Compliance Lawyer

Compliance Lawyer – Financial Crime – US Law Firm – London

We are working with a elite US law firm seeking a Compliance Lawyer with a focus on financial crime to join their London-based Risk and Compliance team. This is a senior role at the heart of the firm’s UK and European compliance operations, providing legal, regulatory, and strategic advice across the London, Paris, and Brussels offices.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the firm’s financial crime compliance function, supporting partners and business teams across the UK and Europe.
• Advise on financial crime risks including AML, sanctions, bribery, fraud, market abuse, and tax evasion.
• Support the MLRO, including handling SARs and responding to regulatory and client questionnaires.
• Monitor and implement regulatory changes and maintain up-to-date financial crime policies, procedures, and risk assessments.
• Oversee AML audits, client/matter reviews, and approvals of high-risk summaries.
• Attend MLRO and compliance committee meetings; represent the firm at external financial crime forums.
• Deliver targeted training to lawyers and staff across international offices.
• Line manage the Compliance Manager and assist with team appraisals, training, and resourcing.

Key Requirements:

• Qualified lawyer with 5+ years’ PQE, ideally with experience in a major City or international law firm either in a compliance team or a Fee-Earning role.
• Proven expertise in UK, EU, and US financial crime regulations, including the Proceeds of Crime Act, MLRs, LSAG guidance, sanctions regimes, Bribery Act, and ECCTA 2023.
• Experience preparing and submitting SARs and working closely with senior stakeholders.
• Strong project management skills and ability to lead implementation of compliance processes.
• Commercial and pragmatic, with excellent drafting, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Organised, detail-oriented, and capable of working under pressure with professionalism and diplomacy.

Take the Next Step:

If you are a seasoned compliance lawyer ready to lead on financial crime in a global environment, we’d love to hear from you.

For more information, contact Chris Simmonds at chris.simmonds@mrasearch.co.uk or call 07947857473