Legal Counsel - Data and Technology

Part of LSL Property Services plc, LSL’s Financial Services Division includes PRIMIS Mortgage Network, TMA, and Linear Financial Solutions. The division has a mortgage market share of one in nine of the purchase and remortgage market in the UK.

We are keen to recruit a Data and Technology Regulatory Legal Counsel reporting to our Chief Risk Officer to join our large Risk and Compliance function. This role presents an exciting opportunity for an England and Wales qualified lawyer (minimum 5 years PQE) with Financial Services experience to contribute to the continued success of our Financial Services Division. The successful candidate will help to ensure a blending of legal experience with the structured risk management acumen required in a regulated business.

Role Purpose

The role will advise and work in conjunction with the Leadership Team to improve risk exposure, controls, and contractual terms with key suppliers (primarily data and technology), Appointed Representatives and third parties alongside delivering change in key technology systems and to formulate a data governance strategy. The role is empowered to deep dive into the future technology and data regulatory horizon in regulated financial services to lead LSL FSD in its appraisal of risks and opportunities accordingly. The role will operate as Deputy Data Protection Officer for the LSL FSD and ensure policies, controls and procedures are maintained that demonstrate a data privacy by design and default culture by working alongside business change teams.

Main Accountabilities

• Support to the FSD DPO to deliver high standards of execution of core data protection compliance and legal requirements including maintenance of Information Asset Registers, Records of Processing Activity, Data Protection Impact Assessments, and customer facing privacy information.
• Participating and contributing to cross-functional working teams on projects involving strategic business IT and data change initiatives and risk management strategies in particular assessing where change deliverables may require specialist advice, amendments to existing contracts or risk FSD being in breach of existing provisions. Drafting changes, agreeing terms and communications, oversight of roll out and record keeping accordingly.
• Delivery of the operational legal services required to enable the Supply Chain and Procurement team to design and embed a supplier/procurement risk management framework.
• Operating as FSD technical legal expert for roles tasked with incident response planning, business continuity, operational resilience, cyber incident scenario simulations to oversee framework materials being current and responsive to changing risk scenarios and regulatory appetite.
• Provide advice in key areas of risk mitigation such as provision of credit facilities to Appointed Representatives and product manufacturer to distributor terms of business.
• Drafting template end customer facing agreements and communications as required by the Compliance Operations function as part of a regulated mortgage or insurance advice process.

Knowledge and Expertise

• Understanding of the financial services industry, operating within regulatory requirements to deliver both commercial business objectives and good customer outcomes.
• Experience in leading business understanding of existing data regulatory requirements and emerging data, technology, and cyber risk with ability to translate and engage on technical subjects at all levels in the business.
• Ability to confidently engage with and influence key stakeholders to ensure a high level of credibility is gained throughout the Group.
• Thorough attention to detail, pragmatic approach, and enthusiasm for driving excellent business results.
• England and Wales qualified lawyer (minimum 5 years PQE) including experience of applying the law in the areas of financial services, data privacy, contract, IT services, outsourcing and distribution.
• Prior experience of operating a data privacy by design and default framework and interpreting business contracts of insurance and articulation of their terms and relevance within a risk management framework.

Base Salary to £80,000 DOE plus benefits to include Private Health Care, Enhanced Pension and share based opportunities when available. The role is hybrid between home and our HQ sites in Chippenham and Solihull when required alongside travel across the UK.

If you are interested in applying for this position, please forward your CV with covering letter in confidence to James McNee of the in house recruitment function here at PRIMIS Mortgage Network / LSL.

We are an equal opportunity and Disability Confident employer, dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from people of all abilities and backgrounds, and we do not discriminate based on disability or individual needs. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.

LSL are dedicated to protecting your data - our Recruitment Privacy Notice can be viewed on the LSL Careers website.