Senior Legal Project Manager - Disputes and Investigations

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About Ashurst Advance:

Ashurst Advance is Ashurst's NewLaw division that utilises market-leading technology, refined processes, and subject matter expertise in a wide array of technology-enabled legal and eDiscovery services that works alongside Ashurst's legal experts to solve our clients' business problems through optimal efficiency, cost effectiveness and digitally innovative legal service delivery. Our market leading offering has been globally recognised including:

• Band 1 ranking for Law Firm LPO, Alternative Legal Service Providers (Chambers Global, 2021, 2022 and 2023), the only Law Firm in Australia to have this ranking
• Most Innovative Law Firm, APAC & Europe (FT Innovative Lawyer Awards 2023)
• Most Innovative Firm Headquartered outside Asia-Pacific (Financial Times APAC Innovative Law Awards, 2022 and 2024)
• Innovation in the Business of Law: New Solutions (Financial Times APAC Innovative Law Awards, 2022)

The LegalOps team support better business outcomes for the firm and its clients through Legal Project Management (LPM). They drive efficiency in service delivery and enhance the client experience. Our LegalOps offering includes a LegalOps Consulting service which helps clients outpace operational change, plus a special solutions capability to find creative ways to support clients with risk mitigation insurance and alternative funding arrangements.

The Legal Project Management (LPM) forms part of the Legal Operations offering within Ashurst Advance.

The Legal Project Management team help to drive greater efficiency, transparency and certainty in legal matters through the provision of effective project management support.

Job Overview

This role will provide support to Disputes, Investigations and Advisory practice group to deliver strategic goals and building the Ashurst Advance LPM profile internally and externally in the region through:

• Managing stakeholders across all levels of internal teams as well as client stakeholders
• Ensuring effective communication and management of information
• Instructing, supervising, mentoring and motivating junior members of the team
• Providing LPM advice and support to partners and matter teams on large and complex disputes

Some specific tasks may include preparing or overseeing the preparation of:

• Scope of work documents and cost estimates or fee proposals
• Matter plans, schedules and timelines
• Resource plans and trackers
• Cost tracking updates and matter status updates
• Risk and decision logs
• Running stand up meetings and tracking status of deliverables across the matter team
• Other project management solutions as appropriate
• Designing bespoke LPM solutions for clients and matter teams to drive efficiency and client satisfaction
• Working closely with other Ashurst teams including those in Ashurst Advance and broader teams in Legal Operations Consulting
• Supporting Client Relationship Partners and Business Development Managers with pitches or client proposals
• Working with other senior team members to develop and grow the NewLaw capabilities of Ashurst Advance and deploy them across our global network
• Collaborating with our clients to help them drive efficiencies and create value within their businesses
• Being a role model for the firm's values: we're passionate about quality; we deliver through collaboration; and we think differently
• Managing risk and control by ensuring that all activities and duties are carried out in full compliance with our regulatory requirements and internal policies

About You:

Essential skills and experience

• Project Management experience from a professional services firm or consultancy firm
• At least 3 years operating in an LPM capacity in a contentious law environment
• Experience of project managing large Litigations, Arbitrations and Investigations
• Experience of the whole project lifecycle including covering scoping, scheduling, costing, resourcing, communications, quality and risk control
• Excellent client facing skills along with a track record of establishing and maintaining effective relationships with stakeholders at all levels
• Experience managing others effectively
• Excellent presentation, written, communication and interpersonal skills
• Advanced organisational and influencing skills, flexibility of style, attention to detail and ability to multi- task in a fast-paced, high pressured, detail-oriented environment
• High degree of initiative and independent judgment with excellent troubleshooting, decision-making and follow-through skills
• Excellent IT skills, in particular Microsoft O365

Desired skills and experience

• Qualified disputes lawyer with minimum 3 year PQE
• Experience of working within the legal industry
• Project management of legal matters or legal-related initiatives
• Working with virtual teams in a global environment
• Leveraging GenAI in LPM service delivery
• Financial literary/understanding of law firm financials and performance metrics
• Qualifications and experience in change management and process improvement such as PROSCI ® and Lean Six Sigma
• APM, PMP, PRINCE2, AGILE or equivalent project management certifications

Background checks

In order to comply with regulatory and client requirements, Ashurst will undertake appropriate vetting of staff. When applicants accept a job offer, Ashurst, alongside a specialist provider, will undertake professional verification and background checks. These checks are only undertaken with consent, and in accordance with our legal and regulatory obligations.