Restructuring and Insolvency Knowledge Lawyer

Job description

Allen & Overy is a leading global law firm operating in over thirty countries. We work on some of the most challenging and important deals and have built a reputation for delivering exceptional legal solutions that help our clients grow, innovate and thrive. The legal industry is changing, and we're committed to leading that change, putting our people first, embracing new ways of thinking and integrating technology into our everyday work.

Our culture is one of high-performance and we have high expectations of one another, in everything we do. Being a proud team player is essential. We work together, listen and learn from one another and achieve results we could never achieve on our own. When you join our team, you’ll become part of a flexible, inclusive environment underpinned by openness and consistent support for one another. At A&O, you're not only valued for what you do, but for who you are.

We have a powerful commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and we’re working hard to create an environment where you can bring your authentic self to work. We know that to excel, we must nurture an environment where our people feel they belong. .

Role purpose

To support fee-earners in all aspects of their transactional work and client relationships, ensuring accurate, relevant and up to date information and tools are available within the Restructuring and Insolvency group and across the firm. To prepare client facing materials to increase the profile of the restructuring group and the firm.

Key relationships  

• Restructuring and Insolvency fee-earners
• Banking Knowledge Lawyers and PSL team (globally)
• Wider A&O Knowledge Lawyers and PSL community (globally

Role and responsibilities  

Legal Knowledge

Must be able to prepare client and internal updates and webinars, answer internal enquiries, produce knowledge materials and create guidance using legal skills developed through experience in Restructuring and Insolvency and general banking transactions.

Principal Areas of Responsibility

Internal

• Providing support to Restructuring and Insolvency fee earners on technical questions
• Being the first point of contact for fee-earners across the firm for English insolvency and restructuring questions
• Managing a dedicated paralegal and coordinating activities with other members of the knowledge team
• Proactively identifying the impact of Restructuring and Insolvency developments for the restructuring group and on other practice areas, educating fee earners in the restructuring group and across the firm and updating firm-wide resources as required
• Co-ordinating with other members of the knowledge team the knowledge slot at group meetings
• Considering law reform proposals and responding to government consultations
• Producing, managing and updating knowledge and standard form documents and transaction precedents (with the assistance of a paralegal and, where appropriate, allocated fee-earners)
• Maintaining knowledge collections and restructuring collaborate site (with the assistance of a paralegal)
• Organising and delivering training for restructuring fee earners (including deal updates) and training sessions from other fee-earners (e.g., tax, employment, high yield)
• Assisting with offsites and global restructuring meetings
• Inputting on SPFs and articles written by other departments
• Attending London and firm wide PSL meetings and working in cross-departmental initiatives
• Liaising with library regarding various subscriptions including Debtwire and Reorg

External (working with BD support)

• Producing client bulletins, market alerts and LinkedIn articles
• Managing the regular updating process of Restructuring Across Borders – Allen & Overy’s client-facing online product (or liaising with others in this regard)
• Assisting with client seminars (including AORIA) including advising on content and delivering where appropriate
• Assisting BD with campaigns such as year in review, horizon scanning and private capital initiative
• Liaising with BD to implement the restructuring group’s client engagement strategy
• Working with senior associates on the group’s “watchlist”
• Liaising with DB on submissions for directories
• Reviewing and updating restructuring group’s website page

Key requirements  

• A senior lawyer (with at least 5 years PQE), ideally with Restructuring and Insolvency experience
• Will have worked successfully as an associate or Knowledge Lawyer / senior Knowledge Lawyer in a bank or law firm
• Technical competence in restructuring law as expected at level of qualification
• Ability to handle multiple tasks at any one time and to prioritise tasks
• Excellent technical skills, with a strong interest in the commercial and legal issues relating to Restructuring and Insolvency
• Strong commercial/business acumen with the ability to deliver creative and pragmatic solutions and advice
• Ability to work hard within a fast pace environment and meet deadlines
• Organised and methodical approach to work
• High levels of accuracy and attention to detail
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interface at all levels and particularly to win the respect of the partner and fee-earner community, building and developing strong (internal and external) client relationships
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team including with BD
• High levels of initiative

Main Performance Measures

• Quality/timeliness/usefulness of written support material and research (own responsibility)
• Quality of support to fee-earners (own responsibility)
• Projects to time and cost (shared responsibility with team members and other colleagues)
• Personal growth (own responsibility)