HR Assistant - Partners

We will offer you a place where you can be yourself and where there are no limits on what you can achieve. With us, you can take ownership of your career and have honest conversations throughout. You would join an ambitious firm with a clear strategy for profitable growth where you can get early responsibility and early involvement in growing the business. Here you can expect a competitive and fair reward as well as recognition based on all round performance. This forms part of our internal promise to you, The Deal, between the firm and its employees.

You can expect:

• A competitive salary and a host of family friendly policies
• Life assurance, private health and dental care for you and your family
• A range of flexible benefits including gym discount and retail vouchers
• Tech and cycle schemes
• The opportunity to support the firm's charity through volunteering leave
• A wellbeing strategy that focuses on preventative measures to maintain overall health, and tools and support for when our people experience physical or mental difficulties. The strategy focuses on four pillars: physical, emotional, financial and social aspects.

The HR and L&D function comprises c50 people globally and is responsible for the management of all matters concerning the employment and development of our people. This involves guiding and supporting partners, managers, and all employees alike, as well as supporting the creation of an inclusive and diverse environment, enabling our people to thrive.

This includes:

• Implementing our people and talent strategy in line with business objectives

• Resourcing, talent, and career management

• Reward (financial and non-financial) strategy

• Policy, procedures setting and the practical application of these across the business.

Role overview 

The HR Assistant - Partners supports the Chief People and Talent Officer and Senior HR Manager – Partners in the provision of a consistently high level, seamless service to our global partners. The role will involve providing an enhanced level of support for partners and assisting on projects in line with the firm's strategy.

The role will also work closely with the lateral partner recruitment team as well as the broader HR department including HR operations, Reward, and our broader stakeholder groups (including the Global Leadership Team (GLT), Review Panel and Supervisory Council).  

Onboarding and integration:

• Supporting the Senior HR Manager and working closely with stakeholders as well as the lateral partner recruitment team with the smooth integration of lateral partner new joiners across the firm. This will include:
• Preparing induction and integration plans including scheduling the various meetings;
• Uploading new joiner information onto Workday (HR system) and coordinating with various teams across the firm to ensure onboarding preparations are made (this would include Facilities, IT and Executive Assistants);
• Liaising with the partner candidate and as well as internal stakeholders; and
• Finalising all new joiner admin including all correct documentation is executed and making the correct registrations on the SRA as well as Companies House.

Partner HR support and annual partner processes:

• Supporting the Senior HR Manager with coordinating all changes to partner terms and the life cycle of partners (i.e. preparing letters covering sabbaticals, maternity, departures etc).
• Maintaining the partner intranet site, as well as all Partner HR related filing, trackers and documents including Excel spreadsheets and Word template letters.
• Coordinating the annual partner promotion process including arranging key meetings, updating documentation (as required), keeping track of the project plan and timetable, supporting with the assessments, preparing bundles for the GLT and sharing documents with the Review Panel and Supervisory Council.
• Coordinating the annual partner appraisal and remuneration review process including scheduling appraisal meetings, creating and transferring objectives to partner appraisal forms, pulling financial reports from the Finance System, liaising with partners, Practice Group Leaders and Office Managing partners throughout, supporting with the key documentation required for the remuneration moderation meetings with the GLT, collating and recording partner feedback, attending and taking notes during the GLT remuneration moderation meetings, preparing remuneration review letters for partners.
• Coordinating other cyclical and ad hoc processes relating to the partner population as required.
• Producing regular reports and collating partner data using our systems.

Relationships, Continuous Improvement and Reporting

• Building and maintaining key relationships across the firm including HR, Risk and Compliance, Accounts, BD, GLT. Being a key point of contact for those teams on Partner HR related queries.
• Being responsible for updating, maintaining and collating key information such as management documentation, partner information, etc. in line with GDPR and the filing/archiving approach.
• Knowhow and guidance – working with the Senior HR Manager – Partners in ensuring each process has a detailed written step by step process and guidance.
• Continuous improvement – identifying and leading on improvements to be made to streamline processes and increase time efficiency.

• Previous experience in a senior EA role in a professional services environment is essential, and experience in a partnership environment is desirable.
• Robust personality with the ability to work under pressure on a demanding and varied case load and challenge senior decision makers.
• Excellent self-management, organisational and diary management skills with the ability to co-ordinate multi-work streams and effectively prioritise.
• Extremely discreet and trustworthy, with a complete understanding of the delicate and confidential information within our control.
• Excellent attention to detail and focus on continuous improvement.
• Excellent communication skills (both written and oral) and the ability to build rapport quickly with partners, employees at all levels and external suppliers and bodies.
• Experience of collaborative working on cross functional matters.
• A client-focused flexible approach and proactive manner to all work and tasks.
• Highly motivated, approachable, energetic self-starter who can think and act independently.
• Proven ability to make sound judgements and adapt to changing work situations.
• A strategic thinker with excellent analytical skills and a commercial approach.
• A self-starter with drive, enthusiasm and a positive attitude; and
• Proficient in all Microsoft Office applications including PowerPoint.

This job description is indicative only and does not represent an exhaustive list of responsibilities. The firm reserves the right to alter or change the responsibilities at any time, in line with the firm's strategy and business needs.

We are an equal opportunity organisation, committed to having a diverse workforce. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, culture, or any other protected characteristics. We aim to create a culture where everyone can be themselves and is valued for their strengths and unique perspectives.

With 8 offices worldwide and with our headquarters based in London, Stephenson Harwood is a law firm where our people are committed to achieving the goals of our clients - listed and private companies, institutions and individuals across the globe. Our mix of expertise and culture results in a combination of deep local insight and the capability to provide a seamless international service.

Our experience encompasses corporate, commercial litigation and arbitration, employment, pensions and private wealth, finance, marine and international trade, and real estate and projects.

We assemble teams of bright thinkers to match our clients' needs and give the right advice from the right person at the right time. Dedicating the highest calibre of legal talent to overcome the most complex issues, we deliver pragmatic, expert advice that is set squarely in the real world.

We understand the power of diversity in delivering that high calibre advice to our clients. We want to attract diverse talent and we particularly encourage applications from underrepresented demographics.

Our Values

Individuality - We encourage creativity and devlop talent. 

Commitment - To be the best and deliver the highest standard.

Teamwork - We work together to build close, long-term relationships.

Straight talking - We say what we mean and do what we say. 

Our Vision into 2026

To be a successful firm where talented people work together in an entrepreneurial environment, building long term client relationships. 

This version is about who we want to be, as well as who we are. It is as much about our values as about our character - the attributes we want to see from all of our people. That's how we unlock our entrepreneurial spirit, advising our clients with top performing teams. 

A key part of the 2026 strategy is to focus on five core sectors: decarbonisation, life sciences, private capital & funds, technology, and transporation & trade. These have been identified as crucial in the drive for accelerated profitable growth.