Interim Head of Legal (12-month FTC) in London

We are looking for an experienced and highly commercial Interim Head of Legal to lead our Legal team on a 9‑12 month fixed‑term contract. In this critical leadership role, you will focus primarily on high‑value commercial contracts with a strong emphasis on SaaS, software, hosting, and technology. You will be stepping into a fast‑paced environment where our customer base spans a wide range of Financial Services organisations, meaning all contract negotiations sit within a complex regulatory framework. Reporting initially to Finova’s General Counsel, and subsequently transitioning to report to the CFO from October, you will directly manage a dedicated team comprising one Senior Paralegal and one Senior Legal Counsel.

To be successful in this role, you will need to operate effectively under time pressure, ensuring deals progress at pace to support quarter‑end deadlines. We are looking for someone with the following profile:

• UK qualified solicitor with at least 9 years PQE, ideally including several years of experience operating as a contractor.
• Proven people management skills, with a track record of providing effective supervision and mentorship to both junior and senior team members.
• Significant experience in SaaS, software, and cloud contracting, along with a good understanding of AI contracting considerations.
• Familiarity with UK Financial Services regulation as it applies to technology providers (e.g., security, resilience, and business continuity requirements).
• A strong background in Data Protection, with the ability to make and stand by sound, risk‐based judgements.
• Experience in managing legal operations, workflows, and legal technology.
• Solid business sense that translates complex legal frameworks into business‑focused, practical advice.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, capable of interacting effectively when negotiating with customers and advising executive leadership.

As the Interim Head of Legal, you will be a strategic partner to the business. Your key responsibilities will include:

• Lead and manage the legal function, providing actionable, strategic legal advice to the executive leadership team.
• Draft, review, and negotiate complex, high‑value commercial contracts, including SaaS, software licensing, hosting agreements, and supplier/partner agreements.
• Manage the Legal team, ensuring a balanced and effective allocation of work across your reports (Senior Paralegal and Senior Legal Counsel).
• Draft new product‑specific terms in line with Finova’s latest offerings, and review/update contract templates and playbook positions as products develop.
• Oversee and manage legal processes, workflows, and operations, driving the effective use of Finova’s CLM tool and AI tools.
• Advise on data protection matters related to our products (including security appendices) and monitor evolving legal and regulatory trends affecting the FinTech sector.
• Support strategic initiatives and ad hoc projects within the Legal team as required.

What We Offer:

• Hybrid working: Work in a hybrid way that suits you. Our model is primarily office‑based, with flexibility to work remotely as needed.
• Private medical insurance: Comprehensive health cover, with the option to add your family to your plan, because your well‑being matters to us.
• Life assurance & income protection: We provide life assurance and income protection to give you peace of mind for the future.
• Family friendly policies: Our enhanced family‑friendly policy goes beyond maternity and paternity leave, offering paid time off for when plans change or alternative paths to parenthood are needed.
• Work from anywhere: With approval, Finova employees can work abroad for up to four weeks each year.
• Flexible holiday package: Enjoy 25 days paid holiday allowance, plus all public holidays. And, you can rebook any public holidays for a day that aligns with your personal beliefs or celebration calendar.
• Company pension scheme: With salary exchange, you save on tax and can build a secure future.
• Employee assistance programme: Access to a 24/7 confidential counselling helpline ensures you have support when you need it.
• Electric car scheme: Get a brand‑new electric vehicle with salary sacrifice as a benefit, paid for through your gross monthly pay, saving on Income Tax and National Insurance.
• Health cash plan: Our Health Cash Plan empowers you to prioritise your well‑being by providing effortless reimbursement for everyday healthcare costs.
• Gym discounts: Achieve your fitness goals for less with GymFlex, which offers significant savings on annual memberships at over 3,000 gyms and leisure centres nationwide.
• Perks that matter: We fuel your day with a fully stocked pantry of fresh fruit and snacks and keep the team spirit high with weekly socials and events.

We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. If you’re passionate about this role but don’t meet all the criteria, please reach out, we’d love to discuss how your skills and experiences align with our needs.