Senior Legal Counsel - Regulatory UK in London

You will act as a senior adviser to FNZ’s UK business on regulatory and product-related legal matters, with a particular emphasis on UK financial services regulation and regulatory risk across FNZ’s UK-based regulated entities. You will advise on how UK regulatory frameworks apply to product design, platform services, operating models and outsourced service arrangements, ensuring products and services are scalable, compliant and aligned with evolving FCA expectations.

You will bring deep expertise in UK financial services regulation, including platform and custody models, operational resilience, outsourcing and third-party risk, conduct and consumer-focused regulatory regimes (including Consumer Duty), and relevant prudential considerations. You will also bring experience and/or a strong interest in AI and emerging technology regulation and governance, including how AI use cases intersect with UK regulatory expectations (e.g., operational resilience, outsourcing, conduct risk, model risk management, data protection). Your role is critical to enabling innovative product solutions within a robust regulatory framework.

What you will be doing:

• Advise on the legal and regulatory considerations relating to FNZ’s UK product set (e.g., SIPP/ISA/GIA wrappers, custody and dealing, investment operations, distribution models, digital journeys).
• Ensure new and existing products comply with UK regulatory frameworks.
• Provide expert advice on UK financial services regulation impacting FNZ’s product and service offering, including outsourcing/perimeter issues, operational resilience, AML/financial crime controls, conduct governance and prudential implications.
• Provide legal and regulatory support on AI and emerging technology use cases impacting UK products and operations, including monitoring relevant regulatory developments and supporting practical governance, risk assessments and controls.
• Embed regulatory obligations into commercial terms, partner with Commercial, Product, Technology and Delivery to enable compliant delivery models.
• Support product reviews, governance committees and approval processes, ensuring appropriate documentation, risk assessments, and regulatory alignment.
• Balance regulatory constraint with FNZ’s client-focused commercial strategy.
• Work closely with senior stakeholders across Product, Risk, Compliance, Engineering, Operations, Commercial and Finance.
• Support and manage internal investigations and sensitive matters (including whistleblowing, conduct issues and regulatory incidents), working with Compliance, Risk and HR as appropriate, preserving legal privilege where needed, and coordinating external counsel.
• Manage external counsel efficiently and pragmatically, ensuring value for money and delivery of commercial and strategic priorities.

What you will need:

• 10+ years’ PQE as a solicitor with strong experience in financial services, regulatory, and/or product legal roles.
• Experience within a regulated platform, asset manager, insurance company, bank or top-tier law firm.
• Demonstrated ability to advise senior stakeholders and influence decision-making in a fast-paced, complex environment.
• Knowledge of FCA rules relevant to platforms, investment services, outsourcing, technology and digital distribution.
• Understanding of wealth management ecosystem participants—platforms, asset managers, distributors, custodians—and their regulatory obligations.
• Proven experience providing legal and regulatory support for product governance, design and distribution frameworks.
• Prior involvement in transformation or large-scale change programmes.
• Experience supporting internal investigations and contentious/sensitive matters (including whistleblowing), including issues-spotting, evidence management, stakeholder coordination, and advising on regulatory reporting considerations.
• Experience and/or demonstrable interest in AI and emerging technology regulation and governance (e.g., EU AI Act, UK AI regulatory initiatives), and ability to translate these developments into practical guidance for product, technology and operations teams.