Partnership Secretary
1 day ago
Tan Office
The role The Partnership Secretary is responsible for assisting the Chair in the overall governance and administration of the partnership. The role provides high-level administrative, procedural, and strategic support primarily to the Chair and otherwise to the executive committee and the Business Services leadership team. The Partnership Secretary will take on appropriate responsibility in connection with projects as determined / requested by the Chair, the Chief Executive and / or relevant Department Heads. Projects may include the acquisition or disposal of business activities, service provision teams and / or other business units, the incorporation and / or reorganisation of elements of the Shoosmiths business and other matters. The Partnership Secretary will be able to take on matters such as conducting internal grievance procedures, disciplinary and behaviour investigations and related matters. The ideal candidate will possess excellent organisational skills, a strong grasp of corporate and governance law, the utmost discretion and integrity and will have well developed interpersonal and communications skills. Main Responsibilities Manage administrative processes and documentation related to partner admission, retirement, changes of status and other matters relating to the partnership, its constitution and the interpretation of the Shoosmiths LLP Members’ Agreement. Provide strategic support to the Chair. Assist in the development and implementation of partnership policies and procedures. Handle confidential information with discretion and integrity. Day to day tasks • Governance and Legal Oversight Reviewing and updating the LLP Members’ Agreement and other Partnership constitutional and governance documents. Advising on voting procedures and proxy arrangements for Partner meetings and other matters requiring Partner approval. Ensuring compliance with internal governance protocols, including confidentiality and election procedures. • Partner Lifecycle Management Supporting the onboarding of new Partners, including managing access to internal systems and compliance with disclosure requirements. Coordinating resignations and retirements, including financial illustrations and Retirement Deed preparation. • Strategic and Risk Advisory Participating in discussions around regulatory investigations and indemnity implications. Liaising with the Chair and Risk & Ethics teams to align on firm-wide responses to sensitive matters. • Communication and Coordination Acting as a key liaison between the Chair, HR, Risk, and Finance teams. Drafting and reviewing internal communications related to governance and elections. Skills • Governance & Compliance Expertise, • Strong understanding of LLP structures, partnership agreements, and corporate governance principles., • Ability to interpret and update constitutional documents and advise on voting and election procedures., • Legal & Regulatory Knowledge, • Familiarity with corporate and governance law., • Experience handling regulatory investigations and risk management processes., • Strategic Thinking, • Capability to provide strategic support to senior leadership., • Skilled in policy development and implementation., • Administrative & Organizational Skills, • Exceptional ability to manage complex administrative processes., • Strong attention to detail for documentation and compliance tracking., • Communication & Interpersonal Skills, • Excellent written and verbal communication for drafting governance-related communications., • Ability to liaise effectively with senior stakeholders across HR, Finance, Risk, and Executive teams., • Discretion & Integrity, • Proven ability to handle highly confidential information with professionalism., • Project Management, • Governance and Legal Oversight, • Previous experience in a governance or company secretarial role within a professional services firm or corporate environment., • Exposure to managing constitutional documents and compliance frameworks., • Partner Lifecycle Management, • Experience supporting senior-level onboarding and exit processes, including financial and legal documentation., • Risk and Ethics, • Involvement in regulatory investigations or risk advisory work., • Familiarity with indemnity implications and firm-wide compliance responses., • Cross-Functional Collaboration, • Demonstrated ability to work closely with HR, Finance, and Risk teams on sensitive matters., • Policy Development, • Track record of creating and implementing governance policies and procedures., • Conflict Resolution Shoosmiths is the law firm clients choose for excellent service, incisive thinking and above all for our ability to focus on what matters. From offices across the UK and Brussels, we support some of the world’s most exciting and ambitious businesses; amazing clients making an impact. We empower our people to be their authentic selves and deliver together in supportive teams committed to excellence and innovation. The first top 50 law firm to achieve ‘Platinum Standard’ Investors in People, our values and culture are not just words on our website but are the heartbeat of the firm. We have an outstanding benefits package to complement our competitive remuneration system. In addition to the competitive salaries, great working environment and high-quality work, we believe that all staff should be rewarded for their commitment to the continued success of the firm through a comprehensive and flexible range of benefits. To discover more about our benefits, please visit: ___Equal opportunities Our approach to our people is underpinned by our approach to ___ and well-being. Our ambition is to build a diverse and ambitious workforce that reflects all backgrounds and talents, and a workplace that is supportive and inclusive, recognises and nurtures talent, and has a strong sense of community between colleagues. This means that everyone who either applies to or works for the firm is treated equally, whatever their gender, age, ethnic origin, nationality, marital status, disability, sexual orientation or religious beliefs.