Managing Lawyer, Risk and Compliance

About the role

Freshfields is seeking a Managing Lawyer to join its Legal Department's Asia team. This is a senior role leading the Asia Business Acceptance team and advising on complex business acceptance, legal, regulatory and commercial risk matters across the region, while supporting practical, risk-based decision-making for partners, lawyers and business services teams.

Key responsibilities

• Advise on complex business acceptance matters, including conflicts, confidentiality, client due diligence, AML, sanctions, reputational risk and engagement terms.
• Provide legal, regulatory and governance support across Asia, including policy, guidance, training, regulatory developments and emerging risk issues.
• Act as a trusted technical adviser and escalation point for complex, novel or sensitive risk matters.
• Lead, manage and develop the Asia Business Acceptance team, promoting consistency, collaboration and best practice.
• Contribute to strategic, operational and technology-enabled initiatives, including process improvement, automation, data and responsible AI adoption.

Required profile

• Qualified lawyer or senior risk professional with strong experience in legal, regulatory, risk or compliance matters, ideally within a law firm or professional services environment.
• Confident advising senior stakeholders on complex, sensitive and time-critical issues.
• Collaborative leader with experience managing, mentoring and developing teams.
• An interest in legal operations, technology and innovation would be an advantage.

Required skills

• Strong analytical, drafting and communication skills.
• A practical and commercially focused approach.