Senior Associate, Critical Risks

London Area, United Kingdom

11/15/2024

Schillings handles high stakes situations for our international clientele; high profile and successful people, companies and other organisations across the world. The high stakes situations they face affect their reputations, their privacy and their security, both digital and physical. That is why we apply a particular focus to protecting these three assets. The high stakes situations present both threats that need to be mitigated, and opportunities to be taken.

We believe everyone has a right to fair treatment of their reputation, to a reasonable expectation of privacy and to feel safe.

Uniquely, Schillings combines five capabilities under one roof to handle these high stakes situations: intelligence, law, communications, security and diplomacy. Our experts contribute to this multidisciplinary mix, or they are in the business support teams that reinforce that mission: marketing, HR, finance, risk and compliance and client services.

Because we are a growth business, opportunities appear in all areas and at all levels. We have the largest team of specialist lawyers in the world, an expanding Intelligence & Investigations team, a growing Critical Risks unit, an evolving Digital Resilience practice, and a new communications agency – Schillings Communications – that will grow significantly in the next three years.

Schillings is a collaborative, fun and welcoming place to work, with a positive culture, strong values and a developed service ethic. We require commitment, diligence, agility and professionalism, and in return provide competitive packages and incredibly stimulating and interesting work. We are committed to sharing learning and creating development opportunities so you can progress your career with us. Our people’s career trajectory and longevity at Schillings is a good example of this: a third of our people have been at the business for over five years. Join us and become part of our story.

In the Critical Risks team, we help our clients to:

• Protect their family and their business against security threats (including extortion, conflict, surveillance and stalking etc.)
• Counter “State Level” security, political and commercial threats from governments, competitors, blackmailers, disinformation, and hostile actors.
• Navigate complex geopolitical landscapes, to make ambitions become reality.
  
  

Job Title: Senior Associate, Critical Risks ()

Accountable to: Director, Critical Risks

Day-to-day supervision of: Associates, Analysts

Job Purpose

To run Critical Risks projects (matters) with minimal supervision, promote the firm and win new instructions from existing and new clients. Supervise complex matters related to security and geopolitical issues, as well as offer strategic, client-driven solutions to the Director, and Partners as to the best way forward in matters. A strong team player, you will be comfortable working at pace across Schillings’ multidisciplinary teams. You will work closely with the leaders of the team to contribute to service innovation, sales and overall strategy development in the team.

You will also contribute to our overall knowledge management efforts by producing best practice guidelines and case studies and delivering internal training sessions. This is primarily a fee earning role so day to day you will be responsible for meeting fee and profitability targets and producing high quality analysis for clients.

This role would best suit somebody that is looking to take the next step in their career in a growing team.

Role Accountabilities

• To act as expert in your field of specialism in dealing with complex client matters, supervising the work across a multidisciplinary team, and collaborating with partners to identify solutions to client problems.
• Deliver client facing security and critical risk projects and generate additional fee income, under the supervision of the Deputy Director, Director and/or the appropriate client facing relationship Partner.
• Responsible for all aspects of client management, anticipating and providing advice to meet clients’ needs, ensuring the highest standard of client care and communication.
• Meet identified business targets for chargeable hours, billing and cash collection, demonstrating good financial management of debtors, disbursements and work in progress.
• Support the development of client solutions and introduce new products, frameworks, methodologies and services.
• Represent Schillings at client events, seminars and conferences.
• Create insightful thought leadership to support our client’s knowledge development in this area and to support the continued development of our brand as a specialist in privacy, security and reputation management.
• Support Partners in developing and/or pitching for business.
  
  

As a member of the firm’s 'expert' team, develop the skills and experience of other fee-earners, sharing knowledge and best practice to the benefit of the firm, its clients and employees.

Knowledge, Skills And Experience

• Ideally 7+ years of varied and complementary experience. You may have a background in the security services (private or public) or geopolitical analysis; within a military, political, or diplomatic role; or worked within strategy consulting.
• Experience of delivering complex assignments to a varied and international client base, in high-stakes and volatile environments where hostile actors or state-level threats have been prevalent.
• A demonstrable interest in global issues impacting reputation, privacy, and security.
• Able to take the initiative when the requirements or output are ambiguous or rapidly changing, or when availability of publicly available information on relevant issues is limited.
• A demonstrable experience in making informed, forward-thinking, and appropriately caveated assessments of geo-political or security developments for public sector or private clients.
• A highly effective problem solver who thinks strategically and translates clients’ business issues into solutions.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• A doer with high attention to detail and excellent project and engagement management skills; including resource scheduling, project team management and billing.
• Self-starter with a commercial outlook; showing high degree of personal initiative, drive, and desire to grow new services.
• Language skills are desirable.
  
  

Life at Schillings

Given our audacious (and successful) business strategy, it is not surprising that Schillings has a very strong culture. The atmosphere is highly collaborative and focused on excellence. We have worked hard over the years to develop a coaching culture and are remarkably non-hierarchical, especially given our roots as a law firm. Schillings has adopted a set of values to put at the heart of this change and they reflect the intention and tenor of our ambitious plans. They are: ‘Innovative; Bold; United; and Excellent’. Our client list speaks for the outstanding results that have been delivered over many years and the task now is to grow without losing any of the commitment to delivering for clients or the service ethos. Finding people who share our values and can thrive in this environment is key to our success.

It takes a unique mix of people to create something truly great. We appreciate that diversity of thought, background and culture creates the best environment to truly innovate, solve problems and achieve our goals. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds – if you are driven and want to achieve your best then we will give you the platform and support to succeed.

Please let us know if there are any extenuating circumstances we should consider, or any adjustments we may need to make to our selection process, when making your application.

Find our candidate privacy notice here, Candidate Privacy Notice (schillingspartners.com)