We have an opportunity for a Financial Crime and Sanctions Lawyer/Advisor to join our Legal department on a 12 month fixed term contract. The role will focus on anti-money laundering (AML) and sanctions and be a member of the global Financial Crime and Sanctions (FCS) team in the Legal Department reporting to the (Acting) Global Head of Financial Crime & Sanctions and MLRO. The FCS team provides advice to the firm on compliance with all aspects of financial crime and sanctions legislation and in that context gives guidance on reputational risk matters relating to business acceptance.

Overview of the Firm & Function

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 matters most, wherever in the world that may be. We deliver seamless service across borders, cultures and languages, and the launch of the Freshfields Global Centre (Europe) is central to this vision.

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.

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.

The Legal Department is made up of both qualified lawyers and non-lawyers, exists to manage the firm’s risk exposure and to provide advice to the partners on a range of legal and compliance issues. The role of the Legal Department is to support partners and staff in pursing the effective management of regulatory, legal, operational, and information security risk to preserve and maximise the value of the firm over the long term. We do this by taking responsibility for a range of actions, by sharing in the performance of others and by assisting partners and staff to manage risk themselves through training, awareness raising and the provision of relevant intelligence, services and materials.

Our vision is for our department to be recognised as a leader amongst comparable, elite, law firms. That means being acknowledged internally as providing an excellent service in a commercial and empathetic manner. It means adequately meeting the needs of the firm while remaining agile and cost effective; constantly refining our techniques, objectives and ways of working to respond to changes in the business and the threats we face.

Key responsibilities and deliverables

• Assisting the senior sanctions experts in the FCS team and providing guidance and support to more junior members of the team on complex queries and compliance measures for the firm

• Assistance with providing expert advice to the Business Acceptance team, other in-house teams, and advising stakeholders of all levels from business teams and fee-earning on a range of AML and sanctions related matters

• Assistance with updating internal policies, procedures, guidance, and training

• Assistance with ongoing client and matter sanctions monitoring

• Assistance in filing regulatory reports and responding to regulatory enquiries

• Horizon scanning and monitoring changes in legislation

Key requirements (Communication/skills/experience)

Essential

• Good working knowledge and understanding of key AML and sanctions legislation and regulatory guidance, in particular UK, EU and US sanctions, UK, EU and other AML laws and regulations, and LSAG guidance.

• Understanding of geo-politics and related governance issues.

• Strong analytical and organisational skills necessary.  Must have a close attention to detail and be used to working to very high standards of accuracy and efficiency, but balanced with a practical, common-sense approach

• Must possess initiative and a combination of confidence, presence and a diplomatic manner in dealings with a wide variety of stakeholders

• Ability to take initiative and work independently

Desirable

• Qualified lawyer in the UK with experience of working in an international law firm or in-house

• Financial crime knowledge and experience, particularly in the area of anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance

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.