This is an exciting opportunity for a candidate with deep expertise in disputes and litigation to be a member of our highly successful disputes practice and our valued global Knowledge function. The role has a particular emphasis on group litigation, including claims brought by shareholders, consumers and mass tort claimants, as well as covering specialist anti-trust litigation. This is an opportunity for a talented lawyer to work in a Knowledge role in an international and diverse team, in an inclusive environment, directly contributing to the firm’s client and people strategies. The Knowledge Lawyer will work principally with practitioners in London, but with a global mindset and liaising with lawyers across our offices on global trends.

Role Summary

The Freshfields litigation practice advises some of the world’s biggest businesses, defending them against serious commercial and reputational threats.  We are recognised as a market leader, advising on the most complex group actions brought by shareholders, consumers and mass tort claimants and on some of the highest profile competition/anti-trust cases in the Competition Appeals Tribunal.

The Knowledge Lawyer will monitor and provide expert insights into English litigation, with a particular focus on mass claims, consumer law and securities and anti-trust litigation, putting those developments in an international context. The Knowledge lawyer should understand what these developments mean for our clients and practice and translate that into client and internal facing initiatives. This is an opportunity to work with leading practitioners in considering cutting edge legal issues, taking a leading role in horizon scanning to help our lawyers and clients stay up to date in a varied and evolving area of the law. A deep understanding of group claims, the claimant bar, and the litigation funding market is highly desirable.

The Knowledge Lawyer will bring deep expertise of this area and a willingness and ability to continue to develop in this space, with a view to:

• enabling the firm to provide market-leading client service: e.g. tracking and sharing updates and analysis on key developments, adopting a commercially-minded and practical approach to such analysis to help our lawyers understand the impacts for clients and our work, and working closely with lawyers in the practice and other Knowledge colleagues to share relevant insights from client matters.

• helping grow the business of the firm: the Knowledge lawyer will help raise the profile of the practice and strengthen client relationships by identifying opportunities for, and developing, client content, and contributing to reputation-enhancing publications and client conversations and education; and

• developing the legal skills of the lawyers in the practice: through internal training and by acting as a sounding board for legal queries, in each case upskilling our lawyers in this continually developing area of the law.

The Knowledge Lawyer will be welcomed into the wider Knowledge community, made up of Knowledge Lawyers and other Knowledge & Information specialists, led by the firm’s Co-Chief Knowledge Officers who focus on creating the framework for career satisfaction, high performance and excellence by fostering a supportive, inclusive, innovative, collaborative and purpose-driven culture across the function.

Collaboration is key to the success of our Knowledge function we work closely with colleagues with other specialisms e.g., marketing and business development, innovation, and learning and development.

Key responsibilities

Enabling the firm’s lawyers to provide market-leading client service

• Monitor key legal developments and disseminate to lawyers in the practice – always considering the impact on internal knowledge products, profile raising and business development potential

• Work with partners and other senior stakeholders to develop house views & develop and update internal knowledge products (e.g. guidance notes or checklists)

• Capture insights from client mandates, able to draw out trends and themes and share internally, and reflect them as needed in internal knowledge products or internal training.

Helping grow the business of the firm and strengthen client relationships

• Keep up to date on what is happening in the relevant area and help relevant stakeholders identify and pursue business opportunities and raise profile in accordance with the firm’s strategy and priorities – including fostering their own internal and external networks.

• Drive the practice’s approach to the market by identifying opportunities for client-facing knowledge products and thought leadership, writing blogs, briefings and other client content, and contributing to larger publications and articles, in all cases demonstrating the practice’s leading-edge legal technical capability and market awareness.

• Play a key role in client relationships by developing and, where appropriate, delivering, client training, seminars and talking points.

Developing the legal skills of the firm’s lawyers

• Act as an internal advisor/consultant to lawyers working in the practice, understanding the developments and acting as a trusted sounding board on complex points.

• Working with other colleagues, to design, deliver and contribute (and to engage lawyers in the practice at all levels in delivering and contributing) to relevant training sessions.

International outlook and wider role

• Have an international outlook and share information and connect with colleagues as necessary.

• Build relationships and networks within the Knowledge function and across the practice

• Work with other Knowledge colleagues to coordinate work, minimise duplication, manage risk, share practical tips and ensure that work product is optimised.

Experience and qualifications required

• Qualified lawyer in the UK with a strong academic background.

• A high level of relevant successful experience as a fee earner or a knowledge lawyer/professional support lawyer (or a combination) in a disputes practice is essential, with demonstrable experience in at least one of the focus areas of mass claims by consumers/shareholders/mass tort claimants and/or anti-trust litigation (and a willingness to upskill in these areas, where needed, and related emerging areas of consumer law).

The individual will:

• Demonstrate strong commercial awareness, always considering legal developments in the practice area through a commercial lens and anticipating the impact for clients.

• Have a growth mindset, a positive approach to managing change and be a self-starter.

• Have the aspiration and commitment to continuously acquire, build on and share knowledge, acting as a Knowledge champion and a role model.

• Be willing and able to act as a leader and take ownership of projects and drive them forward.

• Have a strong technology skills set, including a good understanding of new technologies, and an approach that fosters innovation.

• Have excellent oral communication skills, including strong presentation skills, and strong written communication skills in legal drafting and when writing in other styles, with the ability to judge content, style and tone for written work as appropriate to the audience.

• Be a team player who builds effective relationships at all levels, recognised and respected by partners and other fee earners and by other Knowledge colleagues.  As part of our core values, demonstrate a collaborative, positive approach when working with others. 

• Have sound judgment, be able to establish a high level of credibility with others and act as a sounding board for other lawyers in the practice and Knowledge colleagues. Demonstrate an ability to identify the key elements of complex problems, directing colleagues to appropriate legal or market source materials, and considering the practical nature of advice when proposing a solution, including the risks. Be able to support lawyers in their decision-making process on challenging issues, participating confidently in the analysis as a trusted adviser.

• Have strong networking skills and the ability to create and maintain relationships both internally and externally, and identify opportunities for collaboration.

Freshfields Overview

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is a major international law firm, providing business law advice of the highest quality. We want to be the law firm that clients turn to for legal advice where it most matters, wherever in the world that may be. The Firm has over 2,400 lawyers in 28 offices around the world, providing a comprehensive service to national and multinational corporations, financial institutions and governments.

Our people make our firm - we are a people business and want to create a welcoming and supportive environment where all can flourish. We see diversity as a strength which creates fresh perspectives and generates new ideas. We enjoy our work and are determined to do an outstanding job. We deliver best when working in teams. Our culture is a product of the combined mindsets and behaviours of our people which is through the Being Freshfields principles, outlined below:

• we show respect to everyone

• we are there for one another

• we are open with each other

• we are positive role models

We think and work globally - we don’t just say we are one firm; we act like one firm right across the world. We work wherever our clients need us. This is how we define ourselves, not by reference to where we have offices. Cross-border work isn’t just what we do, it is what we excel at. We understand what it really takes to work across different legal systems and commercial environments and to bridge language and cultural gaps.

We aim to add value in everything we do - we are passionate about helping our clients succeed. We use our experience and creativity to help clients make judgements and achieve their goals. In everything we do, we seek to make a real difference to the communities in which we operate.

Freshfields is committed to promoting equality and diversity and to developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds make important and positive contributions to our business and how we service our clients.

Location overview: London
Our London office is at the heart of our global network, in one of the most exciting world cities. London is arguably the world’s greatest financial centre: all of the world’s leading financial institutions have a significant presence here. It’s home to the headquarters of more than 100 of Europe’s largest companies.

Our London team has a reputation that’s second to none. They’re the team the world’s leading businesses turn to for help with their most challenging problems. They work with colleagues around the world on complex, cross-border deals and disputes. Whether you join as a lawyer, a recent graduate or in a business services role, London is a great place to work.

You will have the opportunity to work on challenging, engaging work that will give you the opportunity to make your mark and progress your career. We believe there is no better place to work.
 

Inclusion
Freshfields is an equal opportunities employer and all applications received by the firm will be considered by the firm on the basis of their merit alone and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of background. All offers of employment will be conditional on the candidate having/securing the right to work in the UK and providing the firm with evidence of that right (as required by the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006) prior to employment commencing.

Freshfields is a Ban the Box employer. We ask applicants to disclose criminal convictions only when a conditional job offer is made. A conviction does not automatically lead to withdrawal of the offer: we make decisions on a case-by-case basis and take a number of factors into account (eg the role you are applying for and the circumstances of the offence). You would have the opportunity to discuss the matter with us before we make a decision.

Please let us know if you require any support or adjustments to be made in order to submit your application to Freshfields.