The Opportunity

The Opportunity:

Primary Objectives:

The Strategic Insight team, part of Strategic Planning, delivers data-led, actionable insights to support the firm’s management, practice groups, and sector teams in shaping strategy. With a global remit, the team provides in-depth analysis of clients, sectors, practices, and competitors to identify opportunities.

Primary objectives of the role:

• Deliver high quality and succinct commercial insight
• Help identify new opportunities for the firm to win profitable work
• Provide market research and analysis to support strategic decision making
• Work closely with the partnership, the firm’s central management services and business development as part of a global insight function

Key Internal Relationships:

• Partners; Central Management; Strategic Planning, Business Development; Knowledge Management; Business Finance

Key External Relationships:

• Research agencies, outsource provider and other data providers

Primary

Responsibilities:

• Deliver in-depth market insight and actionable recommendations spanning: competitors; economics; financial markets; industry; practice/legal product area; and jurisdiction/regional issues
• Collaborate with the Strategic Insight colleagues in Asia Pacific to enable the Firm to benefit from true “follow the sun” support
• Maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders in the UK and EMEA region (including relevant members of global and regional executives) to maintain a position as a trusted adviser on strategic decision making within the region through the provision of insight
• Exploit internal and external information resources as an input to analysis (rather than providing "raw" material)
• Develop research briefs through effective consultation. Assess underlying needs and requirements and design solutions that resolve the issues
• Work with partners and BD to identify, quantify and prioritise areas of new opportunity for the firm
• Monitor legal market developments and be a key point of contact for the firm for regional competitor activity.
• Contribute ideas and technical assistance to thought leadership activities and content for use externally, such as at industry and client presentations
• Effectively manage a complex and demanding workload with many stakeholders and deadlines ranging from a few hours to many months while maintaining focus on priority areas and tasks
• Represent the firm externally at relevant industry events
• Train and support others undertaking research to encourage efficient, relevant and accurate output. Utilise resources outside the Strategic Insight function as and when required (e.g. paralegals, trainees, KM staff)

Key Performance Indicators:

• Quality of output
• Strength of relationships
• Feedback from key stakeholders
• Creative and proactive in services provided
• Demonstration of high levels of technical capabilities
• Work delivered to meet deadlines
• Activities aligned to Strategic Planning, BD and firm priorities globally to deliver the Firm’s strategy

Skills, Qualifications & Experience:

• Leadership of a research/insight function including mixed used models of front office delivery and the best use of third party service providers
• Appropriate undergraduate/post graduate degree in an economics, finance or business related area is ideal
• At least 8 years’ relevant experience working at a blue-chip, financial or professional services organisation
• Demonstrated experience in building strategic internal relationships with senior (Executive level) stakeholders
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills enabling effective communication to senior audiences. Able to present with clarity, energy, confidence and enthusiasm
• Able to analyse large volumes of data, interpret complex detail and provide insight
• Strong knowledge of business research databases such as Bloomberg, LSEG, Mergermarket, CapitalIQ, Dealogic and Pitchbook
• Experience of multi-tasking, prioritising demanding workloads and working on projects as part of an international team
• Strong understanding of the legal market
• Good attention to detail but also able to see and communicate the big picture
  

Team
Corporate Services, London CS Mercy Nuttall Level 2

Working Pattern

Full time

Location
London

Contract type
Fixed Term Contract

Diversity & Inclusion

At Herbert Smith Freehills you will be part of a diverse, innovative culture where high performance, client focus and highly engaged people are our differentiator. People at our firm come from a range of backgrounds and bring a wide variety of experiences and perspectives to their work with us. We strive to ensure that our inclusive environment means you feel valued and able to perform at your best by being your authentic self at work. We know that our future success not only depends on being innovative and progressive in the changing legal market but, most importantly, on our people feeling highly engaged in meaningful work.

We understand that you have commitments and personal interests outside of work and we strive to create a working environment based on mutual trust and respect, in which you can perform at your best whilst maintaining sustainable balance across your life.