Hays Specialist Recruitment Ltd Senior Commercial SolicitorBelfast, United Kingdom, GB - Legal Services We are recruiting on behalf of our client a leading international law firm for a Senior Commercial Solicitor for an exciting new role within their organisation in Belfast The Role The successful candidate will take up the position of Senior Commercial Contracts Lawyer, who will work closely with the Practice Group Leader, Transactions to develop and expand the commercial contracts capability, supporting and growing that practice and also supervising and training teams of Solicitors, Trainees and Legal Assistants to undertake commercial contract drafting. Given that commercial contracts is a new practice area for the office, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to be involved in helping to design that offering and will work closely with the Practice Group Leader, Partners throughout the firm and external clients on a variety of business development initiatives (e.g. pitches, presentations, RfPs, pricing models). In addition to supervising Solicitors, Trainees and Legal Assistants on fee earning projects on a day to day basis; the successful candidate will also be expected to play a proactive role in supervising the performance of fee earners more generally and will be expected to assist with strategic management and delivery of matters. This new role will be key to us delivering the highest standards of client service in relation to commercial contracts and the successful candidate may have to work into the evening from time to time (sometimes frequently for project management milestones or if deadlines approach). Commitment to the goals of the business and to our clients is expected. The Senior Commercial Contracts Lawyer may also have line management responsibility for groups of Trainees, Legal Assistants and Fixed Term Contract team members (known as clusters) as direct reports. If qualified in England & Wales, they may also be trainee supervisors for one of the Trainees in our team. This role will require the successful candidate to balance using their legal knowledge, skills and experience to assist the Practice Group Leader in developing the commercial contract practice in the Belfast Office. It will also require a can do approach and - if appropriate, in specific circumstances - a willingness to lend a hand to other practice areas in the office if time permits. In particular, involvement in other corporate projects, such as due diligence and other transactional support, would be expected on occasions. Note that limited travel, to the London office or to clients, may be required from time to time. Key responsibilities Key responsibilities for the Senior Commercial Contracts Lawyer include: * Conducts, and assists the Practice Group Leader in managing the delivery of, commercial contracts fee-earning work to the best possible standards of legal quality and to deadline. * Escalates project-specific issues appropriately to the Practice Group Leader. * Supervises Solicitors, Trainees and Legal Assistants conducting fee earning projects. Also expected to carry out more complicated drafting themselves. * Assists the Practice Group Leader with business development initiatives for the commercial contracts practice and is expected to pro-actively contribute ideas and proposals for how to grow this practice area. * Maintains an up-to-date knowledge of relevant areas of law to the Belfast offices practice generally, and as an expert in relation to specialist areas of practice. * Assists the Practice Group Leader in drafting, updating and revising all of internal processes relating commercial contracts, including making recommendations for improvements in the quality of service delivery. * Supports with pricing at the outset of a matter and then assists in managing costs and billing throughout, under the supervision of the Practice Group Leader. * Supports with the development of workflow for specific projects, including drafting relevant sections of the Transactions Manual and supporting instructing teams generally with the drafting of project instructions. * Responsible for the drafting and preparation of project-related communications with clients and required reporting throughout a project. * Training the project team, ensuring effective delivery of project briefing sessions at the outset of a matter and ensuring that the project team is abreast of key learning points throughout the matter. An interest in training lawyers to develop their legal and other skills as a practitioner generally within the context of our expertise is therefore desirable. * Assists with written material or cost models for pitches and marketing initiatives if required. * Assists with bespoke projects as and when required, for example drafting internal and external communications to promote the Belfast Offices practice. * Supports with client visits to the office as required. * Project managing the Belfast team on individual matters, including: * Dealing with complex issues on individual matters that are escalated by Solicitors, Trainees and Legal Assistants. * Communication with the internal client (partner/managing associate) or external clients on individual matters where appropriate. * Ensuring that relevant legal issues are fully understood by the Belfast team working on an individual matter on an on-going basis and raising any training issues with the Practice Group Leader. * Working with the Practice Group Leader in managing resources (Solicitors/Trainees/Legal Assistants) on individual matters effectively and in line with agreed timetables on projects. * Conducting quality control (e.g. to check all fee earning work is being conducted accurately), as directed by the Practice Group Leader. * Managing quality assurance analytics and processes. * Managing the appropriate technology employed for each matter. * Ensuring own and team compliance with financial disciplines on matters (e.g. daily time-recording and target chargeable hours). * Where appropriate and where required by specific practice areas/clients/projects, managing the billing process and WIP management. * Liaising with teams elsewhere in the firm (e.g. London/Asia/Australia) as required on fee-earning or other projects. * Overall responsibility for the management of individual matters and people management responsibilities in the absence of the Practice Group Leader. * Line management responsibility for Solicitors, Trainees and Legal Assistants as direct reports, including: * Conducting mid-year and annual performance reviews. * Coaching and mentoring team members to ensure high performance. * Performance management. * Addressing issues promptly with individuals and if necessary escalating issues with respect to absence, lateness, disruptive behaviour, other conduct related issues and performance (quality) on projects/reviews to the HR team when necessary. * Absence management including holiday approvals, sickness, other leave. Salary: A competitive market salary and package is on offer for the successful candidate Contact: For more information on this or any other legal role please contact Patrick McDonald at Hays on 02890 446911/ or after 5.30pm on 07540466496 Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&Cs, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at hays.co.uk £35000.00 - £50000.00 per annum Posted December 24, 2014 at 10:47AM from LinkedIn ift.tt/13Ysb92 Attention: If you want to follow your LinkedIn update, please Skype with Alan Luo. After setup, the email will send to your own emai-lbox and Geekers mailbox.
Posted on: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 10:57:52 +0000
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