Associate

Eversheds Sutherland; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Healthcare and wellness

Diversity & inclusion

Training & development

Pro bono & community engagement

Retirement planning

Job summary

Eversheds Sutherland in London seeks an Associate/Senior Associate for its Consumer/Retail Finance team within the Commercial Advisory Practice Group (CAPG). The role involves advising on consumer credit, payments, and regulatory regimes, with a focus on risk, governance and client service.

You will work across product design, marketing, and sales processes, contributing to training and client engagements while mentoring junior colleagues and developing new opportunities.

Qualifications

• Deep Financial Services sector knowledge and good judgment.
• Ability to deliver high-quality legal advice with practical implementation.
• Proven ability to develop long-term client relationships and networks.
• Experience in business development and cross-functional collaboration.
• Mentor junior colleagues and lead when required.

Responsibilities

• Draft and provide advice on Consumer Credit Act and related regulations, plus UK payment services and e-money regimes.
• Advise on FCA Handbook requirements (CONC, BCOBS, MCOB) and consumer duty.
• Advise on retail consumer credit and payments products from design to marketing and drafting agreements.
• Advise on regulatory changes and assist clients with implementation.
• Assist with authorisations applications across payments/e-money sectors and FSMA perimeter.
• Conduct due diligence in corporate support transactions.
• Support other Eversheds teams on credit and payments queries.
• Prepare and deliver client training.

Skills

Financial services knowledge

Risk assessment

Legal advisory

Client relationship management

Business development

Team collaboration

Coaching/mentoring

Influence

Communication

Problem solving

Pricing & scoping

Job description

We are Eversheds Sutherland, a global law firm, with more than 5,000 people across over 30 countries. We’re full-service with deep niche and sector experience. Whatever challenge, wherever in the world, we’re equipped and ready to meet it. We live our values, we’re purposeful and purpose-led. So although the world is fast-moving and rapidly changing, we see it as a place where everyone can thrive. We’re ambitious for our clients, our communities – and for you. Whether you’re starting out on your career or well established, whether you’re a lawyer or in business services. If you’re looking for what’s next, we are too.

The Team

Our Consumer/Retail Finance team is part of our financial services group which sits within our Commercial Advisory Practice Group (CAPG).

As part of our practice, we provide services to almost every clearing bank, challenger banks and numerous other large finance institutions of all kinds including point of sale retail finance providers.

We have one of the UK’s leading credit teams with work including advice on product design, acquisition processes, distribution channels, customer facing communications & product literature, account servicing and post contractual issues. We advise on conduct risk issues and all legal and regulatory matters relating to secured and unsecured lending products. We have settled standard documents for a range of clients including all the major clearing banks and building societies, ‘challenger banks’ and other lenders and consumer credit firms. We advise on overdrafts, loans and revolving credit facilities as well as advising on the sale and purchase of loan portfolios and securitisations and undertake due diligence activities in support of corporate acquisitions.

The Role:

We are recruiting for an Associate/Senior Associate to join us in London office.

As part of this role you can expect to be involved in:

• Drafting and providing advice on all aspect of the Consumer Credit Act and its associated Regulations as well as the UK payment services and e-money regimes
• Advising on FCA handbook requirements, in particular CONC, BCOBS, MCOB and the new consumer duty
• Advising on all aspects of retail consumer credit and payments products from product design, to marketing; from drafting agreements to approving sales processes; from preparing post; contractual notices to advising on enforceability
• Advising on regulatory change and assisting clients implementation
• Advising on regulated activities and the perimeter of FSMA and assisting with authorisations applications, including in the payments and e-money sectors
• Undertaking due diligence as part of corporate support transactions
• Assisting and supporting other Eversheds Teams on credit and payments related queries
• Preparing and presenting training to client

As part of our team you would be encouraged to put ideas into action and there is always something new and different to get involved in. This includes the way we work. In 2026, our “Year of AI”, we are embedding generative AI across our client service, having partnered with Harvey as our GenAI legal assistant and rolled it out across our lawyers and trainees. You will join a team that treats technology as part of the job, and sees the fast-moving world as a place where we can all thrive and succeed. We are excited for what is next, so with us, you can be too.

Skills and experience required:

We are looking for an Associate/Senior Associate, with 2-6 PQE to join our London office.

• Deep Financial Services sector knowledge, with an eye for future developments
• Good judgment, with the ability to understand risk and be able to make sound decisions
• Able to deliver the highest quality legal advice combined with practical implementation
• Quickly able to establish trust and confidence with clients, building long-term collaborative relationships with existing clients
• Understands the value and is able to develop an internal network of stakeholders across Eversheds, for support and development of work opportunities
• Actively involved in business development, seeking out new client relationship
• Works collaboratively with other team members, even taking the lead when requested
• At a Senior Associate level, we would like for someone to be involved in coaching, supervising and mentoring junior colleagues, acting as a role model
• Able to influence, both colleagues and clients through clear, considered and persuasive communications
• Is self-aware and able to adapt style according to the situation and in order to deliver the desired outcome
• Thinks creatively in order to solve problems and actively seeks out work that is challenging and new
• Skilled at scoping and pricing accurately for work, with a thorough understanding profit and key drivers to deliver this

What’s in it for you?

• We’re fair, transparent and equitable
• We share in the success of the firm, reward alignment to our values, going above and beyond and your individual performance
• We support flexible ways of working through our remote working policy and commitment to flexible, agile and hybrid ways of working
• We support your health and performance through our dental, healthcare and wellness support
• We support everything you are and all you bring through our powerful commitment to diversity and inclusion
• We provide a platform for your career, whatever your ambitions through our structured professional and personal training, mentoring and development programs
• We provide experience and opportunity through international and cross-function exposure
• We provide an opportunity to give back through our pro bono work and community engagement
• We help you plan ahead through retirement planning, insurance and assurance

Diversity & Inclusion

At Eversheds Sutherland, “Inclusive” is a core business value. We bring together different skillsets, global mindsets and approaches. We foster diversity of thought and the freedom to put ideas into action. We have an inherent respect for the individual. We have a strong belief in collaboration and teamwork. Sharing ideas, asking questions, solving challenges and meeting our clients’ goals: together.

We want all our people to thrive at work and reach their full potential and we work hard to continue to build a diverse and inclusive culture, monitor and report on our progress and impact, and develop our approach. This is reflected in our policies, systems and processes, and in our work with diversity membership organisations.

Many of our people work flexibly in some way and we are open to considering how we can accommodate flexible working arrangements alongside role requirements. If this is important to you, please talk to us about it during the recruitment process.

We want you to perform at your best during our recruitment process. If there is any adjustment or support you need, please contact us so we can discuss how we can best assist you.

For you,

For your success.

And what's next.