Legal Counsel (Technology, Commercial & Litigation) in Edinburgh

Requirements

• The role requires strong technical capability, sound judgement and the ability to operate confidently across jurisdictions and at senior stakeholder level, including in high-pressure or sensitive situations such as incident management or conduct matters.
• The successful candidate will be expected to work flexibly across team and functional boundaries, contributing to an integrated, forward-looking legal service that supports innovation and data insights while maintaining robust legal and risk standards.
• Qualified lawyer with membership of the relevant UK or equivalent legal professional body.
• Experience working in or (in an advisory capacity) with large corporates and/or financial services firms, with exposure to contentious matters and experience in assessing, and advising on, risk and strategy in relation to complex commercial or contractual arrangements.
• Knowledge of broader financial services regulatory frameworks.
• Strong commercial awareness with the ability to explain legal issues clearly and pragmatically to non-legal stakeholders.
• Proven ability to manage multiple matters concurrently and perform effectively under pressure, including on sensitive or high-risk issues.
• Collaborative team player with a global outlook and strong stakeholder-management skills.
• Comfortable working in an evolving environment, including the use of legal technology and AI-supported tools, with sound judgement as to risk and appropriateness.

What the job involves

• This role sits within the Technology, Commercial and Litigation team which is part of the Legal, Secretariat, Public Affairs and Corporate Sustainability (LSPS) function.
• The successful candidate will provide legal advice and support across the Aberdeen Group globally on contentious and potentially contentious risk matters, including litigation and disputes, investigations, regulatory matters and complex contractual and strategic arrangements that present commercial, legal, regulatory and reputational risk.
• Working closely with business stakeholders, (where applicable) external counsel and colleagues across LSPS, the role will support effective risk identification and management, including in relation to critical technology, AI deployment and digital infrastructure arrangements, while enabling the Group’s strategic and commercial objectives.
• The role will actively support modern ways of working across the LSPS function, including the responsible use of technology and AI-enabled tools, process improvement and knowledge sharing.
• Provide high-quality legal, technical and commercial advice to business stakeholders in relation to contentious and potentially contentious matters across all businesses in the Aberdeen Group, including litigation and disputes, regulatory matters, investigations, and significant risk issues arising from contractual, commercial or operational arrangements, operating where required at senior management or executive level.
• Support the identification, assessment and mitigation of legal, regulatory and reputational risk, including complex contractual arrangements, strategic partnerships and digital technology or infrastructure services, balancing risk mitigation with the Group’s strategic and commercial objectives.
• Advise the business on dispute avoidance, escalation pathways, service failure risk and resolution strategies, and liaising with colleagues across LSPS as appropriate.
• Provide support in relation to the legal and regulatory aspects of incident management, including matters with heightened regulatory, reputational or conduct risk.
• Conduct and oversee internal investigations, including regulatory or conduct-related matters, working with internal stakeholders and external counsel as appropriate.
• Operate effectively across multiple jurisdictions, working with local teams and external counsel as required.
• Contribute to effective governance and decision-making in relation to disputes, investigations and other material risk matters affecting the Aberdeen Group.
• Collaborate closely with colleagues across LSPS to deliver an integrated, high-quality legal service aligned to the Group’s strategic, commercial and financial priorities, including supporting the wider delivery of commercial and technology-related legal services where appropriate.
• Develop and maintain strong, trusted relationships with internal stakeholders to ensure legal advice is practical, proportionate and delivers best value to the business.
• Manage the instruction and performance of external law firms and legal suppliers, ensuring appropriate oversight, cost control and efficient use of external resources.
• Contribute to the responsible use of legal technology and AI-enabled tools, including supporting risk assessment, efficiency, insight generation and knowledge management, in line with Group policies and governance.