Risk and Compliance Lawyer

Job Description

Were Norton Rose Fulbright - a global law firm with over 50 offices and 7,000 employees worldwide.Our Newcastleoffice is currently recruiting for a Risk & Compliance Lawyer. As well as the relevant skills and experience, were looking for people who are innovative, commercial and value the work that they do. We celebrate multiple approaches and pointsof view and believe diversity drives innovation, so were building a culture where difference is valued.The RoleWe are looking for a Risk & Compliance Lawyer to join the NRFLLP Compliance Team, based in Newcastle. The Newcastle team is currently constituted of Risk & Compliance Officers focusing on CDD, conflicts analysis and resolution. It is essential that the roleholder is experienced at conflicts resolution at a high level, has the trust and confidence of the partners, can provide legally astute and commercial advice and make appropriate decisions. The role will also require the successful candidate to appropriatelytrain, mentor and supervise the work of more junior staff. It is intended that the compliance function in the Newcastle Hub will grow and develop to provide broader advice to the business on a variety of other compliance related work, and this person willbe key in leading that transition and growth. There may in time also be an opportunity to get involved in broader Newcastle office business services oversight as the office grows and develops and more Newcastle roles are established. It is essential thatthe candidate is can-do and a flexible and creative lateral thinker. This role is integral to the continued development and success of the Newcastle office.The role will report into our London based Risk & Compliance Counsel (Conflicts) but will closely work with the Head of Compliance for UK & Europe and the teams Senior Risk & Compliance Manager to start with, and then with the Senior Risk & Compliance Manager,Head of AML, Risk & Compliance Counsel (Sanctions) and various Senior Consultants as work being done in the Newcastle Hub broadens. You will work together with the Head, Risk & Compliance Counsel and senior team members to develop the function in Newcastle,remaining open and flexible to different approaches to achieve the best results we can for the business.Travel between Newcastle and London may be required (more frequently at the beginning to ensure cohesiveness and alignment with the London team). Some international travel may also be required, on occasion. Our Risk & Compliance Officers work on a rosterproviding support to a later shift (2pm to 10pm shift) to cover time zones Monday to Friday and on weekends, and that is supervised (on an escalation basis) on a rota across all Risk & Compliance Lawyers/Managers (including this role).The primary focus of this role will be conflicts resolution and related policy work, including:

• Advising partners, fee earners and the Compliance Team on potential conflicts of interests, confidentiality and disclosure issues.
• Liaising with and assisting the Compliance Teams at Norton Rose Fulbright Member Firms in Australia, Canada, USA and South Africa in conjunction with potential conflicts.
• Assisting the Heads of Compliance and Risk & Compliance Counsel (Conflicts) in managing conflict and other business acceptance and regulatory issues including directorships and trusteeships, client relationship letters, arbitral appointments, other riskmanagement and other compliance queries.
• Reviewing engagement and relationship letters, panel appointments and non-disclosure agreements produced by clients, and advising as to their acceptability; Monitoring and reviewing the wording of our standard form engagement letters.
• Help partners and fee earners to understand their duties under the SRA Standards and Regulation, Economic Sanctions laws/regulations, Market Abuse Regulation, External Appointments, other applicable laws/regulations and NRFLLPs risk management policies
• Producing monthly risk reports for senior management in conjunction with others.
• Assisting with and delivering wider compliance projects, including the review of NRFLLP policies, procedures and practice notes.
• Assisting the Risk & Compliance Managers and Team Leaders in training, mentoring and developing the Officers and other members of the Compliance team.

Other tasks that you may be required to assist with:

• Reviewing documentation provided by potential clients in order to ensure compliance with Money Laundering Regulations and local AML/CTF laws; advising fee-earners on relevant requirements.
• Assisting fee-earners with their obligations under the Bribery Act and on accepting or giving gifts.
• Understanding and advising fee earners on the implications and effect of economic sanctions.
• Monitoring the development of compliance obligations world-wide.
• Auditing fee-earner files in conjunction with the Head of Compliance.
• Monitoring and managing insider information and managing the dealing database.
• Reviewing and updating the Firms risk management policies and procedures, Best Practice.

The TeamThe Norton Rose Fulbright LLP (NRFLLP) Risk & Compliance Team is overseen by a Chief Compliance Officer, assisted by two regional Heads of Compliance (one for the Asia/ME time zones and the other for the European time zones). The Compliance Team covers EMEAs25 offices and is constituted of approximately 60 people, who are a mix of lawyers, managers and officers, based in London, Newcastle, Dubai, Singapore and Hong Kong.NRFLLP isrequired to comply with all relevant laws and professional obligations in every office. Failure to comply can be a breach of professional standards rules or a criminal, or in some cases civil, offence. The Compliance Team is responsible for overseeingcompliance with those rules in order to avoid penalties and damage to our reputation.Skills and Experience Required

Be a qualified solicitor, REL, RFL, or qualified in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa or the United States.

Have a minimum of 2 years experience of working as a fee-earner in a commercial law firm or in the regulatory area in a similar international legal practice.

An awareness of English professional conduct requirements and experience of applying English conflicts rules and laws and a working knowledge of US conflicts rules is desirable.

Be highly intelligent and have excellent commercial judgement.Analytical thinking; with strong communication skills wi