Job Description

Reports to: Legal Counsel

Based: London

Duration: Permanent

2-year PQE minimum

Job Purpose: To support the legal function in ensuring the organisation is legally compliant, with particular emphasis on drafting commercial and IP contracts, protection and maintenance of intellectual property rights, exercise strong commercial awareness, looking after corporate legal requirements, built on a foundation of thorough legal research.

The team

This position sits in the legal team, which consists out of 1 paralegal, 1 trainee solicitor, 1 assistant legal counsel, 1 legal counsel and lead by the Chief Legal, Compliance and Commercial Operations ;
This role reports into the Legal Counsel and works closely with several other teams within the organisation.
This role is expected to provide training and support to junior members of the Legal Team.

Principal Duties

Contracts

Negotiate and draft a variety of agreements including copyright and trademark licences, electronic licence agreements, conference agreements, service contracts, secondment agreements, and other contracts as required.
Review and negotiation of third-party contract terms relating to services engaged by the Foundation.
Advise on contracts and legal developments within contract, corporate and IP law.
Support and advise on matters relating to procurement and Foundation’s established procurement process.

Intellectual Property

Assist in the protection of the Foundation’s intellectual property rights.
Work to ensure that contracts for use of IFRS Foundation copyright material and trademarks are consistent across the relevant markets.

Compliance and Governance

Assist Legal Counsel with activities relating to data protection, data management and information governance.
Provide legal support with regard to corporate legal requirements, including director changes, annual meetings and other requirements.
Assist where required in relation to the Foundation’s due diligence activities, global corporate obligations, sanctions, preparation of reports for regular meetings of the Trustees.

Skills and Attributes

High level of attention to detail and strong English writing skills.
Ability to draft clearly and succinctly.
Excellent standard of oral English with ability to effectively participate in meetings and negotiations. Ability to give and receive constructive feedback.
Ability to understand complex legal issues and provide practical advice in the context of business operations.
Strong team ethic; able to work effectively and collaboratively with individuals at all levels within the organisation.
Positive attitude; high degree of integrity and professionalism.
Ability to plan, organise and prioritise work and time effectively to adapt to changing priorities.
Problem solving skills, ability to find creative solutions and to ensure that any issues are dealt with in the best interests of the organisation.
Affinity with the not-for profit sector and aims of the Foundation.

Qualifications and Experience

Qualified legal professional and/or UK qualified solicitor.
Good working knowledge of contract, corporate, commercial and IP law. Knowledge of the same within EU, Asia Oceania region and/or US an advantage.
Experience of drafting contracts and general contract correspondence.
High level of commercial awareness and ability to understand how each contract fits with the overall objectives and policies of the Foundation.
Knowledge of regulatory issues an advantage, inc. sanctions, competition law, data protection.
Knowledge of employment law would be desirable.
Demonstrable evidence-based research skills; familiarity with Nexis Lexis, Lexis PLC and Westlaw desirable.
Work experience in a global multi-location set up would be desirable.
Familiarity with a multi-location set up would be advantageous
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.

The organisation

The IFRS Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation established to develop—in the public interest—high-quality, understandable, enforceable and globally accepted standards for general purpose financial reporting and to promote and facilitate their adoption.

The standards—IFRS® Accounting Standards and IFRS® Sustainability Disclosure Standards—are set by the Foundation’s standard-setting bodies, the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and the more recently formed International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB). IFRS Accounting Standards are required in more than 140 jurisdictions.

The two boards are overseen by the IFRS Foundation Trustees, who in turn are accountable to a Monitoring Board of public authorities.

In November 2021, the Trustees announced the creation of the ISSB and the consolidation of the Climate Disclosure Standards Board (CDSB) and the Value Reporting Foundation (VRF) into the Foundation. This process was completed on 1 August 2022 and the addition of the new board has taken the Foundation from a ‘one board/two locations’ organisation to a ‘two boards/several locations’ organisation (with offices across multiple time zones, including San Francisco, Montreal, London, Frankfurt, Tokyo) with a significant increase in overall headcount. The ISSB has issued its first two inaugural standards in June 2023 and jurisdictions are now considering theme for adoption.

To apply:

Please include the following information or your application may not be considered:

the job title/position you are interested in and the location of the job (in the subject line of your email); and covering email/letter detailing how you meet the specified role requirements and your salary expectations.

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Assistant Legal Counsel