JOB SUMMARY:
Strategic importance
Commitment to knowledge development is a key element of the strategy for Skadden London. This role will play a crucial role in realising this commitment for our UK Public M&A practice and our UK Equity Capital Markets practice* (*depending on your background).
About our Corporate M&A practice
With one of the leading M&A practices in the world, we have extensive experience managing complex cross-border issues and the demands of multiple legal and regulatory regimes in Europe, while remaining sensitive to the local environment in which the acquisition entities are established. We have significant and unique experience in structuring and executing challenging transactions throughout Europe. We have an established first-tier capability in Takeover Code-regulated transactions and advise on non-public and private equity-related transactions.
About our Capital Markets practice
Our fully integrated UK and US capital markets practice advises corporate, investment banking and governmental clients. We act on a variety of capital markets transactions, including initial public offerings, rights offerings, investment-grade and high-yield financings, private placements, offerings of regulatory capital and other hybrid securities, and other global equity and debt offerings. We advise clients in the UK and in nearly every country in Europe as well as in the Middle East and Africa, providing transactional and compliance advice in connection with securities offerings under the UK and EU Prospectus Regulations, US Rule 144A and Regulation S, and listings on the London Stock Exchange, US stock exchanges and major European exchanges. We have a broad sector focus and have advised clients in a number of industries, including technology, fintech, pharmaceuticals, defence, energy, mining, telecommunications, retail and financial services, among others.
Focus and key aspects
You will work with the London Corporate M&A and Capital Markets Partners and London Knowledge and Training Lead to develop and deliver on a knowledge plan for London Public M&A and Equity Capital Markets, including clear priorities, aligned with the strategy of the relevant practices and the Firm. You will drive and support the knowledge and training for the practices. The role will suit a mid to senior qualified lawyer with strong academic qualifications, a passion for knowledge and quality and a proactive and pragmatic approach. Solid UK public M&A and public company experience are required. There will be flexibility to tailor the scope of the role according to your expertise.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Creation, curation and surfacing of priority knowledge resources
- Draft standard forms and practice notes and update to reflect market practice and changes to applicable legislation and case law.
- Meet regularly with associates who have subject expertise and facilitate the sharing of quality know-how and expertise, including ensuring that regular submissions are made to relevant databases.
- Prepare and maintain practice notes / “how to” guides to support the workstreams where most FAQs arise.
- Ensure all knowledge, research, training, technology and innovation resources and tools relevant and available to the team are integrated into fee earners’ workflow and can be easily accessed through their dedicated intranet page.
Keeping team updated on key legal and market developments
- Provide the team with timely updates on key legal and market developments.
- Attend external knowledge network or training events necessary to assist you in staying at the forefront of relevant legal and market developments.
Supporting trainee and associate development and queries
- Act as a trusted adviser, providing timely support to fee earners on relevant law and market practice queries.
- In consultation with the partners and associates and working closely with the Attorney Development team:
- identify the training needs of the relevant practices and, in collaboration with other stakeholders, design and roll out legal technical training to support the fee earners in the team from trainee to partner level;
- extend invites to other teams where relevant; and
- consider what training should be offered to other teams for cross selling or awareness purposes.
- Run knowledge inductions for new joiners to the team.
Ensuring access to and understanding of key tools, technology and research resources
- Ascertain from partners, associates and paralegals any pain points, challenges or gaps in the support required to efficiently carry out their roles.
- Work with Research & Knowledge Services, Legal Tech and Innovation teams to establish whether and how identified pain points, challenges or gaps are or could be met by existing resources.
- Support the team in accessing these resources and integrating their use into the relevant workflows.
- Feed back to relevant teams on any gaps not met by existing resources and, in collaboration with other stakeholders, explore potential solutions.
Knowledge support for client facing initiatives
- Identify opportunities for the team to use its internal know-how, expertise and insights to deepen client relationships and identify key developments on the horizon which are important to our clients and share with partners, associates and relevant Business Development colleagues.
- Support and supervise associates to develop client facing alerts, thought leadership and training.
- Work with the partners and associates in respect of key consultations to develop “Firm view” and input where appropriate.
- With the partners, associates and relevant Business Development colleagues, develop a menu of client facing training topics and collect and curate slides produced.
Alignment and prioritisation of knowledge and training activities
- Work with the London Corporate M&A and Capital Markets Partners and London Knowledge and Training Lead to develop and deliver on a knowledge plan for London Public M&A and Equity Capital Markets, which includes clear priorities and aligns with the strategy of the practice and the Firm.
- Keep the relevant partners and Knowledge and Training Lead up to date on your progress and priorities to enable them to support you where “stop/start” or re-prioritisation decisions need to be made.
Collaboration (Knowledge, Research and Knowledge Services, Attorney Development, Legal Tech, Innovation and Business Development)
- Collaborate with the above teams, as necessary, to deliver on your knowledge plan and provide relevant knowledge input to assist in delivering on the strategy of the relevant practices and the Firm.
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ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
- Solid and broad experience of public company work; experience of UK public M&A; experience of equity capital markets work preferred but not required.
- Excellent knowledge of the regulatory framework and key legislation applying to UK public companies, including the Takeover Code, Companies Act 2006, Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, the UK Prospectus Regulation, UK Listing Rules, Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules, UK Market Abuse Regulation and related UK/EU guidance. Knowledge of rules and regulations regarding merger control and national security, e.g. National Security and Investment Act, is helpful but not required.
- Strong knowledge of English contract law.
- Ability to deal with document automation and precedent management.
- Ability to research and evaluate new developments in company law and to communicate the consequences of those developments to the practice.
- Ability to work proactively to support the lawyers in the firm and to promote best practice within the group.
- Excellent communication and drafting skills.
- Ability to create strong working relationships at all levels within the firm.
- Knowledge of relevant firm computer software programmes with the ability to learn new software and operating systems.
- Demonstrates close attention to detail.
- Excellent analytical, troubleshooting, organisational, and planning skills.
- Ability to handle multiple projects and shifting priorities.
- Self-motivated.
- Ability to work well in a demanding and fast-paced environment.
- Ability to work well independently as well as effectively within a team.
- Flexibility to adjust hours and work the hours necessary to meet operating and business needs.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
- Excellent academics and a minimum PQE of five years.
- Recent broad experience as a public M&A/equity capital markets lawyer or PSL in a US or City top tier law firm.
- Candidate must be able to demonstrate an interest in professional support, knowledge sharing and technology.
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