Senior Legal Counsel in London

Overview

Key member of the Legal team, providing timely, commercially focused and technically strong legal advice to non-underwriting functions across the business. The role has primary responsibility for commercial contracts and personal data/privacy matters, together with a broad regulatory remit.

Working closely with Procurement & Vendor Management, Compliance, Outsourcing, IT, Finance, HR, Operations, Facilities, Actuarial and other business functions across the group, the role supports commercial decision-making, risk management and regulatory compliance while contributing flexibly across the wider Commercial Legal function.

Core Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide pragmatic, risk-based legal advice and support to non-underwriting functions across the business.
• Lead the drafting, review and negotiation of a broad range of supplier and other commercial contracts.
• Advise on personal data and privacy matters, including data protection terms, data sharing arrangements, data subject rights, privacy governance and data-related risk.
• Provide legal support on regulatory matters relevant to the Commercial Legal function, including outsourcing, third-party risk management and operational resilience requirements.
• Support stakeholders throughout the contract lifecycle, including onboarding, governance, change, renewal, exit and termination.
• Identify and manage commercial, legal, regulatory and data protection risks, providing practical solutions aligned with business objectives and risk appetite.
• Take ownership of legal matters and projects within the role's areas of responsibility, working independently while escalating material issues appropriately.
• Support the wider Commercial Legal remit as business priorities require, including intellectual property, property and lease matters, intra-group arrangements, key capacity provider arrangements and other strategic projects.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with stakeholders across the business and collaborate with colleagues across Legal to ensure consistent and joined-up advice.
• Keep the Head of Commercial Legal appropriately informed of priorities, material developments, dependencies and risks.
• Contribute to team resilience and knowledge sharing through the development of precedents, playbooks, training materials and process documentation, while providing cover during periods of absence.
• Help implement and maintain efficient legal, contract management and privacy processes and controls.
• Leverage AI and other technology solutions to improve the efficiency, consistency and quality of legal support.
• Manage external counsel where required, ensuring advice is commercial, timely and cost- effective.
• Provide reporting and management information on key areas of responsibility and relevant legal or regulatory developments.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• Solicitor qualified in England & Wales (or equivalent); 6+ years PQE.
• Strong commercial contracts experience, including demonstrable experience of drafting, reviewing and negotiating complex supplier, technology, services, outsourcing and data- related agreements.
• Solid technical knowledge and practical experience of personal data and privacy law, preferably across more than one jurisdiction.
• Broad understanding of the regulatory environment applicable to insurance or wider financial services, particularly in relation to third-party arrangements, outsourcing and operational resilience.
• Excellent technical legal skills and demonstrable experience of having applied them in a private practice and/or in-house legal environment (preferably within insurance or wider financial services).
• Strong drafting and negotiation skills, with sound judgment and commercial awareness.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication (both written and verbal) skills, , with the ability to build trusted relationships and advise stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to work independently, take ownership and make sound decisions, while keeping the wider team aligned and escalating material issues appropriately.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, plan effectively and meet tight deadlines while maintaining accuracy, attention to detail and accountability.
• Flexible, proactive and collaborative approach, with the willingness and capability to support matters across the Commercial Legal team's full remit as business needs require.
• Enthusiastic about using AI and technology to improve ways of working and legal service delivery.
• High level of proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (particularly Word and Excel) and

Adobe Acrobat.

• Comfortable working in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
• Willingness to work outside of core hours when required to meet business needs.
• FIDELIS ETHOS

Our culture is defined by our ethos. It is the foundation of who we are and the core of everything we do.

• Results – We want to be the best at the things we care about, so we focus on profitability over volume, with responsive decision-making and clear prioritised accountability.
• Innovate – We aspire to lead the market in providing the services and products our clients need, and to drive change in the broader impact our industry has on human rights, society, and environmental sustainability.
• Include – We create an environment where employees can bring their whole self to work, with open communication where everyone, irrespective of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation or background, feels able to contribute ideas and be recognised and rewarded for their contribution.
• Unite – We operate as team of individual talents that actively seeks to reflect the diversity of the societies in which we operate, giving our business the widest range of inputs and perspectives.
• Respond – We work in a business exposed to sudden shocks and changes – elemental, political, economic and human – so we remain nimble and ready for change.
• DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Our vision is for a workplace culture where differences are valued and where diversity of background, experience and thought are welcomed. We believe that developing and maintaining a diverse and inclusive organisation is critical to our success. Our hiring, assessment and selection process must be fair, free from bias and one which ensures we select the right person for the job, based on merit.

We welcome applications from all qualified candidates. To ensure that all candidates have a fair opportunity to show their abilities during the recruitment process, adjustments may be required. If your physical or mental health or disability may necessitate an adjustment, please contact James. Lochrie@avenciaconsulting. com to discuss. All information relating to your health or disability will be treated in accordance with our data protection policy.