Job Description

The role

The Clearance Centre (Business Intake) is a central part of the firm's risk management function and reports ultimately to the firm's General Counsel.

Working in the Clearance Centre you will be part of a team responsible for the intake of all business, including the management of conflicts of interest and associated compliance issues across Clifford Chance's global practice, including Europe, the Middle East and Asia as well as supporting our team in the US.

Who you will work with

Your work will involve liaising with both partners and lawyers to establish whether a conflict of interest exists (or might exist later) and how this might be managed, often in the context of a range of related matters, many of which are highly complex transactions.

You will also work with senior members of the Clearance Centre including General Counsel and / or the US General Counsel, where your work requires escalation.

• You will be working with partners, lawyers and business professionals from all the firm's offices and practice areas, many of whom are experts in their field.
• You will have exposure to work which often involves complex, high value matters that frequently headline in the financial and business press, and also work involving emerging markets and technologies.

What you will do

• You will develop a multi-disciplinary skill set whilst working with some of the best-known market leaders in their respective practice areas.
• We will provide the opportunity for you to develop as a recognised practitioner and ultimately an expert in the field.
• Increasing bespoke AI support to allow you to focus on add value work where your judgement is critical.

Your primary responsibility will be to investigate and make decisions on whether new business can be accepted by the firm. You will take into account legal / regulatory requirements, internal policies and strategies as well as reputational and commercial conflict implications.

The role includes the following :

• Assessing whether new mandates can be accepted in the context of current conflicts and other regulatory rules, as well as internal policies, across the full range of practice areas, sectors and offices within the firm. Establishing information barriers when necessary.
• You will act as the first point of escalation, supporting colleagues on complex and urgent matters you will support whilst managing strong work volumes.
• Acting as a strategic business partner to the firm, you will facilitate risk-informed business decisions by providing nuanced, commercially aware advice on high-profile and complex matters.
• You will be liaising to secure appropriate buy-in from relevant stakeholders on commercial and strategic aspects particularly in relation to non-standard approaches.
• Assessing and deciding on whether changes to existing mandates create any conflict or other compliance issues for the firm.
• Determining any applicable conditions upon which mandates can be accepted or continued.
• Analysing information contained in the Firm's conflict management systems.
• Dealing with ad hoc questions / queries from Partners and lawyers relating to conflicts of interest and other engagement risk issues and providing the first phase of non-standard advice to partners and lawyers.
• Contributing to the continuous improvement of our documentation, processes and systems.
• Reflecting the firm's values and - leading others through modelling and promoting behaviours that foster team resilience, adaptability, and a culture of continuous improvement, while supporting mental wellbeing within the team.
• The role will also involve utilising and developing the firm’s AI tools in connection with day-to-day and ad hoc tasks to foster innovation and efficiencies.
• Contributing to the work of the leadership group, taking responsibility and supporting the Head of Conflicts - including some equitable out of hours support.

Qualifications

• A Law degree.

Skills

• A proven ability to gather and analyse information, and to use it to solve complex problems in a methodical, practical way.
• Sound awareness of commercial issues and ability to resolve them pragmatically and to advise partners and lawyers.
• Excellent attention to detail with the ability to think critically.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team, to exercise initiative and manage a substantial workload, including prioritising of competing time demands.
• Excellent communication skills, and an ability to build and maintain relationships with and influence all members of the Firm.
• Ability to adapt quickly to new processes and technology and to contribute to and support change.
• The ability to form productive working relationships with others, both inside and outside of the Clearance Centre.
• Sound awareness of commercial issues and ability to resolve them pragmatically Demonstrates a positive attitude, remaining calm and resourceful in high‑pressure environments.

Experience

• Experienced in acting as the first point of escalation, supporting colleagues on complex and urgent matters while managing high workloads with confidence
• Proven ability to lead and influence both vertically and horizontally across jurisdictions and functions, building consensus and driving best practice in conflicts management.
• You will have eexperience in compliance and knowledge of applicable conflict of interest rules, ideally gained in an international law practice.
• Previous experience of gathering and analysing information, by using it to solve problems in a methodical and practical way.

How we will support you

From your first day with us, you will have varied opportunities to continuously grow and development your skills and knowledge. From formal training, informal coaching and mentoring through to skills-based and technical training and on the job learning.

You will be working with partners, lawyers and business professionals from all of the firm's offices and practice areas.

You will have exposure to work which often involves complex, high value matters that frequently headline in the financial and business press and also work involving emerging markets and technologies.

You will develop an unbeatable multi-disciplinary skill set as well as client-facing skills whilst working with some of the best-known market leaders in their respective practice areas.

We will provide the opportunity for you to develop as a recognised practitioner in the field.

Hybrid working

This role follows our 'balanced' hybrid working approach and as long as business needs allow, you will be supported to work in a hybrid way with the expectation of working from the office for a minimum of 50% of your time.

Equal opportunities statement

At Clifford Chance, we understand that our true asset is our people. Inclusion is good for our team and their families, our firm and society.

We are committed to treating all employees and applicants fairly and equally regardless of their gender, gender identity and expression, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour, national or ethnic origin, social or economic background, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation, or age. This applies to recruitment and selection, terms and conditions of employment including pay, promotion, training, transfer and every other aspect of employment.

We have a variety of flourishing employee networks. These networks are a place for colleagues to share experiences and advocate for change wherever they see an opportunity for improvement.

Our goal is to deliver an equality of opportunity, an equality of aspiration and an equality of experience to everyone who works in our firm.

Find out more about our inclusive culture.