At a Glance
- Tasks: Draft and negotiate commercial agreements with key partners in a dynamic fintech environment.
- Company: Join a leading global financial services organisation with a strong focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, supportive onboarding, and exposure to international markets.
- Other info: Enjoy a hybrid work model and opportunities for professional growth in a collaborative team.
- Why this job: Gain valuable experience in payments and merchant services while working closely with senior stakeholders.
- Qualifications: Qualified solicitor with strong commercial contracts experience and excellent negotiation skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
In-house Legal Counsel
Location: London / Hybrid – 3 days per week in the office
Engagement: Full-time
Duration: 12-month
Start Date: Mid-July 2026
Client: Global financial services and payments organisation
The Opportunity
Accuflex is working with a leading global financial services and payments organisation to recruit a Legal Counsel for a 12-month contract. This is an excellent opportunity for a commercially minded lawyer to join a highly regarded in-house legal team supporting the organisation’s global merchant services business across the EMEA region. The role will focus on drafting, reviewing and negotiating commercial agreements with strategic merchant partners, banks, intermediaries and other key commercial counterparties. Many of these relationships are high-value and strategically important to the business, so the successful candidate will need to be confident, commercially pragmatic and comfortable advising senior stakeholders. Payments or fintech experience would be a real advantage, but it is not essential. The client is primarily looking for a lawyer with strong commercial contracts experience, good drafting and negotiation skills, and the ability to work independently once they are up to speed.
The Role
You will support the business on a range of commercial contracts and strategic partnership arrangements, with a particular focus on merchant-facing agreements across domestic and international markets. The role will involve working closely with commercial, sales, partnerships, compliance and legal colleagues, providing practical legal advice in a fast-paced and collaborative environment. Initial support and training will be provided, but the expectation is that after an initial ramp-up period, the successful candidate will be able to manage negotiations independently and take ownership of agreements with merchants and commercial partners.
Key Responsibilities
- Drafting, reviewing and negotiating commercial agreements with merchant partners, banks, intermediaries and other strategic commercial counterparties.
- Supporting the global merchant services business on commercial contracts across the EMEA region.
- Leading negotiations on merchant and partnership agreements, with support from senior lawyers where needed.
- Advising internal stakeholders on commercial risk, contract structure and practical solutions.
- Working closely with compliance and regulatory teams on issues arising from commercial arrangements.
- Supporting larger commercial projects within the merchant services space.
- Helping the business navigate complex or unusual contracting issues and finding pragmatic solutions.
- Building strong relationships with senior business stakeholders, particularly across sales, partnerships and commercial teams.
- Contributing to internal process improvements and helping the legal team deliver efficient, business-focused support.
Candidate Profile
We are interested in speaking with qualified lawyers who have strong commercial contracts experience and are looking to build or deepen their experience within a major global financial services and payments business.
- Qualified as a solicitor in England & Wales.
- Ideally 1–5 years’ PQE.
- Strong commercial contracts experience, including drafting, reviewing and negotiating agreements.
- Experience working independently on negotiations or clear readiness to do so after a period of support.
- Good stakeholder management skills and confidence advising senior commercial colleagues.
- A pragmatic, solutions-focused approach.
- Strong communication skills and the ability to explain legal issues clearly to non-lawyers.
- A willingness to get stuck in and work collaboratively with the wider legal and business teams.
- Good judgement and the ability to balance legal risk with commercial objectives.
Experience That Would Be Helpful
- Payments
- Fintech
- Financial services
- Merchant acquiring
- Banking
- Regulated industries
- Strategic partnerships
- Large customer / supplier contracts
- International commercial contracts
- Technology or platform agreements
Why This Role?
This is a great opportunity for a commercial lawyer who wants to move into, or build further experience within, a major global payments and financial services environment. The role offers:
- High-quality commercial contracts work with strategic merchants and partners.
- Exposure to a global financial services and payments platform.
- A strong in-house legal team and supportive onboarding.
- A good balance of autonomy and senior legal support.
- International / EMEA-facing work.
- Close interaction with senior commercial stakeholders.
- Valuable experience in payments, merchant services and regulated financial services.
- A 12-month contract offering continuity and high-quality in-house experience.
Legal Counsel (Merchant Services, Fintech) in London employer: Accutrainee Limited
Accuflex is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in the heart of London, where you can thrive as part of a leading global financial services and payments organisation. With a strong focus on employee growth, you will benefit from comprehensive onboarding and the opportunity to engage with senior stakeholders while managing high-value commercial agreements. The collaborative culture fosters innovation and provides a unique chance to gain valuable experience in the fintech sector, making it an ideal place for commercially minded lawyers seeking meaningful and rewarding careers.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Legal Counsel (Merchant Services, Fintech) in London
✨Get Involved in Legal Networking Events
Jump into local or virtual legal networking events to meet industry pros and get your foot in the door! Use platforms like Eventbrite or Meetup to find gatherings, as these are great for making connections and hearing about temporary roles at firms like Accutrainee Limited.
✨Showcase Your Skills Online
Create a simple online portfolio to showcase your legal work, whether that's case briefs, research papers, or even blog posts on legal topics. This public display can really set you apart when looking for temp roles in law, especially if you can make it relevant to the work that Accutrainee Limited does!
✨Tap into Law School Resources
If you're near a law school, hit up their career services. They often have leads on temporary positions and can help connect you with alumni working at firms. Plus, they might host workshops or job fairs specific to the legal sector—great for scoring that temp position!
✨Stay Updated with Legal Job Boards
Regularly check specialised legal job boards like LawCareers.Net or TotallyLegal for temporary listings. Many firms post their openings directly there, and applying quickly can give you an edge over the competition when looking to join a prestigious firm like Accutrainee Limited.
We think you need these skills to ace Legal Counsel (Merchant Services, Fintech) in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Legal Know-How:In the legal services world, it's all about demonstrating your understanding of relevant laws and regulations. Make sure your CV highlights your legal training, internships, or any relevant projects you've worked on. If you've done any mooting or legal research, include those too - they can really set you apart!
Tailor Your Application for the Temp Role:Since this is a temporary position, your application should stress your adaptability and readiness to jump in right away. Highlight any previous temp roles where you quickly got up to speed, or any diverse experiences that show you can handle a variety of cases or tasks with ease.
Keep it Specific with Your Documents:Make sure your application includes essential legal documents, such as any relevant certifications or memberships in legal bodies. These can add credibility to your CV and show that you're serious about the profession – especially useful in a competitive field like law!
Express Your Enthusiasm in the Cover Letter:Your cover letter is a golden opportunity to express your enthusiasm for the role and the organisation. Let them know why you’re excited about this temporary position with Accutrainee Limited and how you're motivated to contribute to their success during your limited time with them!
How to prepare for a job interview at Accutrainee Limited
✨Show Off Your Legal Know-How
Prepare to discuss your understanding of legal terminology and concepts that might come up during the interview for the Legal Counsel (Merchant Services, Fintech) role at Accutrainee Limited. Brush up on relevant laws or recent cases that could be pertinent to the temporary position, as they'll likely appreciate candidates who can think on their feet and adapt to the fast-paced legal environment.
✨Talk About Your Flexibility
Since this is a temporary role, employers want to know you can hit the ground running. Be ready to highlight past experiences where you've had to quickly adapt to new tasks or work cultures. Flexibility is key in a short-term position like this, so share specific examples that demonstrate your ability to manage changing priorities efficiently.
✨Prepare for the Casework Challenge
You might face hypothetical scenarios where you'd have to advise on a legal issue or case. Practice articulating your thought process clearly, as interviewers in the legal sector often expect candidates to walk them through their reasoning step-by-step. This will not only showcase your legal acumen but also demonstrate your communication skills, which are crucial in law.
✨Pitch Your Legal Portfolio
If you have any relevant work samples, such as briefs, contracts, or legal research, this is your chance to shine! Be ready to discuss what you did, what challenges you faced, and the outcomes. This speaks volumes more than just listing your skills; it shows you're proactive and results-oriented, which is essential for a temporary role at Accutrainee Limited.
