Company Secretary

Lewis Silkin is a UK top-100 commercial law firm with offices in London, Oxford, Cardiff, Dublin and Hong Kong. The firm is recognised by clients and industries alike as being distinct: for its deep understanding, insight and advice to creative, innovative and brand-focused businesses; for its market-leading international practice in employment, immigration and reward; and for delivering pragmatic, commercial advice in a refreshingly human way.

With over 60 partners and more than 350 staff, the firm is structured around two key divisions, Employment, Immigration & Reward (EIR) and Creators, Makers & Innovators (CMI).

Each division has its own Divisional Management team which consists of the Divisional Managing Partner, the Divisional Business Manager, a Divisional Head of Business Development and the Divisional HR Manager. This role will provide cross divisional support. 

Main purpose of role

Assist two Divisional Business Directors (“DBDs”) and the firm’s General Counsel (“GC”) in providing comprehensive and proactive board and company secretariat support to the firm’s two Management Boards (the Strategy Board and Operations Board).  As this is a new role there will initially be a transition period to move across various responsibilities that currently sit with the two DBDs in relation to the operational support of the two management boards.

The role will also provide wider support to the senior management team on significant internal events such as quarterly partners’ meetings and our annual partner conference and other senior leadership matters

• To provide effective, professional support to the GC, the Management Boards and where appropriate members of the senior management team.  Key duties include:
  • Leading on proposing, agreeing and circulating agendas in consultation with relevant stakeholders (having regards to internal governance arrangements and annual schedule of business to be conducted by both Management Boards);
  • Logistics of meetings (appointments, attendance and availability);
  • Organising and managing meeting papers – briefing contributors over papers required, collating, circulating, deadline management;
  • Taking minutes and action points; proactively managing meeting follow-up (actions log, following up with individuals as needed to ensure actions completed, arrangements for e.g. further meetings/discussions); 
  • Ensuring follow on communications managed through all appropriate channels including minutes to wider partner group; matters to be raised at partner meetings/firmwide town halls/any other forum;
  • Ensuring appropriate and effective use of technology to aid collaboration and information sharing between the two Management Boards;
  • Being proactive and confident in suggesting alternative, more efficient and effective ways of supporting and running the Managements Boards.
  • Working with Chair and Co-Business Development Directors regarding the quarterly partners meetings and partner conference content and logistics.
  • Providing support to the Management Boards in relation to strategic business planning including: assisting in the facilitation of the planning process; managing the process by which the Boards review progress against those plans; and generally supporting Board members in the effective delivery of their business planning obligations.
• Undertaking company secretarial tasks (including Companies House filings and maintenance of statutory registers for LS group companies)
• Supporting the GC on elements of partnership governance administration (including running the process of partner votes and elections, preparing draft partner resolutions etc.)

Candidate Profile:

• Experience of working in a dynamic, professional services environment would be ideal;
• Prior company secretarial experience would be an advantage (including any ICSA qualification).

Abilities and desired experience / qualities:

• Outstanding organisational skills and attention to detail;
• Able to demonstrate high levels of discretion, sensitivity and confidentiality;
• Able to deal confidently with leaders and other senior executives / managers within an organisation;
• Pro-active approach to ensuring that all relevant work is completed in a timely and efficient manner demonstrating excellent stakeholder management skills;
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral;
• Strong analytical skills, able to collect, manipulate, analyse and present data from systems and pre-existing reports;
• Solutions-oriented approach to work;
• Proactive in seeking better, more efficient ways of working in order to enhance service provided to stakeholders.

IT skills required:

• Proficient IT skills including Excel, PowerPoint Outlook and Word;
• Experience or knowledge of document management systems would be beneficial but not essential as full training will be provided.

Educational and professional qualifications required:

• Educated to degree level or equivalent experience level

No agencies please.