Herbert Smith is an international law firm with offices in Abu Dhabi, Bangkok, Beijing, Brussels, Dubai, Hong Kong, London, Moscow, Paris, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo.
Additionally, we have a formal alliance with the German firm, Gleiss Lutz, and the Dutch and Belgian firm, Stibbe. This alliance enables us to provide a seamless domestic and cross-border service to the three firms respective clients. We also have strong relationships with leading firms in other major European economies, including Cuatrecasas in Spain. In Asia, we have associated offices in Bangkok (LawPlus Limited), Jakarta (Hiswara Bunjamin & Tandjung) and Singapore (ASG Law Corporation). In the highly important US market, we have established relationships with firms across the continent including Cravath, Swaine & Moore and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett.
Herbert Smith's clients include multinational companies, banks and other financial institutions, sovereign states and government agencies.
Overall, Herbert Smith employs over 2,100 people worldwide.
The Department
The Accounting and Management Information Group (AMIG) currently comprises over 70 people and includes the following sections: Banking and Payments, Billings, Credit Control, Client Acceptance, Finance, Internal Audit and Partners Tax.
The Client Acceptance Team
The team of 8 is responsible for ensuring all of the processes involved in taking on a new client/matter are adhered to and in accordance with the firms risk management procedures. These include carrying out conflict checks for all of Herbert Smith's offices, client acceptance, anti money laundering checks and terms and conditions tracking.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
The role is to work within the Client Acceptance Team and closely with the Head of Risk Management and the Conflicts Partners in ensuring that the firm develops and maintains the very highest standards in the manner in which professional and commercial conflicts are dealt with and to promote best practice in these areas throughout the firm's international network and our alliance partners.
This will involve:
Working with the matter partners and the Conflict Partners to assist in the investigation of possible conflicts, and ensuring that those decisions are properly documented both with the client and internally
Working within our Client Acceptance Team on the procedures and process for an effective conflict management system and, in particular, supporting the work of those also working in the conflicts sub - team
Working with Business Development and the Client Acceptance Team to liaise on ensuring that the other processes in relation to client acceptance (pitches, internal approvals, retainer documentation etc ) are as streamlined with the conflicts processes and therefore as efficient as possible
Advising on the information barrier policies and processes and on the setting up of information barriers generally and in specific cases
Working with the Conflict Partners and Heads of Division and Department to document our view of the application of the conflict rules to client scenarios
Encouraging and supporting best practice in the documentation of scope of retainer and conflicts issues in client retainers
Promoting internal conflict management rules and policies and assisting in the development of the culture of proper conflicts management throughout the firm
Liaising with other parts of the firm, including fee earner and other support groups, in developing procedural mechanisms for dealing with conflict issues.
Ensuring that fee - earners secretaries and other relevant support groups are aware of, and trained on, the conflict rules generally as necessary
Supporting these issues in our international offices
Work Based Competencies
A legal background with City experience.
Excellent interpersonal skills the person will liaise with both lawyers and support groups, in each case at all levels of seniority.
Some travel to our international offices may be required.
