Knowledge Lawyer - Commercial Litigation/Disputes

Farrer & Co is synonymous with the highest quality legal advice and service.

We advise individuals, families, businesses, financial services, educational and not-for-profit organisations on every aspect of the law, wherever the need arises. From our offices in London we work with trusted professionals around the world to deliver a seamless international service.

Our clients present us with complex and varied challenges. Whether that's a complicated family trust issue, a multinational corporate transaction, or an emerging threat to their reputation, they need clear thinkers who can advise on the best solutions, fast thinkers when speed is of the essence and agile thinkers who can produce a fresh approach to get the job done. That's why they choose us.

Our clients value our in-depth knowledge, technical excellence and diversity of disciplines. But what really binds our long-standing relationships with them is our approach: pragmatic, plain speaking and always steadfast in our values, which we hold dear. Values which mean we gain our clients' trust, always strive to do the right thing, and aim for the best results for them.

Superb client service sits at the heart of everything we do. We are modern lawyers with timeless values.

Our dispute resolution team handles a full range of litigation matters, from contract claims to large scale, complex multi-jurisdictional disputes and judicial review.  We regularly appear in the High Court and the Court of Protection as well as courts in the Channel Islands and overseas.  We also have significant experience of alternative dispute resolution and, in particular, arbitration and mediation.  We act for a broad array of clients including individuals, businesses ranging from small family businesses to significant corporates, banks, trustees and trust companies as well as schools, higher education institutions and not-for-profit organisations.  Our experience across this range of sectors ensures that our litigators understand the impact which a dispute can have on both an individual and at an organisational level.  Each dispute requires a tailored solution, and we are committed to working quickly with you to identify and understand the issues you are facing in order to achieve the best possible result.

The team is looking for a Knowledge Lawyer, providing professional and technical legal support to fee-earners and clients. The role will include:

• To work as necessary with the Disputes Knowledge Partner to prepare and implement an ongoing Knowledge Plan that is aligned to the Disputes team’s business plan.
• To lead on the professional development activity within the disputes team ensuring fee earners’ knowledge of the KM content and systems is up to date and to manage and promote the use of those systems accordingly.
• To support KM at firm level working in conjunction with the K,L&D team and Marketing and BD to enhance our client service.
• To help improve the cost effectiveness of the Disputes team by improving processes and sharing knowledge.
• To assist the Disputes team to deliver a high-quality service to internal and external clients.

Working and liaising with the Disputes Knowledge Partner as necessary to perform the following responsibilities within the Disputes team:

Standard Forms and Precedents

• Whilst it is acknowledged that a number of up to date litigation precedents are available from online resources such as Practical Law, the role will require that these resources are monitored reviewed and promoted as appropriate within the Disputes team and where necessary adapted for better application to the Disputes team’s requirements.
• Develop and maintain specialist precedents, standard form documents and example documents relevant to the Disputes team as a whole but also to include precedents which are relevant to the areas of specialism within the team (to include arbitration, property litigation and reputation management, amongst others). Work alongside the Knowledge Lawyer for the Contentious Trusts and Estates team as appropriate.
• Develop and maintain related guidance notes.
• Keep precedents, example and standard form documents and guidance notes up to date, including ensuring that the relevant section of the intranet are set up, maintained and kept up to date.
• To assist and where required draft and maintain Disputes specific retainer documentation.

Resources, tools and systems

• Considering, and if advised, assisting to implement any additional tools, technology solutions or platforms which might assist the fee earners; for example as might be relevant to costs budgeting, e-disclosure and e-bundling  or other areas of disputes practice which might benefit from automation.
• Working with the Library to ensure that the Disputes team has access to the legal information resources it needs, inputting into the Research Resources budgeting process as required.
• Updating and expanding the Disputes team’s information and know how material available on the intranet.

Know How and Marketing

• Keep the team up to date with the latest developments in civil procedure law (including legislative and case law developments and the progress of draft legislation).
• To keep up to date on financial, economic and market forces which might apply and have relevance to the work and business of the Disputes team.
• Write periodic bulletins for circulation to intermediaries and clients.
• To be fully conversant with the team’s (and firm’s) BD strategy and business plan and actively work with the Disputes BD Manager in  meeting the objectives and development of the plans.
• Work with team members to write articles on litigation topics for publication and liaise with and build contacts with the editorial teams of relevant publications where possible.
• As appropriate, actively examine and promote the use of technology to improve the team’s client service and business development.
• Work with the KL&D team and other knowledge lawyers in the firm (especially the knowledge lawyer in the Contentious Trusts and Estates team) where appropriate and develop good relationships with the partners and fee earners within the team.
• Liaise with Disputes Knowledge Partner and fee earner knowledge reps (and where required the wider partners in the team) to identify the dispute related KM support needs across the department.
• Provide a support base for the fee earners and encourage the sharing of knowledge within the group and firm, including the mentoring of more junior fee earners where required and to deal with specific queries if and when they arise.

Training and Seminars

• Liaise with KL&D in connection with the firm-wide provision of training to ensure the needs of the disputes team are met.
• Design, organise (and where necessary deliver) an internal training programme for team members including organising external speakers where appropriate.
• Work with team members to plan and deliver seminars to intermediaries/clients and/or similar events.
• Liaise with the Disputes Knowledge Partner to prepare and manage the team training budget in conjunction with KL&D.
• Provide input and leadership to the induction training of trainees and other new joiners to the Disputes team.
• Play an active part in the relevant Knowledge Lawyer network, liaising with key Knowledge Lawyers in the field and assessing viability of relevant developments.
• Liaise with other Knowledge Lawyer practitioners within the firm to ensure the team shares and gains best practice, and in particular operates effectively on a departmental level.
• Attend Knowledge Lawyer monthly meetings.

Technical Skills

• Legal Drafting.
• Word and PowerPoint.
• Internet/Intranet.
• Precedent management system.
• Online research resources.
• E-disclosure platforms/software.

• Excellent organisational skills.
• Strong academic background.
• To be proactive in seeking out thought-leadership ideas, whether to improve ways of working or as regards to business development initiatives.
• Self-starting approach to tasks and projects and ability to work on own initiative.
• Well-developed interpersonal skills – an ability to interact with people at all levels.
• Good communication and project management skills, including an ability to persuade, present, write and precisely.
• Research skills (using hard and soft source materials).

• Sound relevant experience gained within a respected litigation team.
• The successful candidate is likely to have at least 5 years PQE experience.
• PSL experience helpful but not essential.

The hours of work for this opportunity are 09:30am-5:30pm but it is essential to be committed, flexible and prepared to work beyond the normal office hours when necessary and in response to client demand.