Head of Legal (Hybrid) in Winnersh

At Trustonic, we make smartphones affordable for the many, enabling global access to devices and digital finance through the world’s most secure smartphone locking technology. We partner with mobile carriers, retailers, and financiers across 30+ countries, powering device financing solutions that drive economic inclusion, profitability, and growth. We pride ourselves on living by the Trustonic culture code, a blueprint for our journey that recognises that great working environments don’t guarantee success, but bad ones almost always ensure failure. Working here, you’ll find a company that celebrates its diversity and is looking to do the right thing: for each other, the community and the planet. We believe in equal opportunities and take to heart the old African proverb ’If you only want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together’. We work flexibly when and where we’re at our best, but regardless of how you choose to work, we’ll make sure you feel like one of the team. If you would like to work in a fast‑moving global technology company, with great ambition, then we’d love to hear from you!

We are seeking an exceptional Head of Legal to build and lead Trustonic’s global legal and compliance capability at a pivotal stage of growth. This is a mission‑critical role, reporting directly to the CFO and working closely with the CEO, Leadership Team and Board. You will be responsible for shaping and delivering a modern, commercially focused legal function that enables Trustonic to scale with confidence. This includes ensuring robust legal frameworks, proactive risk management, and pragmatic guidance that supports fast‑moving commercial decision‑making. Operating in a global B2B SaaS cybersecurity environment, you will balance governance, risk, and opportunity – ensuring the business remains compliant while maintaining speed, flexibility, and competitive advantage. This role combines strategic leadership and hands‑on execution, overseeing a lean in‑house capability (1 direct report) alongside a global network of external counsel. You will bring structure, clarity, and scalability to legal operations, while acting as a trusted adviser across all areas of the business.

As the Head of Legal, you will:

• Strategic ownership
  • Own and evolve the global legal and compliance strategy in alignment with business growth, commercial priorities, and future transaction/exit readiness.
  • Act as a trusted adviser to the Executive Team and Board on legal, regulatory, governance, and risk matters.
  • Establish and maintain a clear legal and compliance risk framework, including ownership of the risk register, escalation pathways, and mitigation plans.
  • Ensure effective corporate governance across a complex, international group structure.
  • Provide legal leadership on strategic initiatives, including expansion into new markets, products, and regulatory environments.
• Legal, compliance & risk leadership
  • Embed a strong culture of compliance, integrity, and ethical conduct across the organisation.
  • Design and implement scalable compliance frameworks across data protection & privacy (including GDPR), cybersecurity and information security regulation, export controls, sanctions, and trade compliance, and anti‑bribery, fraud, and corruption.
  • Lead the legal response to material incidents, disputes, or regulatory investigations.
  • Provide clear, pragmatic guidance that enables the business to operate confidently within defined risk parameters.
• Commercial enablement
  • Act as a strategic partner to Sales, Product, and Commercial teams, enabling revenue growth while managing legal risk.
  • Own and optimise contracting frameworks, including templates, fallback positions, and approval thresholds.
  • Provide senior oversight and escalation support for complex, high‑value, or strategically significant deals.
  • Balance speed, deal velocity, and customer experience with long‑term legal and commercial risk.
  • Support customer and partner due diligence processes, particularly in security, compliance, and regulatory areas.
• International & external counsel management
  • Oversee the global provision of legal services across regions and functions.
  • Lead the selection, engagement, and performance management of external legal advisers.
  • Ensure consistency, quality, and value for money in legal support globally.
  • Build a scalable model that leverages external expertise effectively while maintaining internal control.
• Corporate & strategic transactions
  • Lead legal support for M&A, restructurings, financing arrangements, and exit preparation.
  • Provide legal oversight for international entity management and corporate structuring.
  • Partner with investors and external stakeholders on strategic legal matters.
• Team and operating model
  • Lead, develop, and mentor a lean legal team, creating clarity on ownership, decision rights, and escalation.
  • Design a scalable legal operating model focused on high‑value, high‑impact work.
  • Introduce structure, processes, and tools to improve efficiency, visibility, and control.
  • Ensure the legal function is proactive, accessible, and embedded across the business.

Who you are

• Commercially minded legal leader with strong business partnering capability.
• Low‑ego, high‑trust collaborator who operates effectively at Executive and Board level.
• High integrity, sound judgement, and the ability to navigate complex ethical and regulatory challenges.
• Structured and rigorous, with the ability to bring clarity and control to ambiguity.
• Proactive and solutions‑oriented, with an inquisitive mindset.
• Comfortable operating autonomously in a lean, fast‑growing environment.
• Adaptable leader who can scale processes and thinking as the business evolves.

Experience

• Qualified solicitor, barrister, or attorney in good standing.
• Significant post‑qualification experience, including senior in‑house roles.
• Proven experience advising Executive teams and Boards in high‑growth environments.
• Strong grounding in commercial law, corporate governance, and regulatory compliance.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex legal matters in fast‑paced, international businesses.
• Experience supporting strategic transactions such as M&A, fundraising, or exit processes.
• Experience operating within B2B SaaS, technology, cybersecurity, or similarly regulated sectors is highly desirable.

Knowledge

• Data protection and privacy frameworks, including GDPR.
• Legal and regulatory considerations in cybersecurity and information security.
• International regulatory environments, including trade compliance and sanctions.
• Corporate governance in multi‑entity, cross‑border organisations.
• Contracting frameworks and risk allocation in enterprise SaaS environments.

Skills

• Ability to balance legal risk with commercial opportunity and speed.
• Strong negotiation skills with experience in complex commercial agreements.
• Ability to design and implement scalable legal frameworks and processes.
• Skilled at simplifying complex legal concepts for non‑legal stakeholders.
• Strong stakeholder management across senior leadership, investors, and external partners.
• Ability to prioritise effectively in a lean environment and focus on highest‑value work.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills at executive level.

Qualifications

• Law degree.
• Professional legal qualification.

Additional Information

• Competitive Compensation: A base salary that reflects your expertise and impact. Bonus scheme to share in our success.
• Financial security & wellbeing: Immediate participation in our pension scheme. Private medical insurance for you and your family from day one. Income protection and life insurance for peace of mind.
• Flexibility & work‑life balance: Hybrid working arrangements to support your lifestyle. An open holiday policy with no upper limit—take the time you need, when you need it. Support for volunteering and causes that matter to you.
• Growth & development: Opportunities for professional development and career progression. Exposure and interaction with global teams.
• Inclusive, supportive culture: A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. A collaborative environment where your voice is valued and your wellbeing is prioritised.
• Impact & purpose: The chance to work on technology that drives global economic inclusion and makes a real difference in people’s lives.

Trustonic is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on any grounds. We empower, engage, enable and value differences between people, including; different races, ethnicities, genders, ages, religions, disabilities and sexual orientations, with differences in education, backgrounds, skill sets, experiences and knowledge.