The Department

Mishcon Purpose

Mishcon Purpose launched in 2020 to advise clients on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues facing their business today.

Our own core values and stated purpose, "to enable our clients and our people to shape the world's possibilities" give us a clear-eyed view of the risks and opportunities presented by a rapidly changing world. With a reputation for taking a position, for having a wider view, and for backing our clients fearlessly at times of change, we view sustainability and Environmental, Social and Governance issues as indispensable board-level considerations for responsible, resilient and successful businesses and families.

We are experts in advising clients on risk. We help our clients address the challenges of today and tomorrow by drawing on our deep experience and expert networks to identify, assess, prioritise and appropriately address risk. In looking at the full picture, naturally, we always have our eye to opportunity.

We provide specialist advice and purpose-driven insight to help our clients navigate the opportunities and risks presented by a complex landscape; a backdrop characterised by urgent imperatives for change, evolving regulatory frameworks, and dynamic yet fragile geopolitical and economic systems. We advise on both contentious and non-contentious matters, including cause based litigation and advocacy.

Lead by Alex Rhodes, Mishcon Purpose comprises of expert lawyers across all areas of practice, as well as trusted sector experts from across the Firm and the wider MDR Group, including our digital solutions business, MdRxTech. Additionally, a centralised team focus on our ambitious objectives that we have set ourselves internally for both our Law Firm and wider MDR Group.

Prospective candidates will therefore have the opportunity to experience other areas of law and will be encouraged to do so as part of their development as modern day trusted advisers.

This newly created role will sit centrally within Mishcon Purpose, working directly with the Head of Mishcon Purpose to advise our clients on the environmental, social and governance issues facing their business.

This is an exciting time to be joining this newly-launched business that is a key area of growth for the Firm. The ideal candidate (who could be a qualified lawyer, or perhaps currently working as a consultant) will have a passion for their subject area and be keen to collaborate and work alongside many of the experts within the law firm and MDR Group. There will be the opportunity to provide strategic input and be involved in the creation of ideas and initiatives both internally and externally to our clients.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Quickly developing a good understanding of both the Law Firm business, wider MDR Group businesses, clients and competitors, particularly from an ESG perspective.
• Developing a network of contacts (internally and externally) that Mishcon Purpose can develop mutually beneficial connections with through ESG thought leadership and interventions.
• Advising on sustainability frameworks, standards, reporting and disclosures.
• Advising on the practical application of sustainability frameworks and standards to different industry sectors.
• Analysing the ESG profile of a company and developing/implementing appropriate ESG strategies.
• Advising businesses on the transition to sustainability, including associated risks and opportunities.
• Advising Boards and Senior Management on sustainability topics, including corporate governance and fiduciary duties.
• Contract and policy drafting for sustainability.
• Effectively managing and motivating multi-disciplinary and diverse teams.
• Communicating complex and evolving ESG-related topics to a range of stakeholders across different industries and sectors.
• Driving business development and contributing to internal growth plans.

Skills/Experience

• Strong academic background, educated to at least LLB/BA/BSc degree level, but likely to have a post-graduate qualification (e.g. MBA or similar business qualification) or have qualified and practised as a lawyer.
• Very strong working knowledge of the ESG agenda and its significance to businesses and society. Will be able to convey key concepts and messages convincingly and concisely, to a range of people.
• A deep specialism in one of the following; climate change strategy and reporting, responsible supply chains, sustainable finance and impact investing, corporate reporting, natural capital accounting.
• At least 4-7 years' relevant experience (likely to have been gained in a similar professional services firm or consultancy boutique) providing a broad spectrum of ESG advice to a sophisticated client base.
• Strong relationship management skills, with the ability to quickly build and maintain effective working relationships (internally and externally) that then translate into delivery of workstreams.
• Able to plan and execute a high volume of work. Will be able to balance immediate needs with longer term priorities to meet deadlines, client expectations and cost/fee structures alike.
• Effective management skills (time, people, projects), and able to appropriately delegate and draw in expertise and contribution from lawyers and other specialists to meet client briefs.
• Willing to contribute to business development in the ESG space, including attending events, meeting current/prospective clients, intermediaries and other stakeholders, and making suggestions for new initiatives that will support both the team, its clients, and the broader MDR Group.

Please note that this job profile is not an exhaustive list of duties but merely an outline of the key components of the role. You may be required by your line manager to take on additional responsibilities when requested.

About The Mishcon de Reya Group

The Mishcon de Reya Group is an independent international professional service business with law at its heart, employing over 1450 people with close to 670 lawyers. It includes the law firm Mishcon de Reya LLP and a collection of leading consultancy businesses that complement the firm's legal services. We have grown rapidly in recent years, showing more than 40% revenue growth in the past five years alone.

Based in London, Cambridge, Oxford, and Singapore, with an association with Karas So LLP in Hong Kong, the firm services an international community of clients and provides advice in situations where the constraints of geography often do not apply. The work we undertake is cross-border, multi-jurisdictional and complex, spanning six core practice areas: Corporate ; Dispute Resolution ; Employment ; Innovation ; Private ; and Real Estate .

As of 1 January 2023, Mishcon de Reya and Taylor Vinters merged. The merger delivers on both firms' strategies to support the innovation economy and accelerate our growing share of the technology, media and life-sciences legal and consultancy services market in the UK and in key international innovation hubs globally.

In times of such far-reaching and profound change we want to be the law firm that enables our clients - and our own people - to shape the world's possibilities. We are here to help our clients benefit from new economies, new geographic centres of wealth, the new global movement of people and capital, and the impact of new technologies and new knowledge.

Our purpose remains rooted in our founding values. We take pride in the diverse range of people who make up the firm and are proactive in driving change and continuous improvement across the spectrum of equality, diversity and inclusion. Mishcon Academy , our in-house place of learning, development and new thinking for our people, clients and contacts and our innovative impact strategy, including a commitment to be a net zero carbon business , also play a central strategic role in the direction of the firm. In 2020 we launched Mishcon Purpose , a first-of-its-kind sustainability practice providing Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) advice and purpose-driven insight to clients.

The Mishcon de Reya Group comprises standalone businesses MDR Brand Management, MDR Cyber, MDR Discover, MDR Mayfair(in London, Singapore and Dubai) and MDRx. Complementary to Mishcon de Reya's core areas of work, each is led by best in class professionals recruited from a variety of non-legal industries and sectors.

We strive to create a fully diverse and inclusive workplace where all our people are empowered to fulfil their potential. We are proud of our agile working culture and are always happy to talk flexible working.