Financial Crime Lawyer

Department: AML Team (Business Acceptance Function)
Duration: Maternity Cover (12 months fixed term contract)
Reports to: Senior Financial Crime Lawyers 
Type of Role: Hybrid
Reference number: 10284

The Role

This role will support the Senior Financial Crime Lawyers and Global Head of AML and Sanctions Compliance to advise, design and implement effective controls and policies to ensure the firm and its staff comply with applicable anti-money laundering and other financial crime laws and regulations, international financial sanctions and professional conduct rules and best practice in relation to new business intake processes. 

The role will involve assessing clients and their matters to ensure compliance with applicable legislation and to advise the Firm on financial crime and other risk issues.

This role would be hybrid – your place of work is one of our offices, however there is no minimum (or maximum) number of days you must work from this office. We give you the freedom to decide with your team how efficiently and effectively you can deliver the best service to our clients, work with your colleagues, and progress your own personal development whilst recognizing the need to adjust plans where circumstances require. We encourage you to discuss this with our recruitment team and your interviewers to see how the team you are interviewing with are working. You will be given an allowance to create a workspace in your own home, as well the kit to utilise the desks at any of our offices.

Responsibilities

• Keeping up to date with applicable AML, anti-bribery and corruption and sanctions laws and regulations globally and advising on how these changes affect the Firm and its processes.
• Advising on the application of international financial sanctions and obtaining licenses.
• Assisting on ad hoc financial crime projects supporting the Senior Financial Crime Lawyers and the Global Head of AML and Sanctions Compliance.
• Assisting with the review and approval of all new matters and clients.
• Undertaking and handling all types of client due diligence (CDD) and client care issues with minimal supervision.
• Handling complex matter opening issues considering local legal requirements.
• Assisting with AML investigations, escalations to the MLROs and filing reporting Suspicious Activity Reports. 
• Providing a 'concierge' service to partners by liaising with clients directly on AML and sanctions issues, either in person, on the phone or in writing.
• Drafting, maintaining and implementing AML and sanctions policies and procedures.
• Develop internal AML and sanctions awareness and establish effective training programs. 
• Assisting with regulatory AML and sanctions audits.
• Advising on complex inter-office working arrangements.
• Understanding the relevant rules regarding billing and seek tax advice where necessary.
• Reviewing and drafting documents including engagement letters, client terms and NDAs.
• Assisting with basic data protection queries.
• Assisting with internal AML and sanctions audit.
• Advising on anti-bribery and corruption and fraud issues. 

Experience, Skills & Knowledge

Technical Skills

• Qualified and admitted solicitor/ lawyer, preferably with in-house experience or compliance/risk experience working in a law firm or a professional services environment.
• Experience in drafting a range of legal documents.
• A good knowledge of relevant compliance rules and regulations, including (but not limited to) anti money laundering, UN/UK/US/EU sanctions, anti-bribery and corruption, confidentiality and other international laws and regulations.
• Highly effective research skills - able to assemble research and produce clear, accurate findings.
• Able to analyse issues and draw/express conclusions succinctly.
• Able to advise the wider firm on AML and financial crime risk issues, clearly and succinctly.

General skills 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Able to interact with individuals at all levels within the firm and is a good team player.
• Able to confidently and clearly explain problems and issues to partners/fee earners and proactively contribute to their resolution.
• Able to use internal precedents and draft emails in plain English.
• An understanding the billing process.
• PC literate with a good working knowledge of MS Office, e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
• Able to keep all general administration up-to-date and under control.
• Strong problem solving and analytical skills; can clearly explain and present problems and issues to others.
• Able to demonstrate excellent customer facing skills.
• Able to make incisive decisions and remain calm under pressure.
• Able to effectively manage and prioritise tasks where appropriate.
• Able to analyse and recognise the need for improvement to systems and suggest options for improvement to the Senior Financial Crime Lawyers and Global Head of AML and Sanctions Compliance.
• Take an efficient and organised approach to dealing with administration.  
• Able to be an ambassador for Dentons, being professional in outlook and attitude.

Firm Profile

Across more than 80 countries, Dentons helps you grow, protect, operate and finance your organisation by providing uniquely global and deeply local legal solutions. Polycentric, purpose-driven and committed to inclusion, diversity, equity and sustainability, we focus on what matters most to you. www.dentons.com

Inclusion and Diversity

We are committed to building an inclusive culture here at Dentons where our people can thrive, regardless of their background or circumstance. As well as being the right thing to do, it makes good business sense too. A richness of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives helps us best serve our clients and the communities in which we operate. You can find out more about inclusion and diversity at Dentons here: Inclusion and Diversity

Dentons is committed to providing equal opportunities for all. We welcome applications from everyone including of any age, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, nationality, neurotype, disability, or with parental or caring responsibilities. We are also “Happy to Talk Flexible Working” and welcome conversations about flexible working arrangements.

Dentons is a Disability Confident employer. Candidates with a disability may choose to apply under the Disability Confident Scheme. We will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role. Where application volumes are high, we may offer interviews to those who best meet the minimum criteria, consistent with our approach for all candidates.

During the application process, all applicants have the opportunity to tell us about any adjustments or support they require so they are able to perform at their best. Any information you share with us during the application process is treated in confidence.

If you have any questions about this or the role criteria, please email recruitment.matters@dentons.com. 

NO AGENCIES PLEASE

If you are interested in applying for this position, we welcome direct applications via our careers page, but if you have any questions beforehand, please email  recruitment.matters@dentons.com. Enquiries only please – applications will not be accepted via email.

Please note that we will not accept unsolicited CVs sent to the business, nor will we accept any associated terms of business.