HR Business Partner, Practice Groups and Business Services (12 month FTC) Fixed Term NEW

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer is a world-leading global law firm, where our ambition is to help you achieve your goals.

Exceptional client service and the pursuit of excellence are at our core. We invest in and care about our client relationships, which is why so many are longstanding. We enjoy breaking new ground, as we have for over 170 years.

As a fully integrated transatlantic and transpacific firm, we are where you need us to be. Our footprint is extensive and committed across the world’s largest markets, key financial centres and major growth hubs.

At our best tackling complexity and navigating change, we work alongside you on demanding litigation, exacting regulatory work and complex public and private market transactions. We are recognised as leading in these areas.

We are immersed in the sectors and challenges that impact you. We are recognised as standing apart in energy, infrastructure and resources. And we’re focused on areas of growth that affect every business across the world.

All of this is achieved by supporting the growth of our people, who help us deliver on our ambition – which is to help you achieve yours.

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer: Your goals. Our ambition

The Opportunity

Key responsibilities

Business Partnering and day to day operations

• Work closely with leaders to understand how HR can support their people and operational priorities;

• Act as a trusted adviser and sounding board for lawyers, partners and Business Services employees;

• Support for the HR Managers with aspects of business partnering as determined necessary

• Where relevant, attend and actively participate in management meetings to facilitate the resolution of operational people issues and to help drive the people strategy;

• Produce and analyse data to support decision-making and make recommendations for change as appropriate;

• Deputise for the HR Manager as needed.

• Actively support the development of the junior HR Business Partners within the HR team.

Employee Relations

• Act as the first point of contact for employees in relation to HR issues; provide guidance and support to ensure that all employee issues are resolved, with the emphasis on building excellent relationships and instilling trust;

• Co-ordinate the delivery of performance management, performance review and salary review and bonus processes;

• Successful implementation of new employment policies and practices;

• Conduct exit interviews where deemed necessary, communicating the feedback to the business, working with the HR Manager in identifying potential solutions for trends identified from exit feedback

• Support the HRBPs in conducting new joiner conversations, collate feedback and communicate to the appropriate people as necessary

• Oversee the probation review process

• Work with the Employee Relations team to ensure all Employee Relations matters are dealt with in accordance with precedents across the London Practice groups and Business Services

• Act as a champion for mental health and provide proactive support for lawyers requiring assistance under the firm’s global mental health strategy

• Support investigations and disciplinary and grievance hearings across the London office as required

• Assist the HR Manager with providing expert guidance and supporting line managers with redundancies and restructures

Reward and Performance

• Co-ordinate the delivery and communications of lawyer performance reviews and the bi-annual talent management process, with support from the HR Manager(s) as required;

• Support the annual salary review process in conjunction with the Reward team, with support from the HR Manager(s) as required;

• Act as an ambassador to encourage groups to engage in regular “check in” conversations with their supervisors;

• Support annual headcount planning/budgeting with Finance. Refer to this budget when identifying resourcing needs in the business and work with the Recruitment team to provide cost efficient and effective recruitment solutions;

• Lead the talent discussions with senior management in Business Services groups, with support from the HR Manager as required

• Assist with the inbound and outbound international and client secondments movements within the practice groups and liaise with the International mobility and tax teams on any complex queries.

Talent Development

• Attend meetings with Learning and Development Managers when required;

• Work with the coaching team to respond to requests for coaching and to arrange internal/external coaching for senior associates and partners as required;

• Support the HR Managers and Heads of HR, with implementation and delivery of the partner performance review process in the UK

• Support the division in identifying and managing its talent by co-ordinating the annual review of talent across the division with partners

• Support the HR Manager in succession planning, identifying potential talent to be considered as nominees for development programmes or promotion opportunities

• Liaise with the Trainee HR Manager to manage Apprenticeships in Business Services

Project work

• Assist with or lead (where applicable) regional people initiatives on behalf of the practice group HR team;

• Support the HR Manager with local actions to drive cultural change initiatives e.g. furthering D&I initiatives in line with people and culture strategy

• Support the Practice Manager(s) and other business services teams such as Business Finance with ad hoc requests and projects.

Learning and Development

• Working alongside the HR Manager, promote learning and development options with partners to ensure identified development needs for them and their teams are met

• Liaise with L&D in respect of lawyer development needs and attendance at business skills programmes

• Encourage the use of the Internal Coaching Faculty to deliver high performance

Qualifications, skills and experience

• A minimum of 3 years generalist HR and business partnering experience at the Business Partner level, preferably within a law firm. Those with less or more experience will be considered provided they can demonstrate the core skills and experience required for the role;

• Solid understanding of UK employment legislation;

• Good knowledge of employee relations processes, particularly performance management and disciplinary/grievance procedures;

• Strong communication skills, verbally and in writing;

• Strong influencing and negotiating skills.

• Commercially aware

• Proactive, determined and robust approach to getting things done

• Empathetic and collaborative

• Driven to provide excellent client service

• Able to take decisions and work autonomously, as well as part of a team

• Experience of leading junior team members

• Ability to prioritise and delegate effectively

• Experience with and/or a curiosity about AI and emerging technologies.

Competencies

Personal Leadership

• Positively impacts those around them, makes quality decisions and develops themselves both personally and professionally

• Demonstrates sound knowledge in their field

• Anticipates potential problems and identifies a range of possible solutions

• Adapts their interpersonal style to suit different audiences in a genuine way

Builds Authentic Relationships

• Takes time to get to know people beyond their role

• Treats people with respect and in a fair and consistent way

• Recognises when colleagues are under pressure and volunteers to assist them where possible

Collaborates with others

• Works within teams and across boundaries to share knowledge and achieve results

• Identifies and builds relationships required to achieve the best outcomes for the firm

• Engages people with the right skills, knowledge and expertise to provide advice and assist with tasks

• Connects other people in the firm who have mutual interests or work objectives

• Generously shares their time, knowledge, expertise and talent to support others’ success

Enhances the Client Experience

• Creates opportunities to enhance the experience of the firm’s clients through their daily tasks

• Behaves consistently with the firm’s values in their interactions with others

• Conducts themselves in a way that reflects positively on the firm’s brand, both inside and outside the firm

Achieves Results

• Maintains focus and drive to achieve quality outcomes

• Focuses their time and efforts on issues that will have the greatest impact on agreed objectives

• Anticipates responses and plans their approach accordingly

• Looks for the most effective way to achieve outcomes

• Maintains perspective and optimism when faced with setbacks

Team

Human Resources

Full time

Location

London

Contract type

Fixed Term Contract

Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to attracting people from all backgrounds and creating a respectful and inclusive culture where everyone thrives. We see this as essential to our success, including our ability to innovate and achieve sustained high performance. This is a key part of our Values—Human, Bold, and Outstanding.