Legal Counsel - General Commercial

Purpose

Reporting to the General Counsel, effective legal risk management in line with the Group's risk profile and financial and strategic objectives.

Responsibilities

1. Review, draft, negotiate and advise on Group contracts (including standard form terms and conditions) in line with business objectives, as well as regulatory and operational requirements.
2. Legal Team lead on Group terms and conditions and associated regulatory and client considerations.
3. Advise and support Risk & Compliance and business unit teams, including day to day advice on queries, legal deliverables for projects and contribution to committees and working groups as required.
4. Maintain knowledge on all Group services and Products and offerings, and relevant regulatory matters.
5. Take accountability for own work and its accuracy.
6. Identify and escalate issues to relevant parties and suggest solutions for resolution.
7. Ensure timescales for legal deliverables are consistently maintained, completing tasks in a timely manner and prioritising effectively.
8. Maintain complete and clear records and audit trail of version control, advice and issue resolution. Contribute as a Legal team member to ensuring the integrity of the Group contracts repository and matter management data.
9. Identify opportunities to support and share knowledge with others to enhance delivery of legal services.
10. Assist team members as required and work effectively with colleagues.
11. Complete tasks as requested to support team activities and achievement of business objectives.
12. While not directly interacting with customers, your actions should align with upholding the FCA's Consumer Duty principles, thereby contributing to fair and beneficial outcomes for our clients.
13. Developing strong working relationships with all stakeholders in the business, working closely with Corporate Strategy team, and Risk and Compliance.

Knowledge and experience

1. Excellent commercial lawyer with expertise in contract law; solid experience including customer terms.
2. Experience with working on employment matters desirable.
3. Prior relevant industry experience and knowledge of FCA regulatory framework for retail investment advice, platform and SIPP products and services highly desirable.
4. Proficient in use of Microsoft Office (especially Word) features.
5. Working with and training other teams (including legal professionals).

Skills

1. Core contract review, drafting, negotiating and advice skillset: adapts review proportionately; identifies and escalates risks appropriately; proposes mitigation options; ensures highest standards of drafting; confident with complex drafting.
2. Excellent written and verbal communication skills: clear, concise, tailored for relevant audience.
3. Strong analytical skills. Verifies against drafting and other relevant information sources.
4. Plans, anticipates and manages issues and progress to achieve timelines and objectives.
5. Challenges robustly as necessary.
6. Solution-oriented. Proactive and pragmatic in risk and stakeholder management.
7. Highly organised. Able to manage and report on competing priorities under pressure effectively.
8. Consistently demonstrates procedure adherence, accuracy, attention to detail and thoroughness.

Qualifications

1. UK qualified solicitor with strong academic background.
2. At least 7 years post qualification experience.

Other relevant information

1. As part of a small Legal team, flexible and adaptive.
2. Displays understanding of client and colleague needs. Applies skills and expertise to achieve desired outcomes.
3. Takes responsibility for developing links to wider team.
4. Enthusiastic, professional, highly motivated team player. Strives for continuous improvement.
5. Culture carrier of 7IM vision, purpose, values and personality.