The role
Austen
Hays, part of Gateley, has an exceptional opportunity for a skilled Operations
Manager to take the helm in managing Austen Hays, a group actions firm. This
role is a chance to represent a multitude of individuals and small businesses
in pivotal disputes against larger corporations. We are looking for someone
with a solid background in directing the project management of complex group
actions, initiating new and improving on existing operational processes, and
flawlessly executing each project to fulfil our strategic litigation aims.
The
successful candidate will be expected to have a sufficient understanding of the
operational and logistical requirements, closely aligning with Chaya
Hanoomanjee, the Managing Director, as well as our partners, clients,
claimants, and the legal and business support teams involved in each case. The
Operations Manager will be integral in interfacing with various business
support areas within Austen Hays (part of Gateley), including Professional
Regulations & Standards, IT, Marketing, Accounts, HR, among others, with a
firm grasp of operations specific to our practice to meet required deadlines.
The
role calls for a professional who demonstrates impeccable judgment, sharp
attention to detail, and discretion. The ability to adapt to varying demands
within tight and sometimes shifting deadlines is crucial. As an Operations
Manager, cultivating and sustaining effective working relationships is key, as
is staying calm and focused when under pressure, and communicating with clarity
and professionalism at all times. Whilst a regular office presence is required
of three days per week, Gateley are fully embracing the new hybrid culture, so
a mixture of both home and office working is available.
If
you are looking for an opportunity to work within a supportive, ambitious,
growing and energetic team, and would like to join an award-winning law led
professional services business, we would like to hear from you.
The team
Austen
Hays (part of Gateley) is a firm focussing on class actions. The team brings actions against big corporates on behalf
of thousands of individuals and small businesses. The core purpose of the
firm is to deliver access to justice in a fair, efficient, and transparent way.
Using
the right expertise and the right technology Austen Hays brings a
forward-thinking approach to individuals, businesses and consumers looking to
achieve collective redress and help claimants to seek justice by sharing the
cost and risk across many people or organisations in the same situation.
Claimant-centred class actions is an exciting and growing area of the law,
which play a key role in holding businesses to account to ensure access to
justice and fair compensation for consumers.
Austen
Hays (part of Gateley) has made significant investment in technology which will
support hundreds and thousands of claimants to opt into a class action. The
effect of this, is that manual intervention will be limited and the process of
onboarding of clients will only require involvement by a Litigation Advisor in
a limited number of scenarios. We therefore expect that the successful
candidate for this role will have more exposure to the legal queries rather
than queries of an administrative nature.
The
Managing Director and Partner - Chaya Hanoomanjee, and Partner – Alicia Theuma
have extensive experience in launching and managing group actions, usually with
an international element, and in securing group settlements. Supplemented with
detailed knowledge of litigation funding, they are well placed to advise on all
stages of the collective actions process, and suitable funding structures.
Our highly experienced and talented team
has acted on some of the most complex and significant collective cases in the
UK, brought by both consumers and businesses. The team has been at the forefront
of the rise of consumer group claims, including previously acting as lead
solicitor for over 71,000 individuals in the landmark Volkswagen NOx Emissions
Group litigation, which settled for £193m in May 2022.
The person
The successful candidate should also be able to
demonstrate the following attributes:
- Demonstrable experience in an operational
management position, ideally project managing the operational element of a of class
actions firm with the understanding of risks.
- Seamlessly executing case timelines, matter
related deadlines, and provide summaries and reports as needed with clear and
timely communication.
- Overseeing case management system
and working closely with others to implement new systems and make changes to
existing ones
-
Drive caseload activity to submit
information needed to execute new matters, manage engagement at all touch
points through the case process, and communicate client specific requirements
regarding billing and matter management.
-
Liaison between partner, fee earners and
billing department to ensure invoices are accurate and compliant with client
billing requirements and deadlines; assist partners as needed with billing
process, reporting, and follow up.
-
Strong internal stakeholder management and
ability to build and strengthen relations with internal business support teams.
-
Responsibility for risk register and
ensuring all necessary protocol is in place from a risk & compliance,
regulations and finance perspective.
-
Manage Austen Hays insurance policies and
ensure records up to date.
-
Liaise with external supplier and manage
the client relationship.
-
Assist legal team with client related
project support.
-
Provide any other operational risk assistance
as needed to support Austen Hays operationally.
-
Excellent IT skills; proficient using Word,
Excel, Powerpoint and relevant case management systems.
-
Commitment to being part of a hard-working
team and the flexibility to support transactional activity;
-
Drive, commitment, self-motivation and a
"can do" attitude;
-
The ability to always exercise discretion
and professionalism;
-
Exceptional attention to detail.