Senior Legal Counsel (Employment) in London

We are looking for a senior employment lawyer to support the business on all contentious and non-contentious employment matters. The role will report directly to the group head of employment legal. We are happy to consider applications from candidates who will be able to commute to any of our offices.

You will have significant influence and exposure across the Starling Group, with the responsibility of managing an employment lawyer in the team. Your work will include:

• Advising the People team and, sometimes, the wider business on all aspects of employment law, including on employment related regulatory issues such as the application of the SMCR and FCA’s Code of Conduct;
• Delivering and managing legal support to the Group throughout the entire employee life cycle, including policy, hiring (including executive service agreements), dismissals, grievances and appeals, disciplinaries, settlement agreements and employment status matters;
• Delivering and managing legal support to the corporate and commercial legal functions, including on the application of TUPE;
• Advising on regulatory issues associated with financial services and banking;
• Managing international projects for Engine by Starling, either in EMEA or globally, including working with external counsel;
• Working with the Group’s Reward team to advise on compensation arrangements, including on the operation of malus and clawback, deferred compensation arrangements and remuneration policies;
• Managing multiple projects and supporting colleagues to ensure business and enterprise-wide initiatives are executed in a timely and accurate manner;
• Providing employment law training to the People team and wider business;
• Instructing and working with outside counsel where necessary on specialist matters.

Qualifications

• Excellent legal training and 6-10 years’ PQE gained at a law firm and/or in-house;
• Very strong technical employment law experience;
• Experience of banking and financial services;
• Experience handling regulatory issues in the context of the SMCR, conduct, remuneration matters, and regulatory inquiries;
• Capable of working in a fast-paced environment and keen to grow and develop within the organisation.

In-house experience in financial services would be preferred, but is not essential for the right candidate. PQE is a guide only.

Benefits

• 25 days holiday (plus take your public holiday allowance whenever works best for you)
• An extra day’s holiday for your birthday
• Annual leave is increased with length of service, and you can choose to buy or sell up to five extra days off
• 16 hours paid volunteering time a year
• Salary sacrifice, company enhanced pension scheme
• Life insurance at 4x your salary
• Private Medical Insurance with VitalityHealth including mental health support and cancer care.
• Partner benefits include discounts with Waitrose, Mr Smith and Peloton
• Generous family-friendly policies
• Perkbox membership giving access to retail discounts, a wellness platform for physical and mental health, and weekly free and boosted perks
• Access to initiatives like Cycle to Work and Salary Sacrificed Gym partnerships

Starling Bank is an equal opportunity employer, and we’re proud of our ongoing efforts to foster diversity & inclusion in the workplace. Individuals seeking employment at Starling Bank are considered without regard to race, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition, ancestry, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.