Human Resources Manager

Human Resources Manager

📍 London, UK

🕒 Permanent

What we are looking for:

Supporting the Head of HR for London, you will act as a trusted adviser to partners and senior leaders, delivering proactive, high-quality HR support across the full employee lifecycle. This role blends operational HR with strategic project work ensuring HR initiatives support the delivery of exceptional client service and the growth of our legal talent, fostering a high-performance, inclusive culture in a fast-paced professional services environment.

What you'll be doing:

Essential

• Provide professional HR guidance to partners, practice group heads and business function leaders across all people matters
• Build strong relationships across legal and business function teams understanding business needs and delivering tailored HR solutions
• Coach managers on performance management, leadership, and employee relations
• Lead by example in role modelling behaviours that demonstrate our values
• Manage and develop junior members of the HR team (two Senior Advisors, an HR Coordinator and an HR Administrator)

Employee Relations

• Lead on ER matters including performance, capability, absence, and formal investigations providing expert guidance on complex matters ensuring compliance with employment law and SRA regulations, whilst providing commercial solutions
• Lead HR aspects of firm change, including restructures and talent management initiatives
• Work collaboratively with Risk and Compliance where appropriate, maintaining confidentiality and professionalism
• Provide informal, proactive conflict resolution

Talent, Performance & Development

• Oversee annual performance review processes and support partners/managers with talent discussions
• Identify development needs and work closely with L&D to deliver relevant training for fee-earners and support teams
• Support career progression pathways and succession planning initiatives.

Recruitment & Resourcing

• Partner with the resourcing team to ensure effective recruitment of fee-earners and business function roles
• Support workforce planning, headcount approvals, and market benchmarking

HR Operations & Policy

• Manage a ‘right first time’ HR operations function across the breadth of the employee lifecycle ensuring high quality and consistent service satisfaction
• Maintain and update HR policies to reflect employment law, SRA requirements, and best practice
• Analyse HR metrics (e.g., turnover, absence, diversity) and produce insightful people management information (including market trends and intel) to inform business decisions
• Ensure the delivery of a high quality day-to-day operational service
• Challenge existing HR processes and ways of working to drive up value and ensure maximum efficiency across all day-to-day activities

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

• Support the firm’s DEI strategy, helping drive initiatives that foster a diverse and inclusive workplace

Projects & Change

• Lead and contribute to HR projects such as systems implementation, wellbeing initiatives, and process improvements
• Support organisational change including restructures, role design, and communications

Skills & qualifications:

• You will be a pro-active and commercial HR generalist with proven HR management experience within a law firm or professional services environment
• Bringing a fresh perspective, you will have strong employee relations and business partnering experience
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders, including partners
• Strong UK employment law knowledge with confidence handling complex ER cases
• Demonstrable experience managing and improving HR processes in a fast-paced, high-performing environment
• Strong process, project and change management skills with proven experience of implementing change initiatives successfully
• Ability to influence at a senior level with a commercial mindset
• Attention to detail and passion for high quality, accuracy and service excellence
• Strong IT skills including proficiency in HR technology/systems
• Strong analytical and reporting skills
• Experience of leading and developing junior team members is essential

Please note: We conduct thorough pre-employment screening checks as part of our recruitment process.

What we can offer you:

We offer a competitive benefits and wellbeing package for all employees.

Who we are:

Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) is a sector-focused international law firm with extensive expertise and industry insight across its core sectors of energy, infrastructure and transport. Through its network of 19 offices, the firm advises clients on complex, high-value transactions and disputes – matters requiring precise legal execution and a nuanced understanding of global market dynamics.

The firm’s success is driven by its people. It fosters a collaborative, inclusive and supportive environment where everyone can grow, share ideas and make an impact. Guided by its values –We are experts, We are united and We care – the firm delivers exceptional service through strong relationships and teamwork. The firm is committed to clear career paths, championing diversity and investing in its people so they can thrive.

Diversity and inclusion are integral to the firm’s strategy and underpin its efforts to attract and retain top talent. All employment decisions are made objectively, based on merit and ability and the firm is committed to inclusive and barrier-free recruitment. As a Disability Confident employer, WFW welcomes adjustments for candidates with disabilities or long-term health conditions and participates in the Disability Confident interview scheme. If you would like to apply through this scheme or require adjustments during any stage of the process, please contact London_Recruitment@wfw.com