Head of Risk - US Law Firm - #2122415

A prestigious US law firm is seeking an experienced Head of Risk to lead its London-based Risk & Compliance function.

This is a highly visible leadership role that offers the opportunity to shape and enhance the firm's risk strategy, governance framework, and regulatory compliance programme. Working closely with senior management, partners and key regulatory function holders, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the firm operates within a robust and commercially effective risk management environment.

The successful candidate will be a confident and pragmatic risk professional with strong regulatory knowledge and the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels of the business.

The Role

As Head of Risk, you will provide strategic oversight across the firm's risk and compliance activities, ensuring effective management of regulatory, operational and reputational risk. You will drive best practice across the business while fostering a strong culture of compliance and risk awareness.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the firm's risk and compliance framework, ensuring adherence to SRA regulations, AML requirements, sanctions, GDPR and other regulatory obligations.
• Act as a trusted adviser to partners and senior leadership, providing pragmatic guidance on complex risk, compliance and governance matters.
• Drive risk assessments, compliance monitoring, investigations and incident management, ensuring effective controls and appropriate escalation of issues.
• Develop, enhance and implement policies, procedures and training programmes to promote a strong culture of compliance and risk awareness across the firm.
• Manage and develop the risk function, building strong relationships across the business while fostering continuous improvement and operational excellence.

About You

To be successful in this role, you will possess:

• Significant experience within a legal risk and compliance function, ideally gained in an international law firm.
• Strong working knowledge of SRA Standards and Regulations, AML legislation, sanctions compliance, GDPR, client due diligence and conflicts management.
• Proven experience advising senior stakeholders on complex regulatory and risk matters.
• Excellent leadership and people management skills, with the ability to influence and build credibility at partnership level.
• Strong commercial awareness and sound judgement when balancing business objectives with regulatory obligations.

Due to the high volume of applications, we are not able to respond to all enquiries. If you have not received a response within 72 hours, please assume you have not been shortlisted at this stage, however thank you for taking the time to apply.

Ryder Reid Legal is a recruitment specialist. For over thirty years we've been connecting legal talent with many of the leading law firms in London and internationally. Follow our LinkedIn page for the latest vacancies.