Senior Solicitor, Funds

Applicants for Senior Solicitor roles in relation to Funds will be expected to be capable of delivering excellence in relation to project management, quality processes, pricing (including billing, where required) and technology.Candidates are likely to have developed as a specialist within the investment funds team of a private practice law firm or have come from a strong general corporate/financial services regulatory legal practice, with an interest in investment funds work.Our Funds team provide a wide range of legal services to major asset management clients and the funds managed by them, including implementation of complex restructurings, cross-jurisdictional regulatory projects and day-to-day operational support. They regularly deal with a broad range of fund structures including private equity and hedge funds and UCITS. You will be comfortable applying what you know to creative and varied projects and business-as-usual workstreams. This role requires an entrepreneurial mind-set and a flexible and responsive approach. You will scope and set-up new matters and conduct fee-earning work directly as well as supervising teams. You are also likely to be asked to assist in preparing pitch documents.Senior Solicitors are experienced qualified Solicitors, who work closely with the Managers supporting them in supervising and training teams of Solicitors, Trainees and Legal Analysts.The role involves supporting the Managers in supervising Solicitors, Trainees and Legal Analysts on fee earning projects on a day to day basis. Senior Solicitors will be expected to play a proactive role in supervising the performance of fee earners and will be expected to assist the Managers, Legal with strategic management and delivery of matters. They will also be expected from time to time, to step up and lead projects, escalating to Managers, Legal who will support as necessary. This role will require the successful candidate to balance using their legal knowledge, skills and experience to assist the Managers, Legal in developing their relevant practice in the local 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.Note that limited travel, to the Herbert Smith Freehills offices or to clients, may be required from time to time.Key responsibilitiesConducts fee-earning work.Escalates project-specific issues appropriately to the Managers, Legal. Supports with pricing at the outset of a matter and then assists in managing costs and billing throughout, under the supervision of the Managers, Legal. Supports with the development of workflow for specific projects, including drafting relevant sections of the case manual and supporting our instructing teams generally with the drafting of project instructions. Assists the Managers, Legal as required by the Head of Practice Groups, and the Deputy Head of Practice Groups, in drafting, updating and revising all of our internal processes relating to our legal practice (in the practice area relevant to the candidate's expertise), including making recommendations for improvements in the quality of service delivery.Assists the Managers, Legal in the drafting and preparation of case-related communications with clients and required reporting throughout a project. In particular, assists the Managers, Legal by preparing the first draft of weekly or interim reports. Good drafting skills will therefore be essential. Maintains an up-to-date knowledge of relevant areas of law to the local office's practice generally, and as an "expert" in relation to specialist areas of practice.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 local office's practice.Where appropriate and where required by specific practice areas/clients/projects, managing the billing process and WIP management.Qualifications & ExperienceQualified solicitor or barrister in England and Wales or Northern Ireland, but Republic of Ireland or other common law jurisdictions will be considered. (If not qualified in England and Wales then willing to complete process to re-qualify as such, if required.)3+ years' PQE, ideally gained within an Investment Funds team (although experience gained in a strong corporate and/or financial services regulatory team may also be considered) .Excellent communication skills, including the ability to summarise complex issues succinctly verbally and in writing and to liaise directly with clients, service providers and external counselStrong analytical ability, coupled with sound judgement to balance multiple factors and solve complex problems.Experience of managing project teams including direct reports.