Senior Risk and Best Practice Lawyer

We have an exciting opportunity for a senior lawyer to join Bevan Brittan's growing Risk & Best Practice team.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Supervision of R&BP team members
• Line management of team members
• Day-to-day supervision and guidance of risk lawyers and other risk professionals
• Senior-level advice to the firm's partners and other fee earners, business support departments and management:
• SRA Standards & Regulations
• Conflicts of interest, including complex queries
• Ethical advice
• GDPR/DP including DSARs and data breaches
• AML advice and advising on potential suspicions
• Other law & regulatory advice including Market Abuse, Bribery Act, ECCTA, etc.
• Contractual terms:
• Reviewing and advising on client terms/outside counsel guidelines
• Advising on changes to the firm's engagement letters and terms of business in line with changes to applicable law and regulation
• Reviewing and advising on supplier terms
• PI claims and complaints handling:
• Advising partners and fee earners on claims/claim circumstances, instructing Counsel where necessary on more complex/significant claims
• Reporting to insurers
• Coordinating the response to first-tier complaints from clients and third parties, including setting up independent partner investigations
• Policies and procedures:
• Updating existing policies and drafting new policies.
• Driving continuous improvement of risk procedures, and designing new procedures
• Communication of, and training on new or revised policies and procedures
• Monitoring for compliance and supporting the internal audit programme
• Training:
• Design and delivery of internal training on risk and compliance issues
• Commissioning training from external providers
• Provision of induction training
• Renewals and registrations:
• Taking a lead role in the annual renewal of the firm's PI and other insurances, and the annual PC renewal (RF1)
• ICO, Companies House and other registrations
• Supporting with the annual ISO audits/Cyber Essentials Plus recertification

What we are looking for from you

The role is suitable for an experienced risk professional (ideally a solicitor or barrister in England & Wales with a current practising certificate) with a strong track record in law firm risk management.

Relevant knowledge, awareness and skills will include:

• Excellent legal and regulatory knowledge including PoCA, Bribery Act, GDPR/Data Protection Act, ML Regulations and the SRA Standards and Regulations.
• Ability to advise on contractual issues relating to client retainers including limitation of liability; knowledge of key aspects of common law and UCTA.
• Familiarity with the principles of negligence and ability to identify potential claims and/or circumstances which should be reported to insurers
• Familiarity with law firm ethical principles including on client care, conflict, confidentiality & disclosure, duties to the court, introductions and referrals, SRA Transparency Rules, undertakings, outside interests.
• Awareness of the key aspects of the Solicitors Accounts Rules
• Familiarity with ISO 9001, 27001, 22301 and 14001 and/or experience of supervising or conducting internal quality audits will be an advantage
• Calm, professional and commercially aware
• Effective communication and presentation skills, able to deliver messages confidently including to partners and senior managers
• Proactive, self-motivated and flexible
• Line management experience, including of more junior risk lawyers and other risk professionals
• Strong team player - ability to work diplomatically, but effectively, with others in order to meet the Risk & Best Practice team's objectives as set by the Head of Risk and the Director of Risk
• In dealings with external third parties, being an effective ambassador and advocate for the firm, its culture and values.

Make a Real Impact

Bevan Brittan is a leading commercial law firm. Explore our markets and services here.

We are highly ranked across the legal directories and our 2024/25 financial results confirmed twelve years of consecutive growth.

Our Responsible Business pillars influence how we work together and motivate us to deliver meaningful outcomes for our clients and communities.

We support our people to be their best and, through our hybrid working model, we offer the flexibility to work your week in a way that suits you.

Were looking for the best people to share in our ambition and success. Visit our Life page to discover what life at Bevan Brittan could look like for you.