Job Description

Expertise Lawyer
International Arbitration
About Ashurst
Ashurst is a leading progressive global law firm with a rich history spanning more than 200 years. We are proud of our history and are future-focused, having expanded into new technologies through our NewLaw division, Ashurst Advance, and our consulting arm. Our in-depth understanding of our clients and commitment to providing excellent standards of service have seen us become a trusted adviser to local and global corporates, financial institutions and governments in all areas of commercial law. To find out more please visit .
About International Arbitration
Most international commercial contracts today include an arbitration agreement. The flexibility and independence that arbitration brings is especially valuable as our clients navigate continuing market volatility and geopolitical tensions. Arbitration also offers a neutral forum, confidentiality and a final enforceable award.
Ashurst's global international arbitration team focuses on developing dispute management strategies with regard to our clients' commercial goals. We advise at every stage of the dispute resolution process, from the incorporation of international arbitration agreements into commercial contracts, to the preparation for and conduct of proceedings, through to the enforcement of awards.
Our long standing experience encompasses all major institutional and ad hoc arbitration rules, and covers civil and common law systems.
We also have a wealth of experience in providing strategic and legal advice on public international law issues, including investment treaty arbitration.
Coverage
Global
About Knowledge & Expertise
K&E's work and responsibilities go to the heart of Ashurst's 2027 strategy.
Our K&E specialists empower our legal teams with insights, skills and tools so that they can deliver exceptional client service across the globe. They:

• equip our practices with high quality research and thought leadership; and maintain our legal knowledge and information resources;
• enable our lawyers to achieve practice excellence through legal learning programmes and mentoring;
• enhance our legal teams' work and client delivery by implementing next-generation tools and technologies, and by driving consistency in our legal documents and processes.

You will be joining an expert, dynamic, friendly and well-supported global community of expertise lawyers and other K&E specialists.
This role will form part of a well-established global Dispute Resolution expertise function made up of three Expertise Counsels a Senior Expertise Lawyer and an Expertise Executive based in Australia and the UK.
Your priority will be to work with the Global Head of International Arbitration and broader practice leadership to implement the strategic priorities in the practice's expertise plan.
You will be supported by the Regional Heads of Expertise & Legal Learning who facilitate our Expertise Lawyer community, and by our Knowledge and Research & Business Intelligence teams.
You will work closely with expertise lawyers in other practice groups and the Dispute Resolution business development team based in our Clients, Market and Growth (CMG) function.
Reporting to
Arne Fuchs, Global Head of International Arbitration
The expertise partner manages the team's expertise lawyer. The expertise partner and expertise lawyer(s) are responsible for developing and implementing the practice's expertise plan.
Role overview
This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a team that is at the forefront of legal innovation and excellence.
The role sits in the International Arbitration team which is part of the Dispute Resolution practice within the Disputes, Investigations and Advisory Division. It requires an excellent technical and client-focused lawyer with the motivation and skills to continue the established work of the practice's expertise team and drive it forward.
You will:

• drive a culture of knowledge sharing and continuous improvement
• develop and manage quality internal and client-facing legal content
• ensure information, resources and insights are easy to access
• develop and maintain standard documents, guidance and other know-how
• develop effective legal learning programmes for Ashurst lawyers and clients
• coach and mentor lawyers.

This role would suit someone with a disputes and international arbitration background with experience working in a knowledge function or who is looking to transition to an expertise lawyer role from a fee earning, in-house or academic position.
Responsibilities
Strategy and planning

• Develop and implement an annual expertise plan aligned with the practice's and the firm's strategy, setting priorities for the next financial year and tracking progress on the previous year's targets.

Knowledge sharing, tools and technology

• Champion knowledge sharing within the practice team.
• Work with our Knowledge team to develop and maintain systems to facilitate knowledge sharing.
• Collaborate with international expertise colleagues to share resources and best practice.
• Identify, implement, test and champion tools and technology to support fee earner work.
• Assess the impact of new technology and AI on the practice.

Thought Leadership, client alerts and current awareness

• Monitor, analyse and summarise legal, regulatory and industry developments for our partners, fee earners and clients.
• Collaborate with other practices to identify relevant developments and opportunities.
• Conduct horizon scanning to help Ashurst and our clients stay ahead of emerging legal and regulatory issues.
• Plan, coordinate and assist with thought leadership campaigns.

• Prepare articles for the Ashurst website, LinkedIn, and external publications to inform clients of developments.

• Help to devise and deliver high quality profile-raising activities such as boardroom lunches, webinars and external speaking opportunities for partners and senior team members.

Driving quality, efficiency and risk mitigation

• Research legal and market developments to create relevant practice guidance for lawyers where external commentary is unavailable or guidance is needed.
• Draft and maintain standard documents to provide fee earners with the best starting point for their work.
• Collaborate with practice group partners and fee earners, Ashurst Risk Advisory, Ashurst Advance, and expertise lawyers across Ashurst, to develop and maintain know-how resources.

Business development and client engagement

• Provide input into business development activities such as pitches, tenders, capability statements and directory submissions.
• Support the practice's leadership team to identify and take to market client engagement strategies through horizon scanning and knowledge of key legal or regulatory changes.
• Collaborate with other practices, regions and industries to help the team identify cross selling and other client opportunities for strategic growth.
• Attend external conferences and events as required.

Legal learning and 'on the job' coaching

• Foster a culture of continuous learning and knowledge sharing.
• Devise, organise and deliver a training programme that aligns with the team's needs and the practice group expertise plan.
• Provide introductory and 'hot topic' training for other Ashurst practice groups.
• Create engaging and relevant training materials that align with the Ashurst brand.
• Assess the effectiveness of training programmes and tailor them in response to feedback.
• Mentor junior lawyers to develop high levels of technical excellence.

Help desk

• Provide technical advice and support to lawyers at all levels.

Firmwide expertise initiatives

• Participate in and contribute to firmwide and cross-practice expertise initiatives.

Skills
and experience
Legal experience

• Qualified lawyer with experience in international arbitration.
• Whilst this role is a global role the candidate should ideally be based in the UK or EMEA.
• Technically excellent with a minimum of two years' practicing in international arbitration and broad experience across disputes law and practice.
• Experience writing legal publications and/or the skills and ability to produce high quality publications in a short timeframe.

Strengths

• Genuinely interested in international arbitration law and practice.
• Champions quality, consistency, and legal excellence
• Passionate about the ongoing development of lawyers, inspiring enthusiasm for learning, and an eagerness to share knowledge
• Proactive and client-focused
• Confident and motivated to establish strong, trusted partner relationships across the practice and broader firm
• Capable and confident working independently or in a team
• Proactively identifies and helps coordinate business development initiatives
• Skilled at analysing complex legal issues, understanding their practical impact and devising pragmatic solutions
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Strong facilitation and presentation skills
• Technically adept at PowerPoint (or a willingness to upskill)
• Embraces new technology and process improvement.

Accessibility
We are committed to making all stages of our recruitment process accessible to candidates with disabilities or long-term health conditions. If you consider yourself to have a disability or a long-term health condition, please feel able to be open about this at any point during the recruitment process. If you are not sure what adjustments you require, we will work with you to establish the most suitable adjustments at each stage of the recruitment process. Please note that our online application form includes a section which allows you to advise us of any extenuating circumstances that are relevant for us to consider when reviewing your application form. Any information disclosed on your disability will remain strictly confidential and please if you have any questions.
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.
Speak up!
Ashurst is committed to ensuring an accountable workplace culture. Candidates are encouraged to report any ethical or conduct concerns to our confidential email address: Please note that this email address should not be used for general enquiries about, or applications for, job positions available at Ashurst as they will not be passed onto the relevant team. Any recruitment enquires should be directed to

Skills Required