Knowledge Lawyer

Watson Farley & Williams is an international law firm advising on complex disputes and transactions through local knowledge and an integrated international network.  We have a strong sector focus, combining our technical excellence with deep industry knowledge across Energy, Transport and associated Infrastructure.

The firm has achieved rapid expansion and year-on-year growth owed almost entirely to a focused strategy, strong leadership and the quality of its people.  The next stage in the firm’s growth plan is to achieve full-service strength within core sectors across the global platform.

We strive for excellence in all that we do and view investment in our people as key to achieving our business goals and values, which rest on developing deep and long-lasting relationships externally and internally through respect, sharing, communication and integrity.

Our global practice is integrated across our offices in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and North America delivering consistently high levels of service across borders and locally through a deep understanding of local business customs and culture.

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace to attract and retain the most talented people from all backgrounds and cultures.  We believe in celebrating difference and that people from any background can rise to the top, ensuring opportunities to develop and progress are available for all.

Our Projects practice focuses on our core sectors of Energy and Infrastructure. Drawing on years of experience across all segments of the Energy sector, from conventional power, infrastructure, oil and gas and mining to renewables and commodities, we excel in providing end-to-end advice in all aspects of  complex, cross-border transactions. In the Infrastructure space we have a wealth of experience advising on assets and projects ranging from airports, digital and E-infrastructure, ports and terminals, roads, bridges and tunnels, rail and social infrastructure, as well as a wide range of Energy related infrastructure, such as gas networks, pipelines and storage, and renewable assets.

Our global team operates across our international offices and supports clients wherever they have a need. The largest of our practices sits in London, but we also have dedicated groups in Singapore, Dubai and across our European network. We have strong relationships with a network of correspondence law firms in jurisdictions where we do not have a presence. 

We are looking to recruit a Knowledge Lawyer to assist the Knowledge Counsel in our Projects Group. The purpose of the role is to ensure that first-class know-how is readily available to the group’s lawyers in order to support them to deliver best-in-class legal services.  It involves stewarding and championing the latest legal, client and market knowledge to provide front-line support for WFW’s lawyers and, directly or indirectly, for our clients. The role holder will support the English law needs of the firm’s Projects lawyers across its international network.

Kate Buttrey, Global Head of Knowledge Management

Henry Stewart, Partner and Group Head

Sarah Tighe, Knowledge Counsel

Know-how and current awareness:

• Keeping up to date with legal and market developments that affect our practice and working with the team’s Knowledge Counsel to maintain and update our know-how and identify and communicate key issues and developments relevant to the team.
• Refreshing and keeping up to date the London Projects Knowledge page on the firm’s intranet site, Ignition.
• Helping the Knowledge Counsel to run the team’s Knowledge Forum, including chairing the meeting and actioning follow ups, and in giving discrete updates in wider Projects team meetings.

Templates:

• Preparing and maintaining templates for London Projects deals.

Training:

• Providing induction training to trainees and NQs.
• Developing and delivering London team-wide training, with the Knowledge Counsel or fee-earners, as applicable.
• Working with the Learning & Development team in relation to cross-sector training topics relevant to both the projects and finance side of the team, including sourcing external training where required.
• Contributing ideas for training topics and identifying development gaps in fee-earners.
• Updating and maintaining the team’s Training Matrix.
• Attending external training events and conferences to keep up to date with relevant developments in the law and market practice and disseminating relevant information.

Legal technology:

• Driving forward a no-code project for selected template documents, under the supervision of the Knowledge Counsel.
• Becoming familiar and assisting the team with legal technologies including automation, transaction management and diagramming tools.
• Championing the roll-out of new knowledge systems and new legal technologies.

Practice/Client/Business Development:

• Working with the fee-earners and the Business Development team to support initiatives in relation to relevant clients, sectors and industries.
• Horizon scanning – looking out for early signs of potentially important developments, ongoing monitoring of developments and opportunity spotting
• Contributing ideas for articles, including identifying niche or particular speciality areas of interest.
• Writing, editing or assisting in the preparation of client briefings and articles on topical issues.

Strategy/Other:

• Working with the Global Head of Knowledge Management and other knowledge lawyers across the firm to support and deliver the firm’s Knowledge Management strategy.
• Supporting Knowledge Management innovation.
• Contributing to global knowledge projects.
• Participating in global firm projects and initiatives as and when required.

• England and Wales qualified as a solicitor or barrister.
• Previous experience as a Knowledge Lawyer is not required but a passion for knowledge development is essential.
• Several years' experience of practising as a finance lawyer, ideally with project finance experience.
• Experience and/or demonstrable interest in the Energy and Infrastructure sectors.
• The ability to quickly acquire knowledge in, and perform analysis of, developing areas of law and practice.
• Experience working in a fast-paced and constantly evolving organisation.
• The ability to work collaboratively and be pragmatic and positive in approach.
• Attention to detail and a passion for high quality and accuracy.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Highly organised with the ability to meet deadlines.
• Proven time management and prioritisation skills.
• Being a self-starter.
• Appetite for continuous learning and development.
• Enthusiasm and empathy.

We offer a competitive benefits and wellbeing package for all employees.

The Firm promotes a culture of agility and flexibility and is fully supportive of flexible working arrangements where these can be accommodated.

Respect for different backgrounds and perspectives is at the heart of our firm’s core values and we recognise the importance of fostering an inclusive environment that allows everyone to reach their full potential. This is a key feature of our Global Code of Conduct, which places diversity and inclusion at the centre of our firm’s ways of working.

We believe that exceptional client service can only be delivered by exceptional people. For this reason, we aim to attract, retain and develop the best talent from a wide range of backgrounds. All decisions relating to employment will be objective and based on merit and ability.

We are committed to ensuring that our recruitment processes are as inclusive and barrier-free as possible. This includes making adjustments for candidates with a disability or long-term health condition.  If you require adjustments to be made at any stage of the recruitment process, we’d encourage you to get in touch with a member of our team who would be happy to discuss options with you.