Job Overview
At Clifford Chance we recognise that rapid advances in technology such as artificial intelligence, robotics, blockchain, big data and cyber security are significantly impacting our clients' business models, their growth strategies and day-to-day decision making. Integrated and dynamic, our Tech Group is a single, global, cross-practice team delivering strategic tech law advice to help clients stay ahead of the curve and outstrip the pace of change.
As the speed of tech legislation accelerates, this newly created role will play a key part in how we maintain this client service, by delivering practical and insightful knowhow and advice to our lawyers and being pivotal in allowing access to all legal developments in this space. This role will provide particular support to the UK members of our Tech Group, as well as collaborate in our global Tech Group knowledge initiatives through expertise in UK developments and markets, including contributing to thought leadership.
You will support partners and lawyers to develop their legal expertise to provide a high quality and cost-effective service to our clients. Key to achieving this goal is the need to work closely with our fee-earning lawyers to ensure that knowhow and insights are collated, analysed and shared effectively across the network.
Who you will work with
You will deliver practical and insightful knowhow and advice on UK laws and developments to partners and lawyers across the Tech Group. The Tech Group is an integrated, multidisciplinary team of tech-savvy lawyers located around the world delivering holistic, joined-up, expert legal advice to both tech and non-tech clients on their most exciting, complex and transformational tech-related matters. This will typically include working with lawyers who are advising clients on a range of matters including:
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Tech advisory and compliance – including data privacy and protection, anti-bribery and corruption compliance, financial regulatory licencing, IP monetisation strategies, public policy support and developing cyber-attack response plans.
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Tech development and renewal - facilitating businesses' migration to tech-enabled platforms, support business process outsourcing, assist with tech procurement and renewal and advise on tech R&D projects.
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Tech risk, disputes and investigations – in particular, fast advancing regulation and competition enforcement in the tech sector, cyber-security and antitrust breaches, regulatory investigations and the misuse of data.
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Tech-heavy M&A transactions - mergers and acquisitions and the potential tech implications of proposed M&A.
You will be based in the close-knit London Tech//Digital team of data privacy, IT/outsourcing, Tech M&A and IP specialists which is the Firm's hub for telecoms and media sector expertise.
You will also be part of our global knowledge network "KETL" which encompasses our Knowledge, Expertise and Thought Leadership activities. You will, in particular, work closely with the global leads for Tech and Fintech knowledge who coordinate efforts across the Tech Group globally on strategy, knowledge and thought leadership. Your role will include providing UK expertise and input for global KETL initiatives for the Tech Group. You will also work closely with our wider Knowledge and Information Team.
What you will be responsible for
You will be responsible for ensuring appropriate knowhow is available relating to a broad range of tech activities including cyber, data, artificial intelligence, blockchain & distributed ledger technology, big data and smart contracts.
As well as keeping up to date with all tech- and data-related UK legal and legislative developments, you will be the "go to" resource for relevant legislative/regulatory developments, template production, knowledge sharing, thought leadership and client briefings for the UK members of our Tech Group.
Your role will play an important part in enabling the Tech Group and its clients to remain up to date with relevant UK developments, and help ensure our collective experience, which is at the cutting edge of client work and legal developments, is captured and utilised. You will also support partners and lawyers on client-facing opportunities.
What you will do
From time to time your remit will extend to:
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Tracking and analysing forthcoming UK tech/data legal, regulatory and compliance-related developments in order to brief lawyers and partners on their impact. This may include preparing internal briefings or training sessions, client presentation materials, and/or client briefings.
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Responding to fee earner queries on UK tech legal, regulatory and governance related matters.
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Supporting production of bespoke legal and regulatory development briefings/updates for key clients.
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Encouraging knowledge sharing by fee earners and the submission of knowhow to a shared knowledge database.
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Management and maintenance of our UK tech/data related templates, including identifying where new templates are needed and their creation.
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Assisting in the preparation and delivery of UK training programmes on tech issues.
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Working with the Business Development teams on the preparation of pitch mandates where the mandate requires input on tech knowledge.
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Working with the Marketing and Communications teams in relation to Tech Group knowledge campaigns.
How we will support you
From your first day with us, you will have varied opportunities to continuously grow and develop your skills and knowledge. From formal training, informal coaching and mentoring through to skills-based and technical training and on the job learning.
Your career experience so far
You will be a senior lawyer with significant experience advising companies on tech. You will have an excellent academic background. You will have strong drafting skills, good attention to detail, strong organisational skills and be proactive and committed to providing a first-class service to our lawyers and clients.
You should also have strong communication and analytical skills along with a high level of commercial awareness. Your expertise will extend to legislative frameworks and developments for cyber, data, artificial intelligence and other tech/digital laws, and tech procurement, outsourcing and commercial contracts, with a strong track record of keeping abreast of legal implications in this fast-evolving space.
About the Firm
Whatever your area of expertise, you will find a range of career opportunities at Clifford Chance. And wherever you’re heading, Clifford Chance is where you can be true to your ambitions.
Our firm, work and people span jurisdictions, cultures and languages. In a world where commercial success increasingly relies on globalisation, we offer clients a truly international perspective, and we offer our people a rewarding and stimulating career.
We're proud of our approachable, friendly and team-based way of working. Highly professional and self-assured, with an entrepreneurial streak, our people are more than happy to share their expertise and knowledge.
To find out more about what it is like to work in Clifford Chance in UK, please visit link.
Hybrid Working
This role follows our 'balanced' hybrid working approach and as long as business needs allow, you will be supported to work in a hybrid way with the expectation of working from the office for a minimum of 50% of your time. Please see our careers site for further information on our working environment.
Equal Opportunities
At Clifford Chance we understand that our true asset is our people. Inclusion is good for our team and their families, our firm and society.
We are committed to treating all employees and applicants fairly and equally regardless of their gender, gender identity and expression, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour, national or ethnic origin, social or economic background, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation, or age. This applies to recruitment and selection, terms and conditions of employment including pay, promotion, training, transfer and every other aspect of employment.
Our goal is to deliver an equality of opportunity, an equality of aspiration and an equality of experience to everyone who works in our firm. Find out more here.