Senior Operations Manager - Legal Department

Our Legal Department

Freshfields Legal Department is made up of both qualified lawyers and non-lawyers, and exists to manage the firm’s risk exposure and to provide advice to the partners on a range of legal and compliance issues.

The role of the Legal Department is to support partners and staff in pursing the effective management of regulatory, legal, operational, and information security risk to preserve and maximise the value of the firm over the long term. We do this by taking responsibility for a range of actions, by sharing in the performance of others and by assisting partners and staff to manage risk themselves through training, awareness raising and the provision of relevant intelligence, services and materials.

Our vision is for our department to be recognised as a leader amongst comparable, elite, law firms. That means being acknowledged internally as providing an excellent service in a commercial and empathetic manner. It means adequately meeting the needs of the firm while remaining agile and cost effective; constantly refining our techniques, objectives and ways of working to respond to changes in the business and the threats we face.

Role summary/purpose of job

The Senior Operations Manager plays a critical role in overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Legal Department, ensuring it operates efficiently and effectively.

Reporting to the Chief Legal Officer, this role acts as the system-wide liaison between Freshfields' business functions and the Legal Department. You’ll coordinate activities such as strategic planning, budget management, technology strategy, and project delivery. You will also be instrumental in driving organizational and technological change within the Legal Department, leveraging your experience to influence and implement improvements.

Key responsibilities include developing and executing the department's short and long-term operational plans, managing financial budgets, and overseeing the implementation of legal technology solutions.

You will also be responsible for fostering a culture of continuous improvement, ensuring the department remains agile and cost-effective. This role requires impeccable stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and drive change across the organization

Key responsibilities and deliverables

Financial Reporting

• Develop annual financial budgets.

• Procure new services, including systems and outside vendors.

• Oversee external costs and ensure cost-effective management, including approval of reimbursements.

People, Resourcing, and Development

• Support capacity planning, service catalogue updates, and resource plans.

• Manage talent opportunities and career development, including training.

• Ensure the Legal Department leverages technology and innovation to improve services and reduce costs.

• Promote continuous improvement and ensure staff are adequately trained.

• Identify and report on metrics supporting compliance, risk management, and departmental objectives.

• Develop an effective know-how system to capture and propagate knowledge, reducing risk and increasing efficiency.

Project Delivery and Operational Support

• Drive projects to completion, following project management methodology

• Deliver process-based legal services, such as legal holds.

• Promote continuous improvement, focusing on service delivery improvements and cost reduction

• Research, benchmark and analyse market data

• Serve as the primary liaison with other Business Service teams for cross-departmental projects, focusing on building strong internal relationships

Engagement

• Lead and manage relationships with key external suppliers, including Intapp

• Track and monitor Legal Department training delivery in coordination with the Learning & Development team.

• Distribute Legal Department updates, including campaign information, newsletters, and strategic updates.

Key requirements

Essential:

• 5+ years in a business, operations or executive management role, preferably within the legal sector.

• Proven experience in organizing and developing teams.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Versatile and dedicated to efficient productivity.

• Experience leading large legal functions through organizational and technological change.

• Impeccable stakeholder management skills.

• Ability to influence and drive through change

Desirable:

• Experience in data analysis.

• Experience in budget management.

• Proven success in project coordination.

• Creative problem-solving skills.

• Strong project reporting skills, with a focus on interdepartmental communication.

Inclusion

Freshfields is an equal opportunities employer and all applications received by the firm will be considered by the firm on the basis of their merit alone and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of background. All offers of employment will be conditional on the candidate having/securing the right to work in the UK and providing the firm with evidence of that right (as required by the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006) prior to employment commencing.

Freshfields is a Ban the Box employer. We ask applicants to disclose criminal convictions only when a conditional job offer is made. A conviction does not automatically lead to withdrawal of the offer: we make decisions on a case by case basis and take a number of factors into account (eg the role you are applying for and the circumstances of the offence). You would have the opportunity to discuss the matter with us before we make a decision.