Legal Counsel | S4 | Legal & Corporate Governance, Treasury & Structured Finance Legal | London TSQ

The Treasury & Structured Finance Legal team is looking for a Senior Legal Counsel based in London. The successful candidate will provide legal advice and support to the CFO Division of Santander UK and other business divisions of the Santander UK Group in relation to structuring, negotiation and execution of structured finance transactions across various asset classes and structures, capital and liquidity regulations, documentation relevant to structured notes and derivatives, and strategic bank‑wide projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Structure, negotiate and execute a wide range of structured finance transactions, including retail mortgage loans, unsecured personal loans, commercial banking assets, funded and unfunded risk transfers, asset sales, contracts of insurance, traditional and synthetic securitisations, and CLOs.
• Provide opinions on CRR, capital, liquidity rules and related capital optimisation and regulatory compliance.
• Draft, review and negotiate documentation for structured notes, deposits, derivative transactions and other structured finance instruments.
• Lead strategic bank‑wide projects relevant to the Treasury team, including optimisation of legal function output and use of digital solutions/AI.
• Work with the business on structuring and documentation of asset rotation, capital optimisation, insurance and structured finance transactions.
• Draft, review and negotiate documentation for hedging agreements, NDAs, marketing materials, investor presentations, engagement letters and other related documents.
• Monitor legal and regulatory developments in structured finance, participate in internal and external working groups, and provide updates.
• Engage with and instruct external counsel and serve as the primary legal contact for key transaction parties.
• Review and develop internal standard documents, policies and procedures.

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor with 4–10 years PQE (required).
• Solid understanding of securitisation and other structured finance transactions, capital markets and applicable securities laws and regulations (required).
• Knowledge of derivatives is a bonus.
• Good understanding of the UK financial services regulatory framework, industry trends and best practice (required).
• Experience in a transactional environment, either private practice or in‑house (required).
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills (required).
• Reputable commercial, pragmatic and enthusiastic approach to tasks (required).
• Commercially minded with ability to adapt to a varied workload (required).
• Numeracy skills and experience of Excel and PowerPoint (preferred).

Benefits

• 30 days holiday plus bank holidays (increases to 31 days after 5 years of service), with the option to purchase up to 5 contractual days per year.
• £6,000 car allowance per year.
• Company‑funded individual private medical insurance.
• Protection for you and your family: company‑funded death‑in‑service benefit, income protection insurance, and discounted rates for additional life assurance and critical illness cover.
• Share plans to share in Santander’s success.
• Access to Santander UK product staff versions and discounts.
• Competitive rewards reflecting your impact and value.
• Wellbeing support across physical, mental, social and financial pillars, including apps, discounted gym access, online classes, flexible healthcare and mental health support.
• Family‑friendly support: enhanced leave, childcare options, tailored wellbeing support.
• Volunteering opportunities to give back to communities.
• Global growth opportunities across the international network.

Equal Opportunity

All candidates must have the right to work in the UK to commence employment with Santander.