Bevan Brittan is a UK-Top 100 commercial law firm providing a
comprehensive range of legal services from offices in Bristol,
Birmingham, Leeds and London.
The firm advises businesses across construction, energy &
resource management, higher education and financial services,
complementing the firm's market leadership within housing, local
government and health and social care.
We currently employ over 500 people, including 80 Partners, and our
award-winning teams provide construction, commercial, corporate,
property, regulatory, employment and litigation (commercial and
clinical negligence) legal advice.
Bevan Brittan is named among 'The Times Best Law Firms 2022' and has
recently either won or been shortlisted for a number of prestigious awards.
We are driven by our 4 values: Relationships, Results, Reputation and
Responsible. These give us a sense of purpose and ensure we always
work collaboratively with clients and colleagues, continually improve,
make the right choices and act with integrity.
Bevan Brittan is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes
applicants from all backgrounds.
Rise to the Challenge
We have an exciting opportunity for a lawyer to join Bevan Brittan's
growing Risk & Best Practice (R&BP) team, supporting the
Director of Risk in the delivery of a professional and first class
risk and regulatory service to the firm. Whilst the R&BP team is
based in Bristol, suitable candidates based close to our Birmingham or
Leeds offices would also be
considered, with hybrid working.
The team is responsible for
operating, maintaining and monitoring the firm's Management System
(ISO 9001, ISO 27001 and ISO 14001), ensuring firm-wide compliance
with legal and regulatory requirements and promoting Best Practice
within the firm and by third parties working with the firm.
Current R&BP team members include:
Director of Risk :A board member and head of the
R&BP team, has overall responsibility for Best Practice,
Information Security and Environmental Management at strategic level.
R&BP Lawyers: Providea front-line risk and
regulatory advice service to the firm, and the firm's management.
Information Security Manager (CISM) :Oversees the
day-to-day operation and maintenance of the firm's Management System
(ISO 9001, ISO 27001, ISO 14001 and Cyber Essentials Plus), plus the
firm's Cyber Security and Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery
(BC/DR) improvement programmes.
R&BP Assistants :Provide administrative
support to the R&BP team, including the logging of information
security and data protection incidents, and assisting the R&BP
Lawyers and the CISM with the management of the firm's internal and
external audit programmes.
Due Diligence Officers:Support fee earners with the
onboarding of new clients, including compliance with our
obligations under the Money Laundering Regulations.
Key responsibilities will include:
Advice to the firm's fee earners, business support departments and
management:
General ethical advice
SRA Standards & Regulations
GDPR/DP including Data Subject Access Requests
Other law & regulation including Market Abuse, Bribery
Act, FATCA etc.
PI claims and complaints handling:
Advising fee earners on claims/claim circumstances
Reporting to insurers
Maintaining claims records
Responding to first tier complaints from clients and third parties
Appointing Investigating Partner and liaising with them in
responding to the complaint
Money Laundering/Proceeds of Crime:
Supporting the Due Diligence team in client onboarding requirements
Advising on potential suspicions and reporting to NCA
Supporting the MLRO/MLCO
Contractual terms:
Reviewing and advising on client terms including Outside
Counsel Guidelines
Advising on supplier terms, including data processing clauses
Updating the firm's engagement letters and terms of business
in light of changes in law and regulation
Policies and procedures:
Drafting new policies and updating existing ones
Formulating and implementing new or updated procedures
Communication of, and training on new policies and procedures
Monitoring for compliance and supporting internal audit programme
Training:
Participating in induction training
Leading bespoke training on risk and compliance issues
(including via webinar/Zoom)
Renewals and registrations:
Assisting in the annual renewal of the firm's PI and other
insurances, and the annual PC renewal (RF1)
ICO, Companies House and other registrations
Supporting the CISO in the annual ISO audits/Cyber Essentials
Plus recertification
SRA and client audits and inspections:
Participating in SRA relationship management visits, and
client onsite and remote audits
Assisting the CISO in completing periodic InfoSec and other
questionnaires for key clients
Find out how far you can go
The ideal candidate will be a qualified solicitor or barrister in
England & Wales with a current practising certificate and a strong
track record in law firm risk management. A professional negligence or
litigation background is an advantage but not essential.
Relevant knowledge, awareness and skills will include:
Advanced knowledge of relevant statute law (PoCA, Bribery Act,
GDPR/Data Protection Act), regulations (ML Regulations etc.) and the
SRA Standards and Regulations.
Ability to advise on contractual issues relating to client
retainers including limitation of liability; knowledge of key
aspects of common law and UCTA.
Familiarity with the principles of negligence and ability to
identify potential claims and/or circumstances which should be
reported to insurers
Familiarity with law firm ethical principles including on client
care, conflict, confidentiality & disclosure, duties to the
Court, Introductions and Referrals, SRA Transparency Rules,
undertakings, outside interests.
Awareness of the key aspects of the Solicitors Accounts Rules
Familiarity with ISO 9001 and 27001 and 14001 and/or experience of
supervising or conducting internal quality audits will be an advantage
Familiarity with Microsoft applications (Outlook, Word, Excel,
PowerPoint, SharePoint Designer and Visio) an advantage.
Calm, professional and commercially-aware approach
Effective communication and presentation skills, able to deliver
messages confidently and at all levels
Proactive, self-motivated and flexible approach
Strong team player - ability to work diplomatically, but
effectively, with others in order to meet the Risk & Best
Practice team's objectives
In dealings with external third parties, being an effective
ambassador and advocate for the firm, its culture and values.
Work-life Balance
We offer a substantial benefits package to all employees, which
includes 25 days holiday (plus the option to buy up to an additional 5
days), a generous pension scheme and private medical insurance through
Vitality (including "phone a GP service", discounted gym
membership and 'Vitality' Partner discounts).
All of our people are entitled to a biennial private health
assessment through Nuffield Health and are included in the group life
assurance scheme. We also have an Employee Assistance Programme (free
telephone support and counselling service) and a cycle scheme (Save
Tax & NI on a bike for cycling to work).
Where possible, we want to offer
all Bevan Brittan people flexibility to work their week in a way
that suits them - we operate a hybrid working model based on the
needs of our clients, teams and that of the individual. Our core
business hours are 9am - 5:15pm Monday to Friday, however we are
open to individuals working more flexibly around those times and
would welcome a conversation with you if you have any questions.
Responsible Business
To us, being a responsible business is second nature; a core part of
Bevan Brittan's identity, running through our culture and embodied by
the clients we serve.
Bevan Brittan seeks to play an active role within its local office
communities. Through regular fundraising events, support for local
initiatives and annual charity donations at Christmas, we have
established a culture of giving within the firm. In December 2021 we
donated a total of £60,000 to our four regional office charities, with
each charity receiving £15,000 to help fund their vital services.
Our current selected charity in Bristol is Great Western Air Ambulance.
We want to demonstrate our commitment to these causes through actions
rather than words; colleagues from across the firm are already heavily
involved, living and breathing the four pillars of our Responsible
Business strategy:
Community Engagement
Environmental Sustainability
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
Wellbeing
Collectively, these four pillars ensure we look after our colleagues'
wellbeing; offer an environment in which all can progress on merit,
regardless of personal circumstances or background; give something
back to the communities in which we work; and protect the environment.
Bevan Brittan is proudly a carbon neutral firm. We have achieved the
UN's Climate Neutral Now accreditation and our environmental
sustainability plan is focussed on achieving our net zero carbon target.
Each lawyer has the opportunity to undertake pro bono legal work for
local charities and not-for-profit organisations. This has seen
colleagues support the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (Bristol),
Moseley Road Swimming Baths (Birmingham), Yorkshire Cat Rescue
(Leeds), Great Western Credit Union (London), and several others.
