To provide specialist advice and support to the London Office of
Baker McKenzie (the "Firm") (MLCO, MLRO, Partners, lawyers,
and business services professionals) on all aspects of financial crime
regulations, including AML and Sanctions advice.
We are looking for applicants who are either currently engaged as a
Financial Crime lawyer, Head of Financial Crime, or equivalent, or
working as a private practice financial crime/financial services
Associate and looking for an alternative career path. In all cases, a
good understanding of the types of clients, transactions, and matters
being advised upon by an international firm and a good working
knowledge of new business intake/onboarding controls and processes are key.
The successful applicant will work closely with the Risk &
Compliance team, the Firm's MLRO and MLCO as well as the Firm's
Partners and the global AML and New Business Intake team.
The Risk & Compliance team is led by the General Counsel/Head of
Risk & Compliance/MLCO, and comprises one Senior Risk Lawyer, two
Risk Lawyers, an AML Compliance Manager, a Deputy AML Compliance
Manager a team of AML Analysts, a Paralegal, and one PA.
Main Responsibilities
Act as a subject-matter expert and adviser to the Firm on the
Firm's compliance with anti-money laundering and sanctions laws and obligations
Day-to-day management of the London AML team will reside with the
AML Compliance Manager, but the successful candidate will act as
manager and sounding board to the AML Compliance Manager and will
assist in the analysis of complex CDD/risk assessment queries
Responsible (in collaboration with the MLCO) for oversight,
review, and refresh of the Firm's AML and Sanctions policies,
controls, and procedures
Responsible (in collaboration with the MLCO) for oversight,
review, and refresh of the Firm's Firmwide Risk Assessment
Keep up to date with developments in financial crime laws and
legal sector guidance and ensuring the Firm's PCPs are updated in
line with the same
Support the MLCO with evaluation and advice in respect of
reputational risk issues presented by high-risk new and existing
clients and matters
Support the MLRO with analysis of internal suspicious activity
reports (SARs) and assisting with drafting SARs for submission
Assist the MLCO and MLRO with responding to requests for
information from law enforcement (production orders) and regulatory
requests from the SRA
Lead on the instruction of the Firm's regular independent AML
audit and the implementation of recommendations provided by the auditor
Responsible for designing, leading, and supporting the AML team
with the delivery of the programme of AML/Sanctions training the
Firm and the AML team
Work with the Firm's global AML and NBI teams to share knowledge,
work on European-wide projects, and support compliance with good
practice across the global Firm
About The Team
Function
The London Risk & Compliance team has a wide remit, including
fulfilling the following functions:
Firm risk management
Legal, regulatory, and policy compliance
General Counsel and advisory
Partnership Secretariat
Business Protection
This role will report to the General Counsel/Head of Risk &
Compliance/MLCO and MLRO.
The direct report of this role is the AML Compliance Manager.
The key relationships of this role are with the London AML team,
London Risk & Compliance team, London office Partners, Managing
Partner, fee earners, and business service professionals, Global AML
and NBI team.
About The Candidate
Technical skills, qualifications and experience
Qualified lawyer with approx. 5+ PQE and experience operating as a
Financial Crime lawyer, whether in Private Practice or within a Law
Firm environment
Background/experience in a City/international law firm and/or
leading regional firm environment
Ability to work well in a team environment whilst building
excellent working relationships with other departments and
stakeholders across the office
Commercially minded with experience in drafting policies and
advice with good attention to detail and commercial judgment
Strong academic background and written and oral communication skills
Confidence in working with and advising Partners/senior
stakeholders across the Firm including globally
Confidence in public speaking to a range of audiences
Show respect and enjoy the diversity of cultural, social, and
academic backgrounds found in the Firm
Personal qualities
These personal qualities represent the shared characteristics of high
performers across Baker McKenzie, regardless of job level and location.
Know how
Demonstrates the ability to identify the real issue, and to
anticipate requirements and potential consequences; distills a range
of possibilities by thinking in a considered, prudent manner
Has the capacity to take on new ideas and develop knowledge and
think holistically about business and address media, analyst,
employee, and client audiences
Able to move through a variety of tasks requiring different
approaches, knowledge, and expertise, with the agility of mind and
capacity for analysis and synthesis
Dedication
Driven by a strong personal sense of integrity and upholds
exemplary quality standards
Prepares thoroughly, takes responsibility, uses initiative and is
self reliant to ensure work progresses to the fullest extent possible
Hardworking and diligent with a keen understanding of client demands
Demonstrates composure when dealing with difficult situations
Personal Impact
Uses complex, coordinated influencing/negotiation strategies,
adapted to people, organizations, and/or the situation, e.g. networks
Leverages direct reports to facilitate increased collaboration
across the organization
Builds partnerships based on a common agreement that acknowledges
individual differences but creates a new commonality beyond root
belief large-scale
Creates a positive impression at all times; develops relationships
through collaboration and reciprocity
Negotiates to achieve mutually satisfactory outcomes; shows good
judgment on when to stand strong and when to compromise
Invests in, nurtures, and builds a network of productive relationships
Humanity
Respectful to others, regardless of their position, and earns the
respect of others by being transparent
Has care and concern for others and a genuine interest in others
as people
Treats delicate or confidential issues with grace and discretion.
Why Join Us?
Baker McKenzie is a truly global law firm. Founded in 1949, we advise
many of the world's most dynamic and successful business organisations
through our 13,200 people in 74 offices in 45 countries. Yet big does
not mean impersonal. We work hard to ensure that everyone knows their
role and has the support they need to perform it to the highest
standard. Our culture encourages this - how we work, think and behave
in a collaborative and fulfilling way.
In London you will be part of a 1,000 person office, which is also
our largest office globally. Originally opened in 1961, Baker McKenzie
London is well established in the UK as a leading international law
firm and is regularly involved in some of the country's most
high-profile legal matters. We can offer you the work, pride and
experience of being part of a leading law firm but in a local office
environment that is hardworking, friendly and supportive.
The strength of the firm and our culture is evidenced by a number of
recent awards, including:
Thomson Reuters (formerly Acritas' Sharplegal) Global Elite Law
Firm Brand Index, 2010- 2022 - ranked 1st
The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers 2021-2022: currently ranked 52nd
Thomson Reuters ranked the Firm No. 1 for cross-border deals for
the last 12 years. More than 70% of our deals are cross-border.
For the 14th consecutive year, the Firm was ranked first for deals
with emerging market involvement, by both number of announced and
completed deals.
Law360 ranked the Firm as one of the 400 Largest US Law Firms in
in its annual survey in 2020.
Identified as one of the Hall of Fame for best law firms for women
by Working Mother magazine, 2011-2021.
Received a a Gold Award in Stonewall's Global Workplace Equality
Index of Top Global Employers for LGBTQ+ Inclusion.
Ranked as one of the Top 20 Employers in the 2023 Social Mobility
Employer Index.
Received Double Certification for earning top marks in the 2022
Corporate Equality Index and Equidad MX of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.
Winner of the Europe Mentorship Programme - International Firm
award in the Euromoney Women in Business Law Europe Awards 2021
Winner of the Gender Diversity International Firm, Talent
Management International Firm, and Work-Life Balance International
Firm awards in the Euromoney
Women in Business Law Asia Awards 2021
Have a look at our YouTube
channel to find out more about us!
To Apply
Please click on the Apply icon to start the online application
process for this role. We will then be in touch with you once we have
reviewed your application.
For more information about this position or to discuss any
adjustments you may require during the process please contact in
confidence, David Roberts, Recruitment Manager, at David.Roberts@bakermckenzie.com
Please note Baker McKenzie does not accept unsolicited CVs. Please clickhere
for details of our Agency Policy and commitment to sourcing directly.
Commitment to Inclusion, Diversity & Equity
As the first truly global law firm, diversity and inclusion are
foundational to our culture and strategic vision. We are a Firm of
individuals from across the globe with different backgrounds, ideas,
and points of view who collegially work together to solve complex
problems and design practical solutions for our clients. Our multiple
perspectives come from many sources, including the diverse ethnicity,
culture, gender, nationality, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender
identity and expression, disability, parental status, education,
social background and life experience of our people.
Our global strategy is focused on our people, our culture, our
clients and the communities where we operate. In 2019 we enacted
ambitious new targets related to gender, racial and ethnic diversity
at the Firm. These targets are viewed as a floor, not a ceiling, to
advancing underrepresented groups, and they are backed by a variety of
strategic initiatives aimed at achieving our goals. Our strategic
vision is supported in London by six active employee led networks
which champion diversity, lead on a number of internal campaigns and
deliver a range of activity to celebrate differences in identity,
inclusion, and key dates throughout the year including: LGBT+ History
Month, International Women's Day, International Trans Day of
Visibility, Mental Health Awareness Week, Pride, Black History Month,
Social Mobility Week, International Day of Disabled Persons and many more!
Baker McKenzie London has been accredited by Disability Confident,
joining over 18,000 organisations that have signed up to help change
behaviours and cultures in businesses, networks and communities and
reap the benefits of inclusive recruitment practices.
