Executive Assistant (Global Transactions, Restructuring & Insolvency) London 2024

This role is for a proactive and highly competent EA who will provide professional, and client focused support to senior stakeholders in a dynamic and fast-paced environment. This role works closely with other business services teams and resources to deliver effective solutions via the most efficient route possible.

The individual needs to be adaptable, dynamic, and confident in their ability to drive change, influence stakeholders and build relationships. This role offers immense scope with responsibilities that are wide ranging and provides a real opportunity to add value.

This role will provide proactive support across a broad range of responsibilities, including matter and financial management.

About the office

Our London office is at the heart of our global network, in one of the most exciting world cities. London is arguably the world’s greatest financial centre: all the world’s leading financial institutions have a significant presence here. It is home to the headquarters of more than 100 of Europe’s largest companies.

Our London team has a reputation that is second to none. They are the team the world’s leading businesses turn to for help with their most challenging problems. They work with colleagues around the world on complex, cross-border deals, and disputes. Whether you join as a lawyer, a recent graduate or in a business services role, London is a great place to work.

You will have the opportunity to work on challenging, engaging work that will give you the opportunity to make your mark and progress your career. We believe there is no better place to work.

The role

The assistant service in London delivers administrative business support to the firm, provided by Admin Assistants and Personal Assistants from within the Assistant Centre, and by Executive Assistants directly supporting assigned senior level stakeholders. Our service supports stakeholders in the delivery of exceptional services to our global clients and offices, and in a manner that is effective and efficient.

Key responsibilities and deliverables

Practice support

• Proactive inbox and diary management.
• Ability to act on behalf of stakeholder and first point of contact
• Management of effective Outlook filing system and firm e-filing protocol.
• Proactive flagging and escalation of priority emails.
• Drafting of high-quality correspondence and communicating on stakeholder behalf.
• Effective gatekeeping, forward planning and scheduling.
• Oversee progress of meeting logistics delegated to AC e.g. room set-up, refreshments, AV etc.
• Preparation and timely circulation of agendas, materials, minutes/actions, monitor and follow up of actions.
• Highlight priorities and conflicts to stakeholder, source delegates.
• Communicating with clients directly, screening calls and providing responses, including resolving and/or directing enquiries/requests to more appropriate areas in the firm.
• Utilise the firm travel agent platform to arrange complex travel, VISAs, itineraries.
• Project management and ownership of tasks delegated to AC as appropriate.
• Support limited personal and partnership administration and support with external advisor activity e.g. charities, Boards etc.
• Administration and coordination support with management of mentees, team members, trainees (including but not limited to firm feedback & appraisal processes).
• Attend meetings with stakeholder if required to take minutes and follow up on action points.

Administrative and document support

• Liaise with AC to delegate administrative tasks such as expenses, post, couriers, archiving, printing, photocopying, scanning, bundles, basic travel bookings, taxis etc.
• Delegate to AC for assistance with triaging general queries.
• Document creation and amendments of smaller scale, delegating to AC and/or Global Centre as appropriate.
• Maintain effective document management and matter filing systems via iManage.
• Ability to produce basic PowerPoint deck and amend as appropriate.

Matter management

• Provide client and matter relationship support such as client contact, arranging and attending meetings, taking minutes, producing actions.
• Draft client engagement letters.
• Create and maintain holiday charts for matter/project teams.
• Draft and track submission of Experience Capture Forms at matter close.
• Liaise with AC for tasks such as risk checks, CMOs (Client Matter Opening), Matter/project distribution lists, Workspace access, set up of matter work streams and phases.

Financial management

• Arrange WIP updates and billing cycles according to client matter requirements.
• Ensure knowledge and recording of client/matter fee deals and discount rates for billing purposes.
• Work with the billing team to proactively manage WIP.
• Communicate regular fee updates.
• Prepare personalised letters to accompany client invoices when required.
• Assist with bad debt management and communicate with clients regarding bad debt as required.
• Monitor local budgets and cost schedules.
• Liaise with AC for tasks such as: raising proformas, processing invoices/POs, time recording (ensuring application of correct phases and detailed narratives), 1st cut bill narrative edits (review work once complete), write off actions, WIP reports.

Marketing and Business Development (MBD) and Events

• Act as key client contact.
• Proactive upward management of business development and other firm-wide initiatives.
• Utilise Salesforce to maintain client contacts and client programme activities, and track deal activity.
• Research prospective clients and draft capability statements and other supporting collateral for more speculative opportunities.
• Support with 1st stage draft pitch documents, working with the pitch team as required.
• Ensure CVs, biographies and social media profiles are maintained.
• Support with coordination of team submissions to legal directories (e.g. Chambers).
• Support with organisation of internal and external events, hearings, conferences etc, utilising the Events team and delegating to AC as appropriate.

Expected behaviours

• Displays discretion, good judgment and acts as trusted adviser
• Ensure all activities and duties adhere to risk and compliance requirements and maintain all requirements to protect confidential client and firm information.
• Build strong relationships with business services teams and maintain effective and efficient use of appropriate business support services.
• Support additional stakeholders and colleagues as and when required.
• Identify and facilitate knowledge sharing within peer group and wider team.

Key requirements

• Excellent academic background educated to graduate level or has equivalent professional experience.
• Commercial and financial acumen.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills.
• A thorough understanding of working in a professional, service driven environment and of stakeholder/client/business confidentiality and discretion.
• Confident and professional manner with the ability to build strong relationships with stakeholders, clients and others.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to interact at all levels.
• Ability to support the business and its initiatives collaboratively.
• Adaptable and open to change showing a willingness and confidence to make suggestions for continuous improvement.
• Strong organisational skills and excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to cope with a wide range of competing demands and changing priorities.
• Ability to anticipate issues, problem solve and provide practical innovative solutions.
• A strong team player, able to work within a team or independently.
• A degree of flexibility around working hours is expected with this role.

Freshfields Overview

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is a major international law firm, providing business law advice of the highest quality. We want to be the law firm that clients turn to for legal advice where it most matters, wherever in the world that may be. The Firm has over 2,400 lawyers in 28 offices around the world, providing a comprehensive service to national and multinational corporations, financial institutions, and governments.

Our people make our firm - we are a people business and want to create a welcoming and supportive environment where all can flourish. We see diversity as a strength which creates fresh perspectives and generates new ideas. We enjoy our work and are determined to do an outstanding job. We deliver best when working in teams. Our culture is a product of the combined mindsets and behaviours of our people which is through the Being Freshfields principles, outlined below:

• we show respect to everyone
• we are there for one another
• we are open with each other
• we are positive role models

We think and work globally - we do not just say we are one firm; we act like one firm right across the world. We work wherever our clients need us. This is how we define ourselves, not by reference to where we have offices. Cross-border work is not just what we do, it is what we excel at. We understand what it really takes to work across different legal systems and commercial environments and to bridge language and cultural gaps.

We aim to add value in everything we do - we are passionate about helping our clients succeed. We use our experience and creativity to help clients make judgements and achieve their goals. In everything we do, we seek to make a real difference to the communities in which we operate.

Freshfields is committed to promoting equality and diversity and to developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds make important and positive contributions to our business and how we service our clients.