A leading law firm in London is seeking a Senior Risk Lawyer to join their Risk Management Department on a 12-month fixed term contract. This role offers you the opportunity to work at the heart of a highly respected legal practice, where personal connection and commitment to excellence are valued above all

You will be part of a collaborative, partner-led team that encourages professional growth, provides genuine responsibility from day one, and supports your development through exceptional training and mentoring programmes. The environment is both challenging and nurturing, allowing you to thrive while making a meaningful impact on the firm's operations.

With a cross-border focus, you will regularly collaborate with global clients and specialist advisers, broadening your experience and building valuable international connections. The firm is committed to inclusion and welcomes applications from individuals of all backgrounds, ensuring that every team member is recognised, appreciated, and encouraged to succeed.

What you'll do:

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial contracts including supplier agreements, service contracts, IT software, hardware, licensing and SaaS agreements-especially those involving AI-enabled features-as well as NDAs and licensing agreements.
• Provide strategic legal advice during contract negotiations to minimise risk exposure and ensure favourable terms for the firm's business operations.
• Identify and assess potential legal risks in contracts and procurement activities, proposing effective risk mitigation strategies tailored to the firm's needs.
• Ensure all contracts comply with applicable laws, regulations, and internal policies by maintaining up-to-date knowledge of relevant legal frameworks.
• Develop and maintain contract templates, policies, and guidelines to streamline contract management processes for greater efficiency across the organisation.
• Advise on and oversee the legal aspects of procurement processes, ensuring compliance with internal policies as well as external laws governing procurement activities.
• Assess current procurement processes to identify inefficiencies or areas for improvement-including contributing to the implementation of technology solutions such as AI-enabled tools-to enhance contract review and management efficiency.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders including business services leaders (such as the Chief Information Officer, Director of AI & Innovation, Head of Information Security, COO) to optimise procurement workflows.
• Provide legal advice and guidance to internal stakeholders on a broad range of issues related to commercial contracts, procurement activities, data protection compliance (including data subject requests and breaches), client terms review, proposed amendments to terms of business, and updating risk policies.
• Conduct training sessions for internal teams on contractual risk management, procurement processes, legal compliance; mentor junior members of the legal team by providing guidance and support as needed.

What you bring:

• Solicitor or barrister qualified in England & Wales or an equivalent common law jurisdiction with at least five years' post-qualification experience as a risk lawyer or in-house lawyer-including significant experience in commercial contracts negotiation and management.
• Proven track record working within risk/compliance functions at law firms or as an in-house risk/contracts lawyer; senior corporate/commercial lawyers looking to move in-house are also welcomed.
• Comprehensive understanding of data protection law (including GDPR) as well as information security issues relevant to modern legal practice-particularly those involving AI technologies.
• Excellent organisational skills combined with strong analytical abilities enabling you to handle complex high-value contracts efficiently even under pressure.
• Ability to contribute effectively from the outset by working independently on supplier contracts while maintaining attention to detail throughout all stages of contract lifecycle management.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills allowing you to explain complex legal concepts simply for diverse audiences within the firm.
• Demonstrated ability to train others through engaging presentations or workshops focused on contractual risk management or procurement best practices.
• Advanced Microsoft Word and Excel skills facilitating efficient document drafting, review processes, reporting requirements or workflow optimisation initiatives.
• Client-orientated approach both internally (with colleagues) and externally (with suppliers or partners), showing empathy towards stakeholder needs while balancing pragmatic commercial considerations.
• Friendly manner coupled with excellent interpersonal skills fostering positive relationships across multidisciplinary teams; self-motivated attitude ensures proactive engagement in problem-solving scenarios.

Robert Walters Operations Limited is an employment business and employment agency and welcomes applications from all candidates