Knowledge Lawyer - Commercial Litigation

We are recruiting a knowledge lawyer to support the commercial litigation team in handling a range of contentious work, covering High Court litigation, international arbitration and cross border disputes.  

The role will be focussed on managing the team’s know how, precedents and training programme as well as helping to project manage litigation and internal projects to enhance our service offering.  There will also be the opportunity to support the team with its PR strategy by suggesting and drafting comment and articles for the website and external press.

The role is full time, although we will consider candidates wishing to work part time.  As a firm we work flexibly and remote/hybrid working is available.

Key responsibilities

• Drafting and maintaining a comprehensive suite of precedents and guidance notes for use by the team.
• Keeping on top of and updating the team on latest developments in case law and court procedure, including running a programme of regular know how meetings.
• Supporting fee earners with research and acting as a sounding board on points of law and procedural issues.
• Maintaining an up-to-date repository of example documents and encouraging contribution from fee earners.
• Drafting and managing the department’s Learning & Development plan and supporting the delivery of the plan.
• Providing introductory training on commercial litigation matters to trainees and new joiners.
• Drafting articles on legal topics and other material for publication
• Liaising with the firm’s Information Services Officer in relation to litigation and arbitration resources
• Liaising with knowledge lawyers across the firm on cross-departmental issues and initiatives

There may also be the opportunity to become involved in,

• Helping to plan resourcing and workstreams on large pieces of litigation to ensure that they are managed in a cost effective and efficient manner.
• Scoping and helping to run large electronic disclosure exercises for ongoing matters.
• Managing costs on large pieces of litigation and monitoring against estimates and budgets.
• Scoping and implementing projects identified as part of business planning.

Our ideal candidate will be an established commercial litigation knowledge lawyer.  However, we will also consider commercial litigation fee earners who are looking to transition into a knowledge lawyer role.  You will need to be a qualified lawyer with significant relevant experience in commercial disputes.   The ideal candidate will have 5pqe+ and rounded legal experience, including market knowledge of commercial litigation.

The candidate should be able to demonstrate:

• A proactive, enthusiastic and “can do” approach.  Have the ability to work independently to see tasks through to completion
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, and the ability to quickly gain the confidence of fee earners at all levels
• Excellent legal research skills using a variety of resources i.e. systems, online materials and networks to learn or maintain a high level of knowledge
• Excellent attention to detail.  Ability to produce and maintain materials to a high standard
• Experience drafting in plain English with the ability to tailor documents to the needs of the audience and their knowledge level
• Strong presentation and organisational skills.  Proven experience designing and delivering training would be an advantage, but not essential
• Responsiveness and flexibility to meet the requirements of the team
• Ability to manage multiple priorities. Project management experience would be an advantage, but not essential

• Competitive base salary
• Pensions Scheme (5% employer contribution)
• Private medical insurance
• Permanent health insurance
• Life assurance
• Receive either the sum of £750 per annum as a travel allowance or reimbursement of carparking expenses via a pay as you go card at a local carpark (likely to be Farnham Road carpark)
• Travel – option to apply for an interest free loan for a season ticket or parking permit
• Enhanced maternity/paternity pay (after sufficient service)
• Cash back scheme
• Comprehensive flexible benefits package including:
• Critical illness insurance
• Buy/Sell holiday scheme
• Dental insurance
• Cycle to work schemes
• Taste card
• Fun pass
• Give as you earn
• Discounted gym memberships and shopping
• Profit share and discretionary bonus schemes

Stevens & Bolton – making a positive difference to your career

You’ll work with people who listen, and who actively and willingly support one another within a collaborative and engaging environment.  We genuinely care about our people and strive to build and maintain a diverse, inclusive and happy workforce.

We are recognised as a top firm in The Times Best Law Firms 2024 and shortlisted for ESG Initiative of the Year at the upcoming Women, Influence & Power in Law UK 2024 Awards. We were highly commended for both “Regional/Offshore Firm of the Year” – Legal Business Awards 2023 and “Law Firm of the Year” – SLS Legal Awards 2023, commended for “Law Firm of the Year: The Independents” – The Lawyer Awards 2023, and were shortlisted for “UK Law Firm of the Year - Small/Mid Sized Firm” – The British Legal Awards 2023 and “Workplace Fit-out of the Year” – Insider South East Property Awards 2023. Our refurbished office has been awarded a RICS SKA silver certificate and a 2 star Fitwel accreditation.

We’ve made excellence the hallmark of our firm: in the clear advice we give, in the enduring client relationships we build and in our proactive and highly responsive service.  We seek to recruit people who will help us maintain and build on this, and in return we offer excellent long-term career and development opportunities.

Diversity & Inclusion
We have a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion (D&I). This drives a strategy which focuses on constant promotion of an inclusive culture that encourages everyone to realise their full potential and be themselves at work. Previously we have been shortlisted for “Best D&I Initiative” at The HR Awards and for “Best Talent and Inclusion Initiative” at The Lawyer Awards.