Legal Counsel in London

Finalto is a global leader in liquidity provision and trading technology solutions, serving institutional and B2B clients across financial markets worldwide. With regulated entities in the UK, Singapore, Cyprus, Australia, and the UAE, and additional operational teams in Denmark and Bulgaria, we combine international reach with local expertise. Our business spans multi-asset liquidity, risk management, and cutting‑edge trading platforms, supporting clients in achieving more efficient and sustainable growth. At the core of our success is our commitment to innovation, operational excellence, and robust governance.

As part of a global financial services group, Finalto combines the scale and stability of an established organisation with the agility of a fintech innovator. We are driven by collaboration, integrity, and performance. Joining Finalto means becoming part of a diverse and dynamic team where your contributions have real impact. We invest in our people, offering opportunities for professional growth, international exposure, and the chance to shape the future of trading technology and liquidity solutions.

1. Role Purpose

The Legal Counsel provides comprehensive legal support to the company and its global regulated and non-regulated entities, ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulatory requirements, and internal governance frameworks. The role advises on commercial, corporate, regulatory, and employment matters, supporting business activities and safeguarding the company against legal and operational risks.

2. Key Responsibilities

• 2.1 Commercial & Corporate Legal Support
  • Draft, review, and negotiate commercial agreements, including client contracts, vendor agreements, technology licences, liquidity provider agreements, and outsourcing arrangements.
  • Advise on corporate governance, board matters, shareholder agreements, resolutions, and company secretarial obligations.
  • Support intra-group arrangements and corporate restructuring activities.
• 2.2 Regulatory & Compliance Support
  • Provide interpretation and guidance on regulations across multiple jurisdictions (FCA, CySEC, DFSA, MAS, ASIC, etc.).
  • Support regulatory filings, licence obligations, regulatory reporting requirements, and inspections.
  • Work closely with Compliance teams to ensure alignment between legal obligations and operational processes.
  • Monitor regulatory developments and advise senior management on business impact.
• 2.3 Contract Management & Legal Risk
  • Lead the contract review process to ensure compliance with group standards and risk appetite.
  • Identify, mitigate, and elevate legal risks across the group.
  • Ensure contracts include appropriate protections (liability, indemnities, confidentiality, IP, data protection).
  • Manage external legal counsel and legal service providers, including engagement terms, fee management, and quality control of deliverables.
  • Manage legal services contracts, including negotiation, renewal, performance monitoring, and ensuring value for money.
• 2.4 Employment & HR Legal Support
  • Support HR on employment contract updates, terminations, disciplinary matters, restructuring, and policy reviews.
  • Provide advice on UK labour law requirements and highlight any cross‑jurisdictional risks.
• 2.5 Data Protection & Privacy
  • Advise on GDPR and other relevant data‑protection regimes across the Group.
  • Review DPAs, data‑sharing arrangements, and cross‑border data transfers.
  • Support data‑protection assessments and internal incident response.
  • Handle pre‑litigation matters, client disputes, and external complaints.
  • Coordinate with external counsel and represent the Group in legal proceedings when required.
  • Support investigations and internal fact‑finding exercises.
• 2.7 Governance, Policy & Internal Advisory
  • Contribute to the development and maintenance of legal policies, contract templates, and group governance frameworks.
  • Deliver legal training to internal teams on relevant topics (contracts, regulatory matters, compliance).
  • Ensure all legal advice provided is aligned with Group strategy and senior management expectations.

3. Key Requirements

• 3.1 Education & Qualifications
  • Qualified Lawyer/Solicitor in the United Kingdom (mandatory).
• 3.2 Experience
  • Minimum 5 years PQE in financial services, fintech, brokerage, trading, payments, or similar regulated sectors.
  • Strong experience with commercial contracts, corporate governance, and regulatory advisory.
  • Prior in‑house experience preferred but not essential.
  • Experience working with multi‑jurisdictional businesses is an advantage.
  • Strong legal drafting, negotiation, and analytical skills.
  • Ability to interpret complex regulations and convert them into practical, business‑ready guidance.
  • Excellent stakeholder‑management and communication skills.
  • High level of integrity, discretion, and attention to detail.
  • Ability to work independently under pressure and manage multiple priorities.
  • Chinese language skills (Mandarin or Cantonese) are a strong advantage due to cross‑border business activities.