Lead Associate Lawyer in Edinburgh

Lead Associate LawyerDivision: Legal DivisionDepartment: Law, Policy and International, Enforcement LegalSalary: National (Edinburgh and Leeds) ranging from 69,700 to 86,900 and London from 76,600 to 95,500 (salary offered will be based on skills and experience)This role is graded as: Lead Associate - Practising legalYour external recruitment contact is Raimonda via raimonda.stankute@fca.org.ukYour internal recruitment contact is Fizah via fizahfarouk.ibrahim@fca.org.ukApplications must be submitted through our online portal. Applications sent via social media or email will not be accepted.About the FCA and team We regulate financial services firms in the UK, to keep financial markets fair, thriving and effective. By joining us, you’ll play a key part in protecting consumers, driving economic growth and shaping the future of UK finance services. Our Legal Division provides advice and legal services across the full breadth of FCA activity, including regulatory, policy, enforcement and operational work.This Lead Associate position is in the Law and International team, which is part of the Law, Policy and International Department within Enforcement Legal. The department provides strategic, legal and policy advice on enforcement powers and policies and international enforcement engagement.The Law and International team owns the FCA’s strategy on international enforcement matters and is responsible for managing and developing key international enforcement relationships. We advise on, among other matters, the use of FCA investigation powers on behalf of overseas authorities, the disclosure of confidential information and the disclosure of personal data in an international enforcement context. The team also provides policy input on cooperation aspects of domestic legislation and legal advice on MoU work. Our associates are expected to engage with wider, cross-departmental enforcement policy work where needed.Role responsibilitiesWork with FCA investigation teams to advise on seeking assistance abroad and the use of evidence obtained abroad in civil, criminal and regulatory investigations and proceedingsPerform initial reviews of requests for assistance received from overseas regulators. Your role is to identify all key legal issues, determine which FCA stakeholders should be made aware of the request and determine who at the FCA should respond to the requestBuild experience of managing more junior associates and their work. You will be expected to ensure that this work is managed and progressed effectively and to sign off key decisions for the exercise of legal powersProvide meaningful contributions to the department’s know how and guidance documents and training across the FCA, working together with the manager to ensure that legal risks are appropriately managed and work to become a specialist in agreed areasHave overall responsibility for the relationship management of several key international partners and internal stakeholders, building, maintaining and owning the relationships. This will involve regular discussions and development of a strategy to promote effective engagement, for example arranging visits and engaging others across the FCAAct as representative of Enforcement/Legal Division to senior managers and at international level, where appropriate, to ensure that the FCA’s interests are effectively representedBe accountable for advancing multiple key projects identified in collaboration with the team manager and department head. These are likely to involve complex legal issues and span the breadth of Law and International’s remitWhere business need arises, associates in Law and International will work on projects relating to the wider remit of the Law, Policy and International DepartmentSkills requiredMinimum:Qualified lawyer, Solicitor or Barrister of England and Wales or international equivalentSignificant post-qualification experience in any of the following areas: contentious financial services or other regulatory investigations or proceedings; financial services or public law advisory work; international cooperation; complex international investigations Essential: Ability to apply sound principled legal and evidential analysis to novel situations and think strategicallyWell-developed relationship management skills to build and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, international counterparts and external bodiesRobust, self-motivated and a good team playerAbility to perform effectively in demanding situations and meet deadlinesEffective communication skills to present the outcome of analysis clearly and effectively, orally and in writingReal interest in international work, cross-border cooperation and enforcement policyBenefits25 days annual leave plus bank holidaysNon-contributory pension (8–12% depending on age) and life assurance at eight times your salaryPrivate healthcare with Bupa, income protection and 24/7 Employee Assistance35 hours of paid volunteering annuallyHybrid model where employees work a minimum of 40% in the office each month (expectation of 50% for senior leaders). Changing from September to a minimum of 50% in the office each month (expectation of 60% for Directors and Executive Directors) A flexible benefits scheme designed around your lifestyleFor a full list of our benefits and our recruitment process as a whole visit our benefits page.Our values and culture Our colleagues are the key to our success as a regulator. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture: one that’s free from discrimination and bias, celebrates difference and supports colleagues to deliver at their best. We believe that our differences and similarities enable us to be a better organisation – one that makes better decisions, drives innovation and delivers better regulation.If you require any adjustments due to a disability or condition, your recruiter is here to help - reach out for tailored support.We welcome diverse working styles and aim to find flexible solutions that suit both the role and individual needs, including options like part-time and job sharing where applicable.Disability confident: our hiring approach We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and therefore, people or individuals with disabilities and long-term conditions who best meet the minimum criteria for a role will go through to the next stage of the recruitment process. In cases of high application volumes we may progress applicants whose experience most closely matches the role’s key requirements.Useful information and timelines Timeline:Job advert closes: Midnight, 21 September 2026CV Review/Shortlist: 23 September 2026Interview: 5th-9th October 2026The interview process might include a case study followed by a video interviewYour Recruiter will discuss the process in detail with you during screening for the role, therefore, please make them aware if you are going to be unavailable for any date during this time. SummaryLocation: London; Leeds; EdinburghType: Full time