Senior Advisor (Sanctions), Risk Assessment

Risk and Compliance Department

Job Description

About Ashurst:

Ashurst is a leading global law firm with a history spanning almost 200 years, and clear strategy for our future growth. Our in-depth understanding of our clients and commitment to providing exceptional standards of service have seen us become a trusted adviser to local and global corporates, financial institutions and governments in all areas of commercial law.

Our people are our greatest asset. We bring together lawyers of the highest calibre with the technical knowledge, industry experience and regional know-how to provide the incisive advice our clients need.  How we share our knowledge across our business, and with our clients, is critical in delivering value to our clients.

We currently have 25 offices in 15 countries and a number of referral relationships that enable us to offer the reach and insight of a global network, combined with the knowledge and understanding of local markets. With 420 partners and a further 1,450 lawyers working across 10 different time zones, we are able to respond to our clients wherever and whenever they need us.

Our clients value us for being approachable, astute and commercially minded. As a global team we have a reputation for successfully managing large and complex multi-jurisdictional transactions, disputes and projects, and delivering outstanding outcomes for clients in innovative ways.

Ashurst regards an inclusive and diverse environment as critical to its business success.  Accordingly, the firm encourages applications from candidates representative of all talent pools.  Find about more about our Diversity and Inclusion Strategy on the "About Us" section of our website.     

In order to comply with regulatory and client requirements, Ashurst will undertake appropriate vetting of staff. When applicants accept a job offer, Ashurst, alongside a specialist provider, will undertake professional verification and background checks.  These checks are only undertaken with consent, and in accordance with our legal and regulatory obligations

Title:

Senior Advisor (Sanctions), Risk Assessment

Reporting to:

Director of Risk Management and MLRO; Head of AML and Risk Assessment and Deputy MLRO.

Location:

Based at Ashurst's Broadwalk House office in London.

Hours:

Core Business Hours are Monday to Friday, 9:30 am - 5:30 pm, flexibility in hours can be considered. You will be required to work such hours as are necessary to carry out your duties and to meet specific deadlines and/or facilitate project implementations (including weekend work). You will also be required from time to time to be on call out of business hours.

Overview:

Working as part of the Risk & Compliance Team responsible for the management of Risk Assessment, with particular emphasis on, but not limited to, ensuring the firm complies with global sanctions regulation with a focus on the EU, UK, US and Australian sanctions regimes

Main responsibilities:

Business as usual:

• Review prospective clients to square off any reputation or sanctions issues before undertaking pitch work
• Advise the partnership on in depth risk assessment on high risk client and matter checks in accordance with legal/regulatory requirements in various jurisdictions and Ashurst policy
• Advise the partnership on ongoing monitoring of matters in accordance with legal/regulatory requirements in various jurisdictions and Ashurst policy
• Liaise with the MLRO, Deputy MLRO or risk partners on difficult clearances
• Liaise with Finance with respect to payments relating to jurisdictions where sanctions are in force
• Assist in handling ad hoc queries received through the Risk & Compliance Operations Team
• Perform urgent assessment arising out of initial conflicts assessment during the business inception process
• Liaise with relevant teams in relation to issues identified during the ongoing monitoring process at the firm

Specialist knowledge:

• Advise the partnership on sanctions issues as well as higher risks presented by any clearances from the team or arising out of our continuing monitoring procedures
• Advise the Firm's clients, as required, on any compliance related issues and, in particular, global sanctions issues
• Contribute to the weekly maintenance of the firm's online Sanctions Portal including ensuring any global legislative changes are reflected in the content
• Collaborate with the partnership on drafting sanctions briefings
• Advise the relevant partners on outcome of targeted file reviews and audits; ensuring clear action points are communicated and understood
• Understanding the firm's strategy, work and industries in order to engage pro-actively with the partnership and assist them navigate the risk issues they may face in their area of practice

Project work and control function:

• Work with others on the various live projects as required (e.g. roll-out of new systems, updates on case law and regulations in all Ashurst's jurisdictions and update know-how pages when appropriate)
• Report to the MLRO Team on the work undertaken by the Team, the Firm's client base risk level and any other relevant issues
• Assist in continuously updating manuals and procedures to ensure compliance with the relevant legislation, regulation or best practice
• Conduct periodic review of the Risk Assessment system, run reports and review data to maintain consistency

Training and raising awareness:

• Remain educated about changes to global sanctions legislation and ensure that knowledge is filtered to the global Advisory Team
• Lead periodic team/department/firm training sessions
• Deliver new joiner training sessions, face to face and by video conference for our overseas offices
• Support the training of new joiners in the Risk Assessment Operations Team in Glasgow (including travelling to Glasgow if needed)

Supervision:

• Start to initiate, schedule and document any training needs arising out of mentoring more junior members of the team and deliver constructive feedback
• Assist more junior members with queries, provide guidance on the resolution of difficult queries, spot-check file completion and debrief

Essential skills and experience:

• Ability to provide incisive advice with respect to the application of the EU, UK, US and Australian sanctions regimes across all relevant jurisdictions, in particular Iran and Russia
• Ability to demonstrate good judgement and business awareness/commerciality
• Ability to put an argument across in a clear, succinct and articulate way to the partnership
• Excellent negotiation skills
• Keen interest in knowing the business as exposure to firm-wide legal practices will involve exposure to various types of deals
• Lateral and analytical thinking, and ability to overcome obstacles
• Discrete and professional approach as the information will be confidential, sensitive and subject to data protection rules
• Strong interpersonal skills, able to liaise effectively at all levels of legal and support staff across the firm and offices.
• Good team spirit and willingness to assist others when necessary to resolve issues in a diplomatic manner
• Strong organisational and research skills, attention to detail and ability to work well under pressure
• Ability to use own judgement to come to decisions but also aware of when issues need to be escalated
• Ability to work efficiently, prioritise and meet deadlines
• Flexible and able to adapt to new situations, processes and new technology

Desirable skills and experience

• UK/overseas legal qualification (or minimum of LPC)
• Strong sanctions experience in Compliance and Risk Management at like-minded firm
• In-depth knowledge of the EU, UK, US and Australian sanctions regimes with respect to Iran and Russia
• A sound understanding of the nature of the work in a multinational corporate law firm; demonstrating an in-depth knowledge of how a top City law firm works, its client base and the markets in which it operates, and familiarity with the structure of matters it takes on
• Expertise of anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing obligations in the EMEA and APAC region
• Working knowledge and ability to use Compliance Databases(e.g. BVD, WorldCheck, LegalKey, or similar) where sanctions are in force
• Assist in handling ad hoc queries received through the Risk & Compliance Operations Team
• Perform urgent assessment arising out of initial conflicts assessment during the business inception process
• Liaise with relevant teams in relation to issues identified during the ongoing monitoring process at the firm

Specialist knowledge:

• Advise the partnership on sanctions issues as well as higher risks presented by any clearances from the team or arising out of our continuing monitoring procedures
• Advise the Firm's clients, as required, on any compliance related issues and, in particular, global sanctions issues
• Contribute to the weekly maintenance of the firm's online Sanctions Portal including ensuring any global legislative changes are reflected in the content
• Collaborate with the partnership on drafting sanctions briefings
• Advise the relevant partners on outcome of targeted file reviews and audits; ensuring clear action points are communicated and understood
• Understanding the firm's strategy, work and industries in order to engage pro-actively with the partnership and assist them navigate the risk issues they may face in their area of practice

Project work and control function:

• Work with others on the various live projects as required (e.g. roll-out of new systems, updates on case law and regulations in all Ashurst's jurisdictions and update know-how pages when appropriate)
• Report to the MLRO Team on the work undertaken by the Team, the Firm's client base risk level and any other relevant issues
• Assist in continuously updating manuals and procedures to ensure compliance with the relevant legislation, regulation or best practice
• Conduct periodic review of the Risk Assessment system, run reports and review data to maintain consistency

Training and raising awareness:

• Remain educated about changes to global sanctions legislation and ensure that knowledge is filtered to the global Advisory Team
• Lead periodic team/department/firm training sessions
• Deliver new joiner training sessions, face to face and by video conference for our overseas offices
• Support the training of new joiners in the Risk Assessment Operations Team in Glasgow (including travelling to Glasgow if needed)

Supervision:

• Start to initiate, schedule and document any training needs arising out of mentoring more junior members of the team and deliver constructive feedback
• Assist more junior members with queries, provide guidance on the resolution of difficult queries, spot-check file completion and debrief

Languages (Desirable):

• German, Swedish, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Flemish/Dutch, Arabic