Job Description

Who we are

Whatever your area of expertise, you will find a range of career opportunities at Clifford Chance. And wherever you’re heading, Clifford Chance is where you can be true to your ambitions.

Our firm, work and people span jurisdictions, cultures and languages. In a world where commercial success increasingly relies on globalisation, we offer clients a truly international perspective, and we offer our people a rewarding and stimulating career.

We're proud of our approachable, friendly and team-based way of working. Highly professional and self-assured, with an entrepreneurial streak, our people are more than happy to share their expertise and knowledge.

In 2018 Clifford Chance acquired the Newcastle business of Carillion Advice Services: an award-winning provider of paralegal and commodity managed legal services. The team in Newcastle is the perfect complement to the firm's work, ensuring that knowledge, resources, processes and legal technology are deployed effectively to service our clients. Our skills and expertise are widely used across the firm.

Group Overview

The Client Terms Team, in which the Contract Executive sits, forms part of the firm's General Counsel function providing crucial in-house legal support to the firm's offices globally. The Team is primarily responsible for reviewing, negotiating and concluding contracts which the firm is entering into with clients as well as suppliers of goods and services to the firm. The role is within a busy, well-established team responsible for ensuring that contracts concluded with suppliers and clients alike fall within the firm's risk appetite and align with firm standards, practices and values.

Who you will work with

This role will include close communication with the firm's clients and the successful candidate will be a trusted advisor to partners, lawyers and other business professionals within the firm.

The Team reports to the firm's Head of Legal within the General Counsel's Office; and currently comprises the Head of Client Terms and Contract Solutions, one Contracts Lawyer and one Senior Contracts Executive.

The Team works closely with the firm's Director of Business Intake, the Chief Risk & Compliance Officer, the Head(s) of Pricing and the Global Head of Procurement as well as the firm's partners and Client and Market Development ("CMD") professionals. The Team ultimately reports to the firm's General Counsel.

What you will be responsible for

The main focus of the role is on:

(i) The review and negotiation of contracts under which the firm, globally, acts for its clients; and the contracts that the firm has with its suppliers.

(ii) Reviewing terms associated with the firm's use of technology tools and platforms mandated by clients.

(iii) Project-related work connected with the above, including identifying emerging trends and exploring the use of technology solutions to create efficiencies in the Team's processes.

What you will do

The role also involves the following: -

• Reviewing Framework Agreements, Outside Counsel Agreements, Client Policies and Codes, engagement letters, amendments to the firm's standard Terms of Business and similar documents received from clients ("Client Terms") to identify provisions which will require amendment/negotiation.
• Liaising with others within the firm on specialist topics (such as IT security, data privacy, conflicts, insurance and sanctions);
• Coordinating with the members of the Commercial Pricing Team where commercial terms are also under discussion with the relevant client.
• Preparing responses/mark-ups to Client Terms and communicating the firm's position to clients both internally (to relevant partners) and where appropriate to external clients, including negotiating amendments.
• Responding to requests from clients to amend the firm's Terms of Business.
• Making updates to the firm's records of terms agreed with clients and updates to internal guidance documents to help promote awareness of and adherence to those terms by the firm's lawyers;
• Cross-checking the contents of agreed Client Terms to existing internal summaries and records to ensure they are accurate and up-to-date.

It is intended that you would, where appropriate, refer up to and seek guidance from other members of the Team and the Head of Legal. You will also liaise with the firm's General Counsel, Chief Risk & Compliance Officer and members of the firm's Risk & Compliance Team to ensure commitments are consistent with the firm's standards and practices. You will similarly coordinate with others in the firm responsible for specialist areas of expertise, such as information security and billing arrangements.

Qualifications

Your career experience so far

Skills:

• Proven ability to solve problems in a methodical and practical way.
• Ability to communicate persuasively and clearly, both orally and in writing, with internal contacts in the firm and directly with the firm's clients.
• You will be detailed focused with strong drafting skills.
• Responsive to the demands of others and with the ability to work under pressure and on your own initiative.
• The ability to plan and organise effectively to meet business priorities.
• Sound awareness of commercial issues and ability to resolve them pragmatically.
• You will have the ability to adapt quickly to new processes and technology.
• The ability to form working relationships with others, both inside and outside of the immediate team.

Experience:

• Ideally have some experience of reviewing and negotiating commercial contracts or transactional documentation. This is desirable but not essential.
• Demonstrable experience analysing information and to use the results of that analysis to make effective decisions and find innovative solutions to problems.
• Experience working within or alongside a Risk or Compliance function in a professional services firm would be beneficial.

How we will support you

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

Additional Information

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

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.

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 here