Senior In-House Counsel - Partner Services

We are looking for an employment lawyer to join our team, ideally someone who has worked within a professional services environment, and preferably coupled with knowledge of partnerships. The primary focus of this role is to deliver a first class advisory service to senior stakeholders across HR and the firm's leadership team regarding a range of Partner matters. To achieve this, the individual will need to work cohesively with the Partner Services team to delegate and/or assign operational matters, where appropriate. The role will also need to ensure governance and compliance with the partnership agreements and protocols are met, operating across multiple jurisdictions providing an exceptional advisory service to individual partners where required. This is a key role in the Human Resources function, liaising with and influencing the most senior stakeholders in the business so exceptional communication skills for this role are required. You will have a positive outlook with an empathetic and commercial approach, be able to successfully navigate between detailed information whilst managing multiple stakeholders and initiatives. Working cohesively with the Partner Services team will be critical to achieve success in this role. The role will report in to the Head of HR Service Excellence. The Partner Services team will have a dotted line in to this role to enable delegation of work to the team as required. Skills and experience We are looking for someone who will be involved with:

• Working with senior stakeholders across the business to deliver support and advice on a range of topics in relation to the Partner life cycle
• Lateral hire integration and Partner promotion support, answering queries and providing direction
• Liaising with the Executive on Partner matters including sabbaticals, general queries, parental leave, lifestyle and changes to Partnership agreements
• Leading the governance and operational activity that underpins the equity partner and fixed share partner banding review process, with support from the Partner Services team
• Working with the HR leadership team to ensure there is the right level of support available to Partners from a wellbeing and mental health perspective
• Managing the Partner retirement process, including liaising with the Partner, Tax team and other relevant stakeholders, ensuring a positive offboarding experience
• Accountable for the delivery of an accurate and compliant service ensuring that individual, firmwide, regulatory and internal governance protocols are met and/or established
• Drafting complex and bespoke partner arrangements is a key requirement of this role
• Responding to planned and ad hoc governance and compliance matters that relate to the international partnership and impact on the wider business and HR processes
• Liaise and co-ordinate with relevant stakeholders to ensure partner policies/protocols are aligned to members agreements and local requirements
• Leading project work which impacts the Partnership such as, but not limited to, office integrations, changes to the Partnership Members Agreement and matters regarding Partner remuneration
• Liaise and build relationships with internal teams including, general counsel, governance and compliance, HR, tax and legal counsel where required
• Provide support to individual partners as required encompassing coaching, advice and solutions based on interpretation of members' agreements, policies and benefits
• Be a central point of contact for all partner transitions (lateral hires, internal promotions and retirees) providing support to them, working closely with line managers and senior HR colleagues
• Work with senior stakeholders and HR colleagues to ensure that partner performance and contribution is aligned with expectations, lead and support centralised performance approach for partners
• Work with senior HR colleagues to monitor and ensure the health and wellness of partners is maintained, signposting to appropriate support as required
• Analysing data, identifying themes and reporting findings to the leadership team that affect the partnership
  
  Excellent influencing, communication and personal impact skills that will ensure success and command instant credibility at senior levels of the firm
• Politically savvy and able to negotiate their way through multiple stakeholders' relationships across many jurisdictions
• Able to manage multiple priorities, with enhanced attention to detail and the ability to create solutions to support the partnership
• Proactive, innovative and willing to challenge, with the confidence to take the initiative
• Strong client focus and highly motivated to provide excellent advice and deliver results
• Excellent decision making and problem-solving abilities with the resilience and agility to be flexible
• Well-developed commercial acumen, with the ability to contribute to both the wider business and HR agenda Lively and energetic with a positive outlook and a practical can-do mentality
  
  We are Eversheds Sutherland, a global law firm, with 5,000+ colleagues in more than 30 countries. We're full service with deep niche and sector experience. Whatever challenge, wherever in the world, we're equipped and ready to meet it. We live our values, we're purposeful and purpose-led. So although the world is fast-moving and rapidly changing, we see it as a place where everyone can thrive. We're ambitious for our clients, our communities - and for you. Whether you're starting out on your career or well established, whether you're a lawyer or in business services. If you're looking for what's next, we are too.
What to expect For business professionals, our environment is highly collaborative with value being placed on diversity of ideas, skills and mindsets. Not least yours. It's energetic, fast-moving and there's always something new to get involved in. You will get exposure across geographies and the firm as a whole. The future is a place of opportunity. Focusing on your success and for what's next, will ensure you thrive too. Our team Our Partner Services Team at Eversheds Sutherland is recognised for both its advisory service to the partnership as well as providing support to the leadership team on partner matters. As an integral part of the team, you will work closely with the partners, HR colleagues, senior stakeholders on the Executive and international operations teams to ensure that our partnership offering (at both an organisational and individual level) meets the current and future needs of the firm. Eversheds Sutherland prides itself on being a great place to work. The HR Service Excellence team, which the Partner Services team is a part of, is a HR Shared Service which is at the very heart of the employee experience. You will work as part of a professional and energetic team that is at a pivotal point of change, introducing new technology to enhance our HR service delivery. You can expect to achieve professional satisfaction by using your skills to the full., At Eversheds Sutherland, we provide benefits focused on looking after you: your development, your performance, your financial future and your health, as well as providing the opportunity to make a contribution to the world.
• We're fair, transparent and equitable
• We share in the success of the firm, reward alignment to our values, going above and beyond and your individual performance
• We support flexible ways of working through our remote working policy and commitment to flexible, agile and hybrid ways of working
• We support your health and performance through our dental, healthcare and wellness support
• We support everything you are and all you bring through our powerful commitment to diversity and inclusion
• We provide a platform for your career, whatever your ambitions through our structured professional and personal training, mentoring and development programs
• We provide experience and opportunity through international and cross-function exposure
• We provide an opportunity to give back through our pro bono work and community engagement
• We help you plan ahead through retirement planning, insurance and assurance
Diversity and inclusion At Eversheds Sutherland, "Inclusive" is a core business value. We bring together different skillsets, global mindsets and approaches. We foster diversity of thought and the freedom to put ideas into action. We have an inherent respect for the individual. We have a strong belief in collaboration and teamwork. Sharing ideas, asking questions, solving challenges and meeting our clients' goals: together. We want all our people to thrive at work and reach their full potential and we work hard to continue to build a diverse and inclusive culture, monitor and report on our progress and impact, and develop our approach. This is reflected in our policies, systems and processes, and in our work with diversity membership organisations. Many of our people work flexibly in some way and we are open to considering how we can accommodate flexible working arrangements alongside role requirements. If this is important to you, please talk to us about it during the recruitment process. We want you to perform at your best during our recruitment process. If there is any adjustment or support you need, please contact us so we can discuss how we can best assist you.