Main information
The firm
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.
The department
We have the largest asset finance practice in the world, with first class expertise in all sectors of the asset finance and leasing industry, especially in our core markets of aviation, maritime and rail. Our advice covers all types of finance and leasing from debt finance, export finance, operators leasing, finance leasing, PDP finance, portfolio transfers, tax leasing products, capital markets products, Islamic finance to receivables finance. Across maritime finance we advise in every asset class from wet and dry bulk, containers and container boxes, to drilling rigs and offshore support vessels, cruise, yachts and ferries, plus related sectors such as LNG, ports and logistics.
Role overview
We are looking to recruit a Senior Knowledge Lawyer/Knowledge Counsel in our Assets & Structured Finance Group (ASF), with a particular focus on maritime work. The role sits within a well established ASF knowledge team, with four other London based Knowledge Counsel as well as a wider global team with dedicated ASF Knowledge Counsel resource in/for Germany, Greece and APAC.
The purpose of the role is to ensure that first-class know-how is readily available to the group’s lawyers in order to support them to deliver best-in-class legal services. It involves stewarding and championing the latest legal, client and market knowledge to provide front-line support for WFW’s lawyers and, directly or indirectly, for our clients. The role holder will support the English law needs of the firm’s ASF lawyers across its international network.
Key activities/responsibilities
Know-how and standard documents:
- Keeping up to date with legal and market developments that affect our practice and working with the other ASF knowledge lawyers to update the fee earners as appropriate.
- Working with the other ASF knowledge lawyers to maintain our precedent library and draft new precedents, standard documents and guidance notes as required.
- Maintaining, organising and updating the relevant practice pages on the firm’s intranet site.
- Responding to legal and technical queries from the team’s fee earners.
Training:
- Providing induction training to trainees and other new joiners, including NQs and lateral hires.
- Providing in-person and/or Teams training as part of the fee earner and knowledge lawyer led ASF team training programme e.g. leading discussion sessions on facility agreements.
- Helping ensure accessibility of high-quality training materials for each topic in the core training curriculum by developing, coordinating, preparing, delivering and capturing training.
- Contributing ideas for training topics and identifying development gaps in fee-earners.
- Attending external training events and conferences to keep up to date with relevant developments in the law and market practice and disseminating relevant information.
Legal technology:
- Becoming familiar and assisting the team with relevant new legal technologies employed by the firm.
- Championing the roll-out of new knowledge systems and new legal technologies.
Practice/Client/Business Development:
- Working with the partners and the Business Development team to support maritime sector (and other asset class) initiatives.
- Horizon scanning – looking out for early signs of potentially important developments, ongoing monitoring of developments and opportunity spotting
- Contributing ideas for articles, including identifying niche or particular speciality areas of interest.
- Writing, editing or assisting in the preparation of client briefings and articles on topical issues.
Strategy/Other:
- Working with the Global Head of Knowledge Management and other knowledge lawyers across the firm to support and deliver the firm’s Knowledge Management strategy.
- Supporting innovation initiatives.
- Contributing to global knowledge projects.
- Participating in global firm projects and initiatives as and when required, for example Legal Opinions Committee, WFW Drafting Guidelines, know-how product trials.
- Participating in Citywide knowledge fora.
Skills and experience – essential
Skills and Experience
- England and Wales qualified as a solicitor or barrister.
- Either senior experience as a practising lawyer with an asset finance team or a familiarity with maritime regulatory and commercial issues.
- Experience and/or demonstrable interest in the maritime sector.
- Previous experience as a knowledge lawyer is not required but a passion for knowledge development is essential.
- The ability to quickly acquire knowledge in, and perform analysis of, developing areas of law and practice.
- The ability to work collaboratively and be pragmatic and positive in approach.
- Attention to detail and a passion for high quality and accuracy.
Benefits
We offer a competitive benefits and wellbeing package for all employees.
Additional information
The Firm promotes a culture of agility and flexibility and is fully supportive of flexible working arrangements where these can be accommodated.
Equal opportunities
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 [email protected].
