Legal Counsel

At Aberdeen, our ambition is to be the UK’s leading Wealth & Investments group. Strengthening talent and culture is one of our strategic priorities. We strive to make Aberdeen a great place to work so that we can attract and retain the industry’s best talent. Our people put our stakeholders at the heart of everything they do by helping us to make a positive difference to the lives of our clients, customers, colleagues, shareholders, and society. We are focused on growing our direct and advised wealth platforms and repositioning our specialist asset management business to meet client demand. We are committed to providing excellent client service, supported by leading technology and talent.

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 on commercial, contractual and technology-related matters, with a focus on enabling strategic and operational objectives while effectively managing legal, regulatory and commercial risk.

The role will support a broad range of activities, including commercial contracts, strategic supplier arrangements, and technology and infrastructure services, alongside advisory support to business stakeholders on areas such as data protection, AI and intellectual property/brand. Working closely with stakeholders, colleagues across LSPS and external counsel, the role will support effective contract lifecycle management, risk identification and mitigation, and the delivery of commercial outcomes aligned to the Group’s priorities.

The role requires strong technical and commercial capability, sound judgement and the ability to operate confidently at senior stakeholder level. 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. 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.

• Provide high-quality legal, technical and commercial advice to business stakeholders in relation to a wide range of commercial and contractual matters, including key strategic projects and supplier arrangements.
• Draft, review and negotiate contracts, including technology, outsourcing and complex commercial agreements, ensuring that legal and commercial risk is appropriately managed.
• Support the identification, assessment and mitigation of legal, regulatory and reputational risk arising from contractual, operational and technology-related activities.
• Advise stakeholders on contractual interpretation, performance, dispute risk and commercial issues, including escalation and resolution strategies as required.
• Provide legal input into strategic transformation programmes, technology initiatives and operational change projects, ensuring alignment with legal and regulatory requirements.
• Advise on and support the business in relation to data protection, AI, intellectual property and brand matters, developing practical and proportionate solutions.
• Work closely with stakeholders to ensure legal advice is pragmatic, commercially focused and enabling of business outcomes, while maintaining appropriate risk discipline.
• Support the efficient instruction and management of external counsel and suppliers, where required.
• Contribute to effective governance and decision-making in relation to commercial matters affecting the Aberdeen Group.
• Develop and maintain strong, trusted relationships with internal stakeholders to ensure legal advice is practical, proportionate and delivers best value to the business.
• Identify opportunities to improve or enhance the delivery of legal services, including through process improvement, use of data, use of technology or evolving legal and regulatory developments.
• 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.
• Contribute to knowledge sharing and continuous improvement within the Litigation & Investigations team and the wider LSPS function.

• Qualified lawyer with relevant post-qualification experience in commercial contracts and commercial advisory work.
• Circa 2-4 years’ post-qualification experience.
• Strong experience of drafting and negotiating commercial and technology agreements.
• Good understanding of legal and regulatory frameworks relevant to financial services and technology environments.
• Awareness of data protection, AI, IP/brand and cyber risk considerations.
• Commercial judgement and ability to balance legal risk with business objectives.
• Ability to communicate clearly and influence key stakeholders.
• Collaborative and adaptable, with the ability to work across teams and priorities.
• Comfortable working in an evolving environment, including the use of legal technology and AI-supported tools.
• Experience of asset management and/or investment platforms and knowledge of regulatory frameworks applicable to asset managers and investment platforms.
• Experience of, or keen interest in, innovation, technology or process improvement within legal service delivery.

We have an environment where you can learn, get involved and be supported. When you join us, your reward will be one of the best around. This includes 40 days’ annual leave, a 16% employer pension contribution, a discretionary performance-based bonus, private healthcare and a range of flexible benefits.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident Committed employer. If you have a disability and would like to apply to one of our UK roles under the Disability Confident Scheme, please notify us by completing the relevant section in our candidate questionnaire.

We’re committed to providing an inclusive workplace where all forms of difference are valued and which is free from any form of unfair or unlawful treatment.