At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead compliance strategy and manage a high-performing team in a fast-growing legal tech environment.
- Company: Join Lawhive, a revolutionary legal tech firm backed by top investors like Google Ventures.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, equity options, 33 days leave, and top-spec equipment.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of transforming the legal industry with innovative AI solutions.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in compliance within a regulated law firm and strong leadership skills.
- Other info: Dynamic hybrid work culture with opportunities for career growth and team-building activities.
The predicted salary is between 130000 - 160000 £ per year.
Salary: £130,000-£160,000 + share options
Location: London/Hybrid - 2-3 days per week onsite
About Lawhive
Our mission is to make the law accessible to everyone. The legal industry is built on technology and process that hasn’t been updated in hundreds of years - that’s why we’ve reinvented the entire model from the ground-up with our own bespoke AI operating system at the core. Lawhive is a regulated law firm with an AI-native platform built to amplify expertise and revolutionise the way people practice law, leading to exceptional outcomes for clients and lawyers. Lawhive Labs is how we bring this vision to life. It’s our frontier lab that combines top engineering, design, AI and legal talent from around the world, joining forces to build the future of law. We’re backed by top-tier investors including Google Ventures, Balderton Capital and TQ Ventures and in December 2024 we secured $40M Series A funding round to facilitate international expansion and to grow our team, representing one of the five largest Series A rounds in Europe for 2024. We’re headquartered in London and in 2025 successfully launched in the US…and we’re just getting started.
Risk & Compliance at Lawhive
We are both one of Europe’s fastest-growth tech start-ups and an ABS with multiple regulated law firms within our network that provide legal services to customers to help improve access to justice. As a result we have to support our extensive (and ever-growing) network of consultant lawyers spread all over the UK with their compliance needs and ensure that Lawhive’s clients receive the highest quality of legal advice. In order to do this we need a market-leading and future-proof risk and compliance function capable of managing multiple competing priorities daily, providing robust strategic advice to the business and ensuring that all our regulatory requirements are met through our novel and tech-native approach to providing legal services. We have a small, high-performing team currently at Lawhive and are looking to scale our team and their output to further enable and fast-track our growth.
The Role
As Head of Risk & Compliance, you will serve as the dedicated go-to compliance authority within the business, working directly under the COLP/COFA. Your mission is to execute on the group compliance strategy, embed a robust compliance framework, and ensure that all day-to-day compliance functions run smoothly. This is a pivotal role for a highly capable compliance professional with the ambition and potential to grow into Group Head of Compliance as we scale.
What You’ll Do:
- Framework & Policy Execution: Translate group strategy into practical processes, controls and guidance
- Team Management & Development: Directly lead and mentor Compliance Operatives both for Lawhive Legal and our newly acquired firm, Woodstock Legal Services, managing workloads and quality‑assuring outputs
- Operational Oversight: Oversee all BAU compliance functions (AML, conflicts, data protection, etc.) and act as the first line of escalation from the Operative
- Monitoring & QA: Conduct regular file reviews and spot checks; report key findings and risks to the business
- Advisory & Support: Serve as a trusted, solutions‑focused compliance advisor to lawyers and business leaders
- Help to develop and shape cutting‑edge AI tools: Built in‑house to optimise and deliver compliance support to our businesses in a timely and professional manner
What You’ll Bring
Someone who'll come in and establish themselves as the go-to person for compliance across the Lawhive group, and who enjoys building and scaling a team and putting their own stamp on it while executing on company‑led strategy. You’ll need a genuine passion to build a career in risk and compliance with strong demonstrated experience working within highly regulated environments and proven experience building and managing teams. We need someone ambitious, with the drive to grow into a Group Head of Compliance role and actively contribute towards Lawhive's global ambitions.
Requirements:
- Experience: 5+ years in a SRA-regulated law firm with proven operational compliance experience, ideally with exposure to building or scaling processes (essential)
- Knowledge: Strong generalist knowledge across AML, conflicts, data protection, and SRA Accounts Rules
- Leadership: Experience or aptitude for supervising/mentoring junior staff.
- Mindset: Pragmatic, commercial, and autonomous, with a clear appetite to step up into a leadership role as the business grows
Nice to Have:
- Experience working within a remote/hybrid start-up environment
- Cross jurisdictional/international exposure within the compliance sector
- Experience working with process building resources such as Airtable, Tally, Slack etc.
Interview process
- Introductory call with our Talent team
- 1:1 with your hiring manager
- Technical interview / practical skills assessment
- Culture-fit interview with one of our Founders focusing on approach to work and alignment with Lawhive’s continued growth.
We offer!
Benefits
- Meaningful early‑stage equity at one of Europe’s fastest growing startups
- 33 days’ annual leave (25 + bank holidays) plus your birthday off
- Pension contribution via Nest
- 20% off legal fees through Lawhive
- Top‑spec equipment
- Regular team building activities and socials!
Diversity at Lawhive
At Lawhive we know that diversity of thought is critical to delivering outlier outcomes. As such, we’re always working hard to ensure we build a diverse, inclusive team. We’re not yet where we want to be but as we scale we’ll only ever increase the focus we apply to this.
Compensation Range: £130K - £160K
Head of Risk & Compliance (Legal) employer: Sequel
Contact Detail:
Sequel Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Risk & Compliance (Legal)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the legal and compliance sectors. Attend industry events, join relevant online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research Lawhive’s mission and values, and think about how your experience aligns with their goals. Practice answering common interview questions and come up with some thoughtful questions to ask them too. Show them you’re genuinely interested!
✨Tip Number 3
Leverage your existing connections. If you know someone who works at Lawhive or in a similar company, reach out! A referral can make a huge difference in getting your foot in the door. Plus, they can give you insights into the company culture.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team at Lawhive. So, get that application in and let’s make it happen!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Risk & Compliance (Legal)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to reflect the specific skills and experiences that align with the Head of Risk & Compliance role. Highlight your experience in regulated environments and any relevant compliance frameworks you've worked with.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Since this role involves team management, don’t forget to emphasise your leadership experience. Share examples of how you've mentored or developed teams in the past, as we’re looking for someone who can build and scale a high-performing team.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to convey your qualifications and avoid jargon unless it's relevant to the role. We appreciate clarity as much as expertise!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. This ensures that your application gets to the right people quickly and helps us streamline the process. Plus, it shows you're keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sequel
✨Know Your Compliance Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of AML, data protection, and SRA Accounts Rules. Be ready to discuss how you've applied this knowledge in previous roles, especially in a regulated environment. This will show that you're not just familiar with the theory but can also put it into practice.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Since this role involves managing and mentoring a team, be prepared to share examples of how you've successfully led teams in the past. Talk about your approach to developing talent and ensuring quality outputs, as this will demonstrate your capability to scale the compliance function at Lawhive.
✨Align with Lawhive's Vision
Familiarise yourself with Lawhive's mission to make law accessible through technology. During the interview, express your enthusiasm for their innovative approach and how you can contribute to their growth. This alignment will show that you're not just looking for a job, but are genuinely interested in being part of their journey.
✨Prepare for Practical Scenarios
Expect to face practical scenarios or case studies during the technical interview. Think about potential compliance challenges that might arise in a fast-growing tech start-up like Lawhive and how you would address them. This will highlight your problem-solving skills and readiness to tackle real-world issues.