Contracts Lawyer

Kennedys is seeking a Contracts Lawyer to join the Risk & Compliance team. The role will provide expert legal advice and support in relation to client contracts, terms of engagement, supplier agreements and contractual risk management across the firm. The successful candidate will work closely with partners and business services teams to review, negotiate and advise on contractual terms, ensuring compliance with the firm's risk appetite, regulatory obligations and commercial objectives. Team Kennedys' Global Risk & Compliance department is responsible for the management of global risk across the firm, including conduct, data, financial crime, new business, quality and audit. The Contracts Lawyer will act as an internal legal adviser on contractual matters, supporting the firm's global client and supplier contracting activities while helping to identify, assess and mitigate contractual risk. Key Responsibilities Contract Review and Negotiation

• Review, draft and negotiate client engagement terms, outside counsel guidelines, framework agreements, service level agreements and other commercial contracts.
• Advise partners and business services teams on contractual obligations, legal risks and compliance issues.
• Support negotiations with clients and suppliers to achieve commercially acceptable outcomes while protecting the firm's interests.
• Provide guidance on contractual provisions including liability, indemnities, confidentiality, intellectual property, termination rights, data protection and insurance requirements. Risk and Compliance Advisory
• Identify, assess and mitigate legal and regulatory risks arising from contractual arrangements.
• Advise on compliance with applicable legal and regulatory obligations, including SRA requirements and professional conduct standards.
• Support the development and maintenance of contractual risk policies, procedures and guidance materials.
• Ensure contractual arrangements align with internal governance and approval frameworks. Stakeholder Management
• Build strong relationships with partners, fee earners and business services teams.
• Act as a trusted adviser on contract-related matters across all jurisdictions.
• Work collaboratively with the wider Risk & Compliance function, including Conduct Risk, Data Risk, Financial Crime and New Business Intake teams. Process Improvement
• Support the continued development of the firm's contract management processes and systems.
• Contribute to the implementation of technology and AI-enabled solutions to improve contract review and management efficiency.
• Monitor trends and recurring contractual risk issues, providing recommendations for improvement. Training and Knowledge Sharing
• Deliver training and guidance to partners, lawyers and business services professionals on contractual risk and compliance matters.
• Prepare practical guidance notes and playbooks to support consistent decision-making across the firm.
• Keep abreast of legal and regulatory developments affecting professional services contracts and communicate relevant changes to stakeholder Required Experience
• Qualified Solicitor in England & Wales, or an equivalent common law jurisdiction.
• 3+ years PQE, with significant experience of commercial contracts and contract negotiation.
• Experience gained in private practice, an in-house legal team, or a risk and compliance environment.
• Strong understanding of professional services contracts and associated legal risks.
• Knowledge of regulatory and compliance requirements applicable to law firms.
• Excellent drafting, negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to balance legal risk with commercial objectives.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Experience within a law firm Risk & Compliance or Office of General Counsel environment, desirable.
• Knowledge of data protection, information security and supplier management frameworks, desirable.
• Experience supporting contract lifecycle management systems, desirable.
• Exposure to international contracting and cross-border legal issues, desirable. Please let us know if you require any additional support or adjustments to be made in order to submit your application to Kennedys.
• where a level of experience is indicated, this is a guideline only and represents the amount of time we would usually expect a candidate to accumulate the requisite level of experience. This does not preclude applications from candidates with more or less experience.