Legal Counsel

The role:

We are seeking a high calibre Legal Counsel with regulatory and commercial background to join our fast growing and dynamic legal team in London. You will work closely with all areas of the business and take a collaborative approach to solving complex legal challenges. We are part of a worldwide fintech company in fast expansion, that values its employees and is committed to organic professional growth. We are seeking a skilled lawyer willing to be part of, and bring value to, our business and growth in the EMEA region.

About us:

We are a fast growing payment and technology business in EMEA. As part of the bigger Ant Group headquartered in China, we represent one of the key international hubs for Ant Group’s international business in providing B2B and B2C payment and product solutions to global and local fintech players, banks, merchants, users and alike. Our key business lines in EMEA include partnering with strategic fintech players, merchant/card acquirers, financial institutions, strategic global merchants, SMEs in order to provide top-notch online and offline payment solutions.

You will be expected to:

• Understand and translate into business-friendly language the directives, laws, and regulations that apply to payment networks, payment schemes, payment service providers and other participants in the payments industry.
• Work in a muti-cultural environment, being demanded to interact with internal stakeholders across the entire globe.
• Provide clear, timely and actionable legal advice to cross-border and cross-functional stakeholders on products and features being developed and launched by UK and EEA e-money/payment institutions to ensure we comply with relevant regulatory requirements whilst meeting our customers’ needs.
• Advise on product structure and draft/negotiate contracts with internal stakeholders and external counterparties.
• Act as a trusted adviser to management on key regulatory matters impacting the business across the EMEA region, including working closely with subject matter experts in compliance, AML, data privacy.
• Identify productivity improvements and help deliver process change.
• Act as a strategic business partner and help the business continue to expand internationally; researching and evaluating new territories and providing creative, proactive and results-oriented advice.

Skills, qualities and experience required

• Qualified solicitor (UK/European qualified) with at least 5 years PQE in financial services or commercial/corporate law in either a law firm or in-house legal position.
• Experience in providing legal and regulatory advice and drafting and negotiating commercial agreements, with technology/financial services background preferred.
• Strong interpersonal, organisational, and verbal and written communication skills with the ability to explain complex issues.
• Strong sense of ownership for supporting business’ commercial objectives, and interest in actively following business and technological developments relating to the global payment and fintech industry.
• Strong project management skill, ability to prioritise and manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work autonomously.