Description

Gowling WLG is an international law firm with more than 1,400 legal professionals and a presence in Canada, the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and South America. We provide our clients with in-depth expertise in key global sectors and a suite of legal services at home and abroad. We see the world from the perspective of our clients, and collaborate across countries, offices, service areas and sectors to help them succeed – no matter how challenging the circumstances.

'Our people and distinct culture are what makes us different. We know this through client and employee feedback and this drives everything we do'' Chris Oglethorpe, HR Director.

There are great opportunities for all our people to flourish. Through training and personal development they can grow in their role. Our people are the cornerstone of our success, across legal, business support and early talent. We care about their happiness and believe in the power of teamwork. We want them to feel empowered and recognise that by supporting, respecting and embracing everyone's different contributions we achieve more.

Working flexibly, working fairly

Agile working offers people more freedom and flexibility in where, when, and how they work. As technology advances and our workforce becomes more diverse – and with clients often working to a 24/7 rhythm – having extra flexibility is key to helping us balance work and other commitments sensibly and productively.

Under our Agile+ policy, we offer a hybrid approach to office and remote working, with up to 50% remote working available over the course of an average month.

By supporting people to choose where and when they get their work done, we help them to make a full and fair contribution to their team – while maintaining that all important work-life balance.

Main Purpose of the Job

To work within the expanding Company Secretarial Team in the Corporate Department, managing an existing portfolio of clients (including some property management companies) to provide company secretarial support.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

The primary purpose of this role is to provide a full company secretarial service to an existing portfolio of clients. Duties to include

• Maintenance of company records using Blueprint.
• Ensure statutory returns (such as annual returns, forms AP01/02/03, TM01/02) are made to Companies House in a timely manner.
• Liaising with clients/managing agents to ensure that annual accounts are filed on time.
• Preparation of board and shareholder minutes/resolutions and all ancillary documents to reflect corporate actions such as share allotments and officer changes and writing up statutory registers.
• Dealing with the incorporation of a variety of legal entities (including private companies limited by shares/guarantee, LLP's).
• Acting as an initial point of contact for client queries (internal and external).
• Carrying out company searches.
• Use of Accudebt (plot conveyancer’s case management system) to obtain plot purchaser information and Solicitors’ details.
• Dealing with residents to hand companies over to them and liaising with REG to ensure that all property issues are resolved on the site prior to handover of management companies.
• Dealing with notices received on plot sale and provision of consent on behalf of the management company
• Assisting with other company secretarial duties as directed.

Key skills and experience

We would look for the successful applicant to be an experienced paralegal who has:

• Ambition to develop real expertise in all aspects of company secretarial law (training will be provided)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Experience of running a sizeable caseload on own initiative.
• Experience of building relationships with new and existing clients both in person and over the telephone

The following previous experience is also a distinct advantage although not essential:

• Demonstrable experience of handling company secretarial work.
• Knowledge of relevant legal and regulatory requirements, particularly the UK Companies Act 1985 and 2006 and knowledge of corporate governance principles and practices.
• An understanding of the workings of property transactions
• Experience of writing up and maintaining statutory registers via Blueprint and making statutory filings
• Qualified company secretary

Equal Opportunities

Gowling WLG is committed both to promoting equality and diversity in the firm and to Equal Opportunities in employment. The firm believes in equality of opportunity regardless of race or racial group (including colour, nationality, ethnicity, national origins), religion or belief, age, disability, sexual orientation, sex, gender re-assignment and gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy, maternity and paternity. This also includes any incidents of perceptive or associative discrimination and harassment.

At Gowling WLG we seek to attract and retain talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures, to create an exciting and rewarding place to work. Our aim is to fulfil everyone's potential and together to achieve personal and business goals.

Standard hours of work are 9.30 am to 5.30 pm Monday to Friday with 1 hour for lunch (35 hours per week). We will consider requests for flexible working, please indicate on your application if you wish to work different hours.