Anti-Financial Crime Legal Counsel in Slough

Exciting opportunity with our client to help build global infrastructure and teams from the ground up. What makes this especially compelling is that you’re not just stepping into a role—you’re helping shape how the business operates moving forward, with real visibility and impact. It’s a chance to be part of a well-known global brand at a pivotal moment of transformation and growth.

We are seeking a qualified lawyer to join the Legal team, reporting to the Head of Regulatory and Compliance. This role will be responsible for advising a global business on critical corporate criminal risks, including international sanctions, trade and export controls, anti-bribery and corruption (ABC), anti-money laundering (AML), and competition and antitrust compliance.

The ideal candidate will be technically strong, capable of distilling complex topics into clear guidance, and comfortable working on new and evolving challenges. This role requires a commercially astute professional with experience advising multinational corporations or financial institutions, managing investigations, and handling regulatory and licensing matters.

• Regulatory & Trade Compliance
  • Provide strategic legal advice and guidance on international sanctions and export control matters, including global sanctions regimes (e.g., US, UK, EU, UN).
  • Assess risks related to transactions, operations, supply chains, counterparties, jurisdictions, and products.
  • Support the development, implementation, and maintenance of the organization’s trade compliance framework, including policies, procedures, and internal controls.
  • Work with external counsel on export control classifications (e.g., EU Dual-Use, EAR, ITAR, military items) and customs classifications (HS / CN codes).
  • Provide legal support on licensing strategies, export authorizations, exemptions, and reporting obligations.
• Financial Crime & Risk Management
  • Assess and manage financial crime risks, particularly in commercial transactions, customer and third-party relationships, and cross-border flows of goods, software, technology, and technical assistance.
  • Advise on compliance with applicable ABC, AML, competition, and antitrust laws (UK, US, EU).
  • Draft and review provisions in international commercial contracts addressing financial crime risks, including trade compliance, sanctions and export controls, customs, and risk allocation clauses.
• Training, Governance & Continuous Improvement
  • Contribute to and deliver compliance training and awareness initiatives tailored to business needs.
  • Support continuous improvement and digitalization initiatives, including trade compliance tools, screening solutions, and automation of classification and control processes.
  • Ensure alignment with internal policies related to ethics & compliance, health & safety, cybersecurity, and financial governance.
  • Collaborate with stakeholders to prepare and support incident response planning.

This role offers the opportunity to work both autonomously and collaboratively on complex legal matters. Close partnership with Legal, Ethics & Compliance, and cross-functional teams is essential. The position is based in London with a hybrid working model (approximately 3 days per week in the office).

Qualified lawyer licensed to practice in the UK, EU, or US.

• Significant experience advising on international sanctions and/or export controls within a law firm, corporate, or financial institution.
• Willingness to broaden expertise across financial crime risks (ABC, AML, antitrust).
• Working knowledge of UK, EU, and/or US regulatory frameworks.
• Strong analytical, drafting, and communication skills.
• Proven commercial judgment and ability to support business strategy.
• Ability to influence stakeholders and navigate differing perspectives.
• Strong cross-cultural awareness and ability to work in global environments.

• Legal advisory in complex regulatory environments.
• Risk assessment and mitigation.
• Stakeholder engagement and influencing.
• Contract drafting and negotiation.
• Regulatory interpretation and application.
• Project and workload management in a fast-paced environment.

• Experience advising on ABC, AML, competition, or antitrust matters.
• Exposure to regulatory investigations and enforcement actions involving authorities such as the UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), National Crime Agency (NCA), HM Treasury / OFSI, US Department of Justice (DOJ), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
• Experience within regulated industries (e.g., technology, energy).
• International legal experience across multiple jurisdictions.