Head of Legal

About us

We are Pfida, a unique and ethically-driven start-up fin-tech company. We don’t provide a mortgage; we specialise in providing partnership-based funding to purchase homes without dealing with interest or putting our clients into debt. Our goal is to take our services out to the mass market. Having won “Technology Innovator” and “World Islamic Fintech” awards, we are fast becoming an impactful player in the home-financing sector. The foundations of our business are rooted in Shariah-compliant finance. Our ambition is to provide ethical products to everyone whilst eradicating debt. Having grown significantly over the last eighteen months, we are now at a point where we are scaling up our teams to match the demand for our services. 2025-2026 will be the years that define us for some time to come.

Role Description

We are looking for an experienced commercial contracts lawyer to be a Head of Legal to support the Chief Legal Officer (CLO). Experience working within financial services and/or Islamic finance is also desirable. The successful candidate will take responsibility for managing the Pfida legal team. We are looking for a self-starter who is driven and is able to drive other team members. Someone who is able to manage the team, but is also able to roll their sleeves up and get things done on their own. We are looking for someone with a strong work ethic, who is organised and able to deliver on time.

Key Responsibilities

Legal Strategy:

• Work with the CLO to develop and implement legal strategies to support Pfida’s business objectives as the company evolves.
• Partaking in meetings of Pfida’s Senior Leadership Team including Business Committee, product development and operations team meetings to drive business roadmap project forwards.

Team Management:

• Manage and develop a high-performing and collaborative legal team (including assisting with recruitment).
• Set ongoing priorities, SLAs and KPIs for the legal team, manage deliverables and ensure timely delivery.
• Set and manage the legal budget.
• Communicate effectively with other teams within Pfida on legal matters and queries.

Contract drafting and management:

• Review, draft and negotiate a variety of contracts, agreements and legal documents to support Pfida’s ongoing business.
• Support with reviewing and enhancing the drafting of Pfida’s existing home finance and savings products.
• Support with structuring and legal due diligence for equity and other types of investments and capital raising transactions.

Risk Management:

• Identify and assess legal risks associated with business operations and provide proactive solutions.
• Set up legal policies and work closely with internal and external stakeholders to implement compliance and risk mitigation strategies.
• Stay abreast of legal and regulatory changes and ensure compliance with relevant requirements and industry standards.

External professional advisers

• Assist with deciding when and how to instruct external legal counsel and other professional advisors.
• Manage such advisors, including ensuring each provides or works to comprehensive and clear scopes of work and fees, delivery and value for money.

Corporate Governance

• Oversee corporate governance matters.
• Oversee adherence to company law requirements including board minutes and filings.

Disputes:

• Develop and implement strategies to minimise litigation risks and costs.
• Manage and coordinate Pfida’s response to disputes, litigation, adverse media and potential legal challenges, including where appropriate, seeking timely external advice.

Regulatory:

• Assist with meeting Pfida’s regulatory obligations.

The description of the work and responsibilities set out in this section is not intended to be exhaustive. You may be allocated other work and responsibilities from time to time as required to suit or meet the evolving and expanding needs of Pfida and its business.

Skills and Experience

Essential:

Experience in the following practice areas is essential:

• Extensive commercial contracts experience including drafting, reviewing and negotiating commercial contracts.

Essential skills:

• Strong experience managing a legal team (either in-house or private practice)
• Extensive experience of drafting legal documents
• Strong communication and presentation skills

Essential capabilities:

• Strong ability to think widely, deeply and creatively about issues and situations across various legal practice areas.
• Strong ability to work in a relatively young organisation that is developing its products, processes, client-base, staff and market presence.
• Strong ability to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.

Highly desirable

• A minimum of 7+ years’ post qualification experience.
• Experience of working in or with fin-techs, start-ups or companies that are growing and scaling.
• Experience working in Financial services.
• Experience working in Islamic finance.
• Experience of general corporate matters including Desirable, company secretarial experience.
• Experience in structuring financial products (including experience of tax and regulation driven structures or issues).
• Some knowledge or experience of litigation/contentious issues and dispute resolution mechanisms.
• Experience of using technology, including case management systems.

Working Arrangements:

Hybrid working arrangements with a combination of office and working from home.

What we can offer you

• Attractive salary and discretionary bonus
• 28-day holiday allowance excluding bank holidays
• 4 duvet days
• Medical benefits
• Training budget
• Team offsites and social events throughout the year
• Electric car and bike scheme
• 100s of high street perks and discounts