you will do

We are looking for an outstanding lawyer with experience in commercial litigation. You are likely currently to be working at a top-rank practice. In all cases, candidates should be intellectually rigorous, have first-class legal ability and an outstanding academic track record.

Key Responsibilities

• Preparing, or overseeing the preparation of, client briefings on matters whether arising from changes in the law or, more broadly, representing thought leadership in the area.
• Keeping up to date with developments affecting civil procedure and the development of the law more generally, and ensuring that lawyers in the practice are aware of developments.
• Acting as a sounding board for and specialist adviser to colleagues in relation to client matters and, where appropriate, dealing directly with clients.
• Liaising with colleagues in other practice areas and offices on issues affecting litigation, identifying international trends, and producing briefings or comparative reports for internal and external consumption.
• Responding on behalf of the firm to consultations.
• Providing education, both internally and for clients.
• Preparing materials for, and keeping up to date, L&DR's internal knowledge resources, including the intranet, in relation to civil procedure and other key topics.

Qualifications

Your career experience so far

You will be an outstanding mid to senior level lawyer or existing Knowledge Lawyer (PSL) working in commercial litigation. You will likely be working in a top-ranked law firm or set of chambers.

The role will require you to cover both procedural and substantive law, with a focus on areas relevant to the types of disputes described in "who you will work with" above. You will therefore be required to have knowledge of a wide range of legal topics, we would also welcome candidates with particular areas of specialism matching the topics described above.

You will have an excellent academic background. You will have strong drafting skills, good attention to detail and organisational skills. 

You should also have excellent communication and analytical skills, along with a high level of commercial awareness, and a strong track record of keeping abreast of legal developments. Candidates with experience of training or working closely with junior lawyers are encouraged.

How we will support you

We have formal training, informal coaching and mentoring through to skills-based and technical training and on the job learning.

Additional Information

Equal opportunities statement

At Clifford Chance, we understand that our true asset is our people. Inclusion is good for our team and their families, our firm and society.

We are committed to treating all employees and applicants fairly and equally regardless of their gender, gender identity and expression, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour, national or ethnic origin, social or economic background, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation, or age. This applies to recruitment and selection, terms and conditions of employment including pay, promotion, training, transfer and every other aspect of employment.

We have a variety of flourishing employee networks. These networks are a place for colleagues to share experiences and advocate for change wherever they see an opportunity for improvement.

Our goal is to deliver an equality of opportunity, an equality of aspiration and an equality of experience to everyone who works in our firm. 

Find out more about our inclusive culture here.

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