Knowledge Lawyer - Global Project Disputes Practice

Job Description

This is an exciting opportunity for a candidate with deep expertise in construction / infrastructure projects to be a member of our highly successful global projects disputes practice and our valued global Knowledge function, working in an international and diverse team, in an inclusive environment, directly contributing to the firm’s client and people strategies. The focus of the role is major international construction / infrastructure matters, and experience advising on construction law issues relating to large-scale international projects is required. Experience of advising on contract administration, merits reviews and compliance issues is valuable. The Freshfields GPDP team advises stakeholders on all construction stages of the project cycle globally, in particular contract administration and dispute resolution.

Role summary/purpose of job

The Knowledge Lawyer will work with an international team of lawyers focused on major construction / infrastructure matters who advise on all stages of the project cycle. This team is known as the Global Projects Disputes Practice, although the work is not limited to disputes. This role would be suited to a practitioner with a non-contentious construction and projects background, although experience of advising on contract administration, claims, merits reviews and compliance issues is desirable.

The Knowledge Lawyer will have a global remit, supporting and working with practitioners across the team globally—most notably in the UK, UAE and Continental Europe, but also in Asia and the US- on these areas of focus:

Supporting the development of the practice both internally and externally will be at the heart of the Knowledge Lawyer’s role. The Knowledge Lawyer will work closely with the leaders of the practice and the senior lawyers within the team to help shape the future of the practice.

There is a strong external-facing aspect to this role, by identifying opportunities for client-facing knowledge, contributing to client conversations, networking with external bodies and producing thought leadership pieces etc. As such, the Knowledge Lawyer should have a strong interest in the construction and major projects sector overall.

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:

• 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;

• enabling the firm to provide market-leading client service : eg 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; 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 helping our lawyers to continue to develop within this continually evolving 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 eg, marketing and business development, innovation and learning and development.

Key responsibilities

Helping grow the business of the firm and strengthen client relationships

• Keep up to date on what is happening in the relevant practice 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. There is a strong external-facing aspect to this role and the Knowledge Lawyer should have a good understanding of and a strong interest in the sector.

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 (eg guidance notes or checklists)

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

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 networking

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

• Build relationships and networks across the international practice

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

Key requirements

Experience and qualifications

• Qualified lawyer with a strong academic background.

• A high level of relevant successful experience working as a lawyer in an international setting, including demonstrable experience of advising on major international construction / infrastructure projects, including claims and risk management.

The individual will need to:

• Have a very sound knowledge of law and practice in the field of major international construction / infrastructure projects .

• Understand the regulatory, legal and commercial challenges companies face when delivering major projects and the innovations impacting on their work.  

• 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.

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.