Senior Legal Director

Planet is a leading technology company transforming payments by putting customer experience first. We offer integrated solutions that include payment processing, VAT refunds, dynamic currency conversion, and management services for merchants in the Retail and Hospitality sectors worldwide. In recent years, we have experienced significant growth, expanding our services and global presence.

With strong private equity investors, Advent International and Eurazeo, we have the financial capital and expertise to grow our capabilities and reach through acquisitions. Our mission is to create a world of connected commerce where payments are simple, secure, and seamless, enabling our partners to deliver exceptional experiences to their customers.

Planet is seeking an experienced legal counsel with a strong commercial background within FinTech, financial services and/or software sectors. Reporting directly to the Deputy General Counsel, the successful candidate will join a team of lawyers that provide practical, solutions-oriented advice to deliver on Planet’s strategic, business, and financial goals whilst meeting its regulatory, statutory, and legislative obligations.

• Act as the lead commercial lawyer for Planet, as a member of the Legal, Risk and Compliance (LRC) team.
• Draft, review and negotiate a variety of commercial agreements including those involving the provision of acquiring, gateway, terminal and other value-added payment, tax refund and integrated software services.
• Review and support responses to business proposals/tenders/RFPs.
• Produce and/or maintain various standard agreements. Develop playbooks and standard contractual provisions to further and enhance the speed, efficiency, and effectiveness of commercial agreements. Coordinate team-wide initiatives, develop best practices and mentor more junior members of the team.
• Advise and deliver on special, growth projects including new product developments and geographical expansions, taking into consideration their legal and regulatory impact.
• Support M&A activity inclusive of performing due diligence on target companies, evaluating risks and opportunities of the target from a legal and regulatory perspective, and integrating the target into the commercial and legal operations into Planet’s Legal, Risk & Compliance organization.
• Remain well versed on regulatory matters that relate and/or arise out of the payment and software products and services offered by Planet such as PSD2+, payment services regulations in the UK, France and broader EEA, AML/CT regulations, GDPR, tax refund regimes, and retail financial services.
• Keep fully conversant with the new and emerging product lines developed by Planet and with the wider payments and software innovation ecosystem.
• Identify, communicate, and ensure all legal risks are within appetite. If necessary, escalate legal risks together with appropriate recommendations and mitigations.

• We are looking for someone that is passionate about commercial matters and contract negotiations, and thrives helping sales teams achieve their goals.
• 8-10 years PQE of industry experience in an in-house legal department and/or leading law firm. Lawyers qualified in common-law jurisdictions are preferred for this role, although candidates with the right experience and skillset will be considered.
• Experience in relation to (as many of the following as possible): direct acquiring; indirect acquiring with sponsoring banks, payment processing, gateway services, and multi-currency pricing solutions for a payment services provider (or equivalent), FinTech, e-money institution and/or financial institution; property management software.
• A passion for simplification and efficiency/process improvement.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, tackle ad hoc projects as they arise/are assigned, successfully manage multiple deadlines and have a flexible approach.
• Demonstrate a keen, working understanding of the legal issues affecting the payments industry, including AML/CTF, data protection/security, safeguarding, funds flows, and transactional reporting to regulators.
• A business-first mind-set with a drive to find solutions that allow business and market share growth in a prudent and long-term-oriented approach.
• Be proficient in English, our main working language. Additional languages including French, and German, in particular, are a plus.

Planet is an equal opportunity employer where diversity is valued, and all employment is decided based on qualifications, merit, and business need. Come and grow your career in the most exciting, fast paced technology market, with a business that delivers feel-good connected commerce.

We would love to hear from you – Apply now. At Planet, we embrace a hybrid work model, with three days a week in the office. Reasonable accommodations may be made in order to allow for an individual to perform the essential functions of this role successfully.

Planet provides integrated software, payment and technology solutions for its customers in the Hospitality and Retail sectors and worldwide via a network of global Financial Services Partners. Founded over 35 years ago, we have evolved our services, delivering an innovative digital commerce platform that puts customer experience first. With headquarters in London and around 3,000 expert employees located across six continents we serve customers in over 120 markets.