Director of Risk & Compliance
📍 London, UK
🕒 Permanent
What we are looking for:
We are seeking a proactive professional to support the General Counsel (who is also the COLP), the COFA, and the wider firm in managing legal and regulatory risk. This role focuses on ensuring robust compliance across key areas including:
- New client and new matter on-boarding processes, in particular
- Conflicts of Interest and Confidentiality
- Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Regulations and Economic Sanctions
- Regulatory compliance and related policies (e.g. AML, Sanctions, ABAC, Modern Slavery, DAC6)
- International regulatory compliance issues (including for new office openings)
- Support for client framework agreements, outside counsel guidelines, escrow agreements and other risk-related documents agreed with clients
- Risk management training
- Insurance arrangements
- Business Continuity Planning
The Risk & Compliance Team, which forms part of the GC, Risk & Compliance function, comprises: Director of Risk & Compliance, Head of Compliance (for UK, EU, US), two Compliance Managers and 15 other team members. Team members are based predominantly in the UK, but also in Germany, Athens and Singapore.
The Director of Risk & Compliance will report to the General Counsel, and will be responsible for managing the rest of the Risk & Compliance team.
What you'll be doing:
The Risk & Compliance Team works in close conjunction with the GC Team to provide effective support to the firm within their areas of responsibility. The key responsibilities of the Director of Risk & Compliance are:
- Management of the Risk & Compliance team;
- To oversee the firm’s system for opening new clients and new matters (Inception – based on the IntApp platform);
- To address regulatory or risk issues arising from opening new clients and new matters, in particular AML client due diligence requirements, Sanctions checks, conflicts of interest and confidentiality;
- To undertake the role of MLRO and provide support and guidance to the MLROs in offices outside London;
- To conduct and update Firmwide and other Risk Assessments to identify AML and Sanctions risks;
- To provide ongoing support to the COLP and COFA, including review and analysis of regulatory changes, conduct issues;
- To be a member of the Ethics & Risk Committee;
- To provide advice and support to partners and the firm as a whole on matters of risk, and compliance, including matters relating to strategic business initiatives;
- Managing renewal of the firm’s Professional Indemnity insurance, Cyber insurance, Management Liability insurance and general insurance, and dealing with any queries, claims and notifications (other than in relation to the professional indemnity insurance policy);
- To manage and deliver the firm’s annual renewal of SRA authorisations and practising certificates, and providing data and information to the SRA in response to requests;
- In conjunction with the General Counsel Team,
- to maintain, reviewing and updating the firm’s standard documents including letters and terms of engagement to ensure that they meet regulatory requirements;
- to review and provide practical advice to protect the firm’s interest under confidentiality agreements, framework agreements, client standard terms, outside counsel guidelines, and pitches/tenders;
- To work with the Learning and Development team to select and schedule compulsory risk and compliance related training and to deliver face to face training workshops throughout the firm as appropriate;
- To be responsible for the firm’s Business Continuity Plan, including periodic review and testing of it, to ensure its continued relevance;
- To provide support and liaise with the Directors of the Global Business Functions and their teams (Business Development and Communications, Finance, HR, IT) in relation to compliance and risk management issues arising within these areas, including input into new office openings, Information Security questionnaires.
Leadership and Management
- Provide line management to direct reports, providing support and supervision, to ensure that the Risk & Compliance Team provides a seamless service of the highest quality to its internal clients;
- Provide mentoring to team members, in order to support their development and assist them to reach their full potential;
- Build collaborative relationships around the firm, to provide effective support and encourage best practice.
Skills & qualifications:
- Strong organisational skills
- Recognise the value of team-work and effective relationships
- Ability to think, analyse and use initiative
- Clear and effective written and verbal communication
- Attention to detail
- Ability to work effectively across diverse cultures, recognising different cultural norms – international experience is an advantage
- Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines
- Flexibility
- Strong inter-personal skills - including a sense of humour
What we can offer you:
We offer a competitive benefits and wellbeing package for all employees.
Who we are:
Watson Farley & Williams is an international law firm advising on complex disputes and transactions through local knowledge and an integrated international network. We have a strong sector focus, combining our technical excellence with deep industry knowledge across Energy, Transport and associated Infrastructure.
The firm has achieved rapid expansion and year-on-year growth owed almost entirely to a focused strategy, strong leadership and the quality of its people. The next stage in the firm’s growth plan is to achieve full-service strength within core sectors across the global platform.
We strive for excellence in all that we do and view investment in our people as key to achieving our business goals and values, which rest on developing deep and long-lasting relationships externally and internally through respect, sharing, communication and integrity.
Our global practice is integrated across our offices in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and North America delivering consistently high levels of service across borders and locally through a deep understanding of local business customs and culture.
We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace to attract and retain the most talented people from all backgrounds and cultures. We believe in celebrating difference and that people from any background can rise to the top, ensuring opportunities to develop and progress are available for all.
