Junior Corporate Secretary

Firm Summary

White & Case is an elite global law firm serving leading companies, financial institutions and governments worldwide. Our long history as an international firm means we are perfectly placed to help our clients resolve their most complex legal challenges wherever they may be.

With lawyers operating from more than 40 locations, working in virtually every country of the world, we have invested heavily in building a high-quality full-service practice competing at the top of the market. We are distinguished by our on-the-ground presence in the world’s key financial markets and our strengths in handling complex cross-border work.

It’s not just about our global network of offices; it’s the global interconnectedness of the Firm that our people, and our clients, value most. We work well together across geographic and practice boundaries. It’s one of the reasons we attract and retain cross-border work. And why we attract a diverse group of people.

Our lawyers are globally minded, enterprising, collaborative and committed to excellence. Diversity is a core value of our Firm, and it has been recognized with numerous awards and top rankings around the world. Our people represent 90 nationalities and speak 80 languages.

Position Summary

The Junior Company Secretary will support the Office of General Counsel (OGC) with providing corporate legal and governance services to White & Case and its network of offices. The individual will be responsible for managing the Firm’s company secretarial function ensuring a consistent and compliant approach across all White & Case offices globally.

Our General Counsel Team

The OGC acts as the Firm’s in-house legal counsel. Its work primarily focuses on the Firm’s global risk management, regulatory compliance and new business intake. The Junior Company Secretary position will be a member of the global General Counsel team but predominantly work within the Regulatory and Firm Governance section of the OGC.

Duties and Accountabilities

• Ensuring the Firm’s company secretarial compliance with relevant laws, regulations and corporate policies (including the UK’s Corporate Governance Code) and implementing appropriate procedures and monitoring systems.
• Managing the Firm’s global corporate governance databases (including all books, records, structure charts...etc.) and ensuring a consistent approach to corporate legal and governance services is taken across the White & Case network.
• Working with external company secretarial service providers in performing legal entity management and other internal teams to assist with other compliance-based projects.
• Developing corporate governance policies and procedures and monitoring compliance with best practices.
• To help the Assistant General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel identify and report any matters which are of strategic, reputational or material risk to the General Counsel.
• Perform other duties necessary and essential to support the Firm's strategic goals.  

Capabilities

• Transactional experience as a fee earner in a law firm is preferred but not essential.
• Risk and compliance experience is helpful but not required.
• Good commercial understanding of the work undertaken by a global corporate law firm.
• Knowledge of the SRA regime and experience of regulatory management is helpful.
• Excellent project management and document management skills.
• A tenacious and motivated individual willing to ‘roll their sleeves up’ and support the OGC on a range of matters in addition to their primary responsibilities.
• Demonstrable expertise in standard business software applications such as Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint required.  

Qualifications

Educated to degree level, or equivalent (for instance a Fellow or Associate of the Corporate Governance Institute). Ideally a qualified lawyer with a practicing certificate admitted in England and Wales. Experience with a leading law firm or in-house position with knowledge of corporate law and corporate governance.  

Location and Reporting

This role is based in our London office, reporting to the Assistant General Counsel. Our standard office hours in London are 09:30-18:00, with a current requirement for 3 days in the office per week.  

Equal Opportunities

White & Case is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. It is our Firm’s policy to recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote without regard to race, religion, creed, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, military or veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable law.

If you require assistance and/or accommodation to participate in our application and/or interview process, please email the recruiting contact listed for the relevant position. We will be happy to work with you.