Senior Legal Counsel in London

Location: London, England, United Kingdom

Salary: £125,000.00–£140,000.00

ClearBank was built on the belief that banking infrastructure would no longer slow down progress. Instead, it’s the catalyst that unlocks the potential to innovate. Our clients—fintechs, crypto platforms, banks, credit unions, and household names—turn to our API and banking services to power their innovation.

About the Role

This role has a commercial and fintech focus. The position will be a mix of commercial, product and some regulatory. We would like to speak to experienced lawyers who have relevant experience in/advising fintechs or banks – or the proven ability to learn the regulated sectors fast – and the appetite to work in a ‘you build it you run it’ type environment. The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate a high-performance, commercial and pragmatic mindset to novel and complex legal challenges and also a ‘can-do’ attitude to everyday legal tasks that help the bank succeed.

With us, you’ll be a part of a fast-growing business that is challenging the market and doing things differently, underlined by risk management and compliance rigour. In the UK Legal team there is a focus on advising on new product design and readiness, new business structures and models. We need lawyers who are agile, fast and committed to good commercial outcomes, and in their work can demonstrate knowledge, logic and sound judgement. Cross departmental relationships are essential, and you will work closely with a range of teams across ClearBank including product teams and technical experts to ensure that ClearBank’s innovative and expanding products are designed and operate in compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. You’ll help partner with the business to help deliver outcomes, which will include using a wide range of legal and business skills. You’ll advise on commercial and regulatory issues (with support from our regulatory counsel). You’ll play a leading role in drafting and negotiating contracts.

What We’re Looking For

She qualified solicitor or barrister in England and Wales with at least 5 years PQE leading on commercial negotiations and employing your knowledge of banking and payments regulation as you go. Direct experience of the areas highlighted above is preferred. Our PQE statement is offered as a guide and we will consider candidates at all levels who can demonstrate the relevant experience. To be successful within the legal team candidates must be able to work independently whilst liaising effectively and building relationships with stakeholders. In terms of culture, we are looking for a motivated individual with great people skills, delivery focused and confident in suggesting solutions and enhancements. You’ll need to enjoy working through complex, novel situations as well as problem-solving and be comfortable reprioritising and adapting to change.

Technical Knowledge

• Creating, amending and negotiating high-value contracts directly with customers.
• Amending / drafting / developing new customer agreements from “bare bones”.
• Leading on developing and adapting end-customer terms and conditions, partnering with regulatory counsel and compliance teams where necessary.
• Giving legal regulatory advice in a financial services context, partnering with regulatory counsel and compliance teams where necessary.
• Applying that advice in a practical way to business decisions, product design, and customer, supplier and product terms.
• Financial services business and operating models and the UK regulatory regime.

Bonus / Advantageous Experience

• Experience in a high-growth or scale-up environment.
• Experience of product development in banking and/or fintech.
• Experience of payments and e-money regulatory regimes.
• Experience of advising on the development of digital assets products, their operations and current regulation.
• Knowledge of embedded banking business models and outsourcing regulations.

Regretfully we are not able to sponsor applicants for immigration purposes at the current time.

Hiring Process And What You Can Expect

• Application: a member of our talent acquisition team will review your application against the key requirements for the role and let you know within two weeks whether you’re moving forward to the next stage.
• Screening: you’ll spend 30-45 minutes speaking to one of our recruiters learning more about the role and ClearBank, and we’ll get to know more about you, your experience and how your skills align with the role (this will be via phone or Teams video call). You can expect to hear back from us within seven days following this meeting.
• First Interview: you’ll spend one hour with a member of our hiring team focusing on your skills, competencies and your ways of working at the same time we’ll give you time to ask more questions about the role, the team and learn more about the ClearBank culture. This will be via Teams.
• Second Interview: this will be a competency-based interview with one or more members of our team.
• Final Stage: you will have a final meeting with the Head of Department. This will be around 45-60 minutes.
• Offer: congratulations! Get ready to transform banking forever!

Equal Opportunities

ClearBank is committed to ensuring equal opportunities throughout every stage of the recruitment process. ClearBank recognises that diversity is vital to the long-term success of the business in the communities and markets in which it operates. We are also a firm believer that an inclusive culture fosters greater employee engagement and collaboration. We strive for diversity and inclusion of all forms, including (but not limited to): gender, age, educational and professional background, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief and sexual orientation. As part of the Company’s commitment to equal employment opportunity, we provide reasonable adjustments to candidates during the recruitment process, including to individuals with disabilities. We want to create a safe space that welcomes everyone, so please let us know if you have any accessibility requirements. In case you have any accessibility requirements, you can share that with our Talent Acquisition team prior to your interview stage, if applicable.

The Legal Bit

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