Job Description

At Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, 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 many are incredibly longstanding. And we enjoy breaking new ground, as we have for over 100 years.



We are where you need us to be. We are in the world's largest markets, key financial centres and major growth hubs. Our international footprint is extensive and committed.




We are at our best tackling complexity and navigating change. We work alongside you on demanding contentious matters, 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, ESG, infrastructure and resources. And we're focused on areas of growth that affect every business across the world, including technology and digitalisation.



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.



Your goals. Our ambition.

The Opportunity

Global tax practice

Our global tax group has an in-depth understanding of the tax and commercial issues facing clients in the current economic climate, and lawyers in the team draw on their longstanding relationships with those clients to devise innovative and workable solutions to their problems, both in the contentious and non-contentious spheres. We act for some of the world's pre-eminent companies, organisations and investment banks on a wide range of tax issues, providing transactional tax advice all over the world as an integral part of the transaction team. We also have a market leading tier one tax investigations and disputes practice servicing many of the same clients in relation to tax related business critical disputes and investigations. We are recognised for tax expertise in a number of specialist fields including: tax disputes and investigations, corporate M&A; real estate (including REITS), energy (including up-stream oil and gas) and infrastructure; insurance; investment funds and asset management; TMT and outsourcing; corporate rescue and restructuring, and finance. We encourage our fee earners to gain experience across the full range of transactions and disputes that the practice advises on, with a view to gaining a true breadth of experience. Our ability to draw upon the expertise of tax lawyers across our international network builds on the strength for our global tax offering to clients. Our lawyers play a pivotal role in sourcing and applying foreign tax advice to transactions and disputes in which our clients are involved. The global nature of our tax practice also reflects the "internationalisation" of certain aspects of tax law.
We continue to be involved in the highest profile and often highest value transactions and disputes - recent examples of which have included:

Bernie Ecclestone in one of the biggest tax fraud cases in British legal history Bharti Airtel on its US$1 billion acquisition of a 90% stake in OneWeb Limited, the US-based company that builds a constellation of satellites to enable global broadband access British Land on its sale of 50% of its share in the Canada Water Masterplan to AustralianSuper for 290 million, and subsequent 50:50 joint venture to accelerate the delivery of this 53 acre development Coca-Cola HBC AG on its agreement to acquire Brown-Forman Finland Oy, owner of the Finlandia vodka brand, from Brown-Forman Corporation's wholly-owned subsidiary, Brown-Forman Netherlands BV Orsted, the Danish energy group, in a tax dispute in the Court of Appeal which relating to the availability of tax relief for expenditure incurred in developing four of their UK offshore wind farms Sky on its 30 billion offer by Comcast; its 18.5 billion recommended takeover by 21st Century Fox; and its 7 billion acquisition of Sky Italia and Sky Deutschland National Grid on the tax aspects of its divestment of National Grid Electricity System Operator Limited to the UK's Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Advising Chevron on the establishment of a global capability centre (GCC) in India, to be operated by a new Indian subsidiary within the Chevron group.

Primary objectives

Deliver excellent client service and manage and deliver discrete pieces of legal work. Build a solid foundation of commercial and legal expertise within a chosen area of law and strengthen relationships with clients, frequently acting as a direct point of contact. In time ne responsible for some management and delegation of work to and support of junior colleagues. Play an active role in the life of the team.

Primary Responsibilities:


Role-specific - the opportunity to both:

Advise on a broad range of transactions, including in relation to the taxation of M&A often with a strong emphasis on cross border deals, corporate restructuring, energy taxation (including upstream work), equity and debt capital markets, finance, UK real estate, projects, funds and private equity; and Work on tax disputes and investigations with the disputes specialists within the team, backed by the firm's leading disputes practice. Responsibilities will vary depending on level of qualification and experience to date; our culture is to reward ability and enthusiasm with responsibility early, and our associates are encouraged to adopt a client facing role. Support the firm and others - extend effective relationships across the global network; contribute to the development of team members; uphold the firm's values; contribute to the firm's initiatives; take steps to cultivate an excellent reputation and profile in the market and internally; attend marketing/industry events and draft or help prepare articles, precedents and know-how materials; lead the development and delivery of training and presentations.
Qualifications, skills and experience


1-3 years' PQE. We are looking for a strong technical tax lawyer, able to make the most of contentious and non-contentious opportunities that will exist. A willingness to tackle new areas and apply knowledge and experience across a varied diet of matters will be key for any successful candidate. Private capital and / or real estate experience is desirable but not essential. Ability and drive to work on bespoke, big-ticket and complicated transactions and disputes.

Competencies


We would expect the successful candidate to have a minimum of one years' experience in private practice who meet the required competencies;


Technical

Legal ability - detailed grasp of complex legal concepts, strong drafting skills, ability to see issues from a commercial perspective and able to communicate complex legal advice to clients effectively

Personal leadership

Takes personal responsibility; is pro-active and takes pride in client service delivery and quality of work

Teamwork

Contributes to collaborative and high performing teams Works effectively with others to achieve success and prioritises the success of the team

Enhances the client experience


Delivers high quality work and excellent service; builds relationships with peers at clients and builds trust with senior client stakeholders

Contributes to building the firm

Finds ways to contribute to the broader success of the firm

Team

Corporate

Working Pattern

Full time

Location

London

Contract type

Permanent 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.