Before you meet us, get to know us

RPC is a modern, progressive and commercially-oriented City legal services business. From our offices in the UK (London and Bristol), Hong Kong and Singapore we provide advice to both UK and international clients.

What we do

Our legal practice spans a wide range of industry sectors and is broadly split into two discrete areas: insurance and corporates. Working on both contentious and non-contentious matters, our clients range from large multinationals to growth UK corporate firms and other professional practices, and include many household names.

Why we're different

We have a confident, accessible and enterprising approach that sets performance, service and value at the top of the agenda. Our goal is to do the usual things unusually well, make the complex simple and help our internal and external clients build better, stronger businesses. Delivering stellar client service is at the heart of what we do - RPC looks to provide an exceptional client experience.

Business Services at RPC

Working at RPC means being part of a collaborative and creative environment, which is flexible, transparent and friendly. The business services team at RPC is highly valued. We recognise that individual contributions at all levels are essential to the success of RPC as a whole.

RPC's business services teams include functional expertise within

• Brand, Marketing & Sales
• Client Services
• Executive Office
• Facilities
• Finance
• Information Technology
• Knowledge and Legal Project Management
• People & Talent Development
• Risk & Compliance
• Practice Support (secretarial)
• Legal Operational Support (document review, due diligence etc)

Role Overview

We seek an experienced contracts lawyer to manage the analysis of, and advice to the business (partners and senior business services leaders) on the drafting and execution of our supplier and significant client contracts. It is essential that the candidate will be a solicitor, barrister or FILEX.

Supplier contracts

As part of a project to streamline our supplier procurement processes, the post holder will be responsible for the legal analysis of supplier contracts liaising with, and advising, internal stakeholders (e.g. Business Services Directors and Heads of Department), drafting and execution.

Client contracts

Our contracts with our corporate clients are becoming increasingly complex, particularly as part of procurement led panel pitch processes. The post holder will be responsible for the legal analysis of draft client contracts liaising with, and advising, internal stakeholders (typically Client Relationship Partners)

Key internal relationships

The post holder will be located in the Risk & Compliance team but provide a service across all business service departments and to Client Relationship Partners, Client Services and BD teams in relation to client proposals and contracts.

The other Risk & Compliance team lawyers will advise on technical risk and regulatory matters and will also provide some additional legal support when required. There are five lawyers currently in the team. The Data Protection Manager and Information Security team are responsible for their own specialist subject but will work closely with the post holder.

In relation to client contracts, the post holder will work typically with the Client Services team, the Client Relationship Partner/Team and/or the Bids & Proposals Manager and wider Business Development team depending on the nature of the proposal,

Reports to

It is possible that this will evolve over time, but the current plan is to report to Sarah Mumford, the Director of Risk & Compliance.

Duties and Responsibilities include but not are limited to the following:

This is a new role, but the following is a menu of duties and responsibilities which can be tailored to fit experience, interest and hours with the successful candidate (we will consider are open to this role being part time with flexible working).

• Primary port of call for queries about the legal and related commercial effect of contracts the firm has entered into, or is proposing to enter into
• Where appropriate, direct contact with the supplier to negotiate and finalise the contract
• Where appropriate, direct contact with the client's team to negotiate and finalise the contract
• Manage the client contracts review and supplier procurement processes and identify and implement improvement
• Supervise the recording of contracts (administrative assistance will be available)
• Supervise the record keeping by the administrative assistant
• Participate in internal training as identified

Knowledge, skills and experience

Experience

• Must have several years' experience of negotiating commercial contracts, whether in-house or in private practice
• Experience of in-house supplier procurement in a commercial law firm and/or negotiation of law firm client contracts is desirable but not essential
• No particular level of PQE is specified because what matters is the nature and extent of the commercial contract experience, but applicants should be qualified lawyers.

Attributes

• Organised, confident and self-reliant
• Reliable, emotionally savvy and relatable (this role will involve building relationships both inside and outside the firm)
• Pragmatic, problem solver, adaptable with an ability to think laterally
• A self-starter used to prioritising own work, use initiative and take responsibility
• Ability to express oneself clearly, writing effectively and with impact
• Passion for delivering stellar client service and experiences for both internal customers and the firm's clients
• The role is offered on a part time basis