Legal Counsel

Overview

In this role you will support Shawbrook’s central legal team on transactional and contentious work, including M&A, joint ventures, disposals and post-completion integration, as well as regulatory matters with FCA/PRA engagement. You will advise senior stakeholders up to ExCo level and help protect the bank’s interests across disputes and regulatory reviews. You’ll collaborate with diverse teams and external counsel, contributing to strategic business outcomes in a fast-paced, growth-focused environment. This role offers genuine breadth and exposure in banking law and regulatory affairs.

Pay / Benefits

• Headspace access
• Peppy digital health app
• EAP for wellbeing
• Cycle to work scheme
• Contributory pension scheme
• 27 days holiday per year

Responsibilities

• Advise on M&A and corporate development activities (acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures, strategic transactions, post-completion integration)
• Manage contentious regulatory matters and related regulatory engagement (FCA and PRA investigations, enforcement, skilled person reviews, supervisory interactions)
• Lead on privilege establishment over internal investigations and document preservation
• Support insurance notifications and claims arising from complaints, litigation, regulatory matters, cyber events, coordinating with brokers, insurers, external counsel and Finance
• Build relationships across the Group with GC, Legal Directors, Heads of Legal, Corporate Development, Risk & Compliance, HR, Complaints and Finance to optimise customer outcomes
• Manage external counsel (instructions, strategy alignment, budget control) and consider in-house options where sensible
• Contribute to wider central legal team work (litigation, corporate advisory, funding structures, capital markets, listed company obligations)

Key requirements

• Qualified solicitor or barrister with current England and Wales practising certificate
• Post-qualification experience in banking, regulatory or transactional work preferred
• In-house experience in financial services or banking is highly desirable
• Comfort working with senior stakeholders up to ExCo and providing practical, commercially-minded legal advice
• Ability to manage external counsel, budgets and fees

• Intellectual curiosity
• Commercial acumen
• Solutions-focused and pragmatic advice
• M&A and corporate development
• Regulatory and financial services law (FCA/PRA)
• Insurance notifications and claims process

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