Senior Legal Counsel, EMEA

Overview

In this role you will lead Finastra’s EMEA legal team from London, shaping high‑value commercial decisions and guiding complex technology transactions with major financial institutions. You’ll partner with Sales, Finance, and Product to balance risk with commercial goals while developing a high‑performing legal function. You’ll act as a trusted adviser to senior leaders and strengthen Finastra’s London hub as a regional legal powerhouse. This is a strategic leadership role with significant cross‑border impact and visibility.

Pay / Benefits

• unlimited vacation
• hybrid working
• Employee Assistance Program
• health, life and disability insurance
• retirement plans
• volunteering and donation‑matching

Responsibilities

• Lead, support, and develop the EMEA legal team across Europe.
• Serve as the senior escalation point for complex commercial and contractual matters.
• Negotiate software, SaaS, hosting, licensing, services and broader technology agreements with enterprise customers.
• Collaborate with Sales, Finance, Product and senior leaders to align commercial objectives with legal risk.
• Provide pragmatic legal guidance on high‑value engagements with major financial institutions.
• Build relationships across the business and influence key commercial decisions.
• Drive consistency, efficiency, and best practices in legal processes.
• Act as an approver in the Finastra deal approval committee and ensure governance before commitments.
• Monitor legal and regulatory developments affecting software vendors and financial services customers.
• Lead resolution of complex customer disputes and align outcomes with business needs.
• Strengthen Finastra’s London presence and support matters across EMEA, including the Middle East.

Key requirements

• A law degree or equivalent legal qualification.
• Fluency in English; ability to communicate complex topics clearly.
• Experience leading, managing, or developing legal professionals.
• Proven track record negotiating complex enterprise software, SaaS, hosting, licensing or related technology agreements.
• Strong software vendor‑side experience in enterprise software, fintech, or financial services technology.
• Commercial mindset with a pragmatic, solution‑oriented approach to legal risk.
• Ability to make autonomous decisions in a fast‑moving environment.
• Sound judgement and risk‑based decision making with escalation as needed.
• Excellent stakeholder management, influencing, communication, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to lead complex negotiations with clarity and credibility, balancing customer and internal priorities.
• Awareness of IT, software and financial services industry developments.
• Knowledge of DORA, GDPR, privacy and security practices in software vendor context.
• Experience supporting matters involving the Middle East.
• Proficiency in German, French, Spanish, Italian or Portuguese (desired).
• Willingness to travel occasionally within Europe.

• stakeholder management
• influencing
• communication
• negotiating complex enterprise software
• SaaS, hosting, licensing and services agreements
• technology agreements

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