Associate Legal Director

Vermelo; Greater London; Remote; GBP 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Vermelo is seeking an Associate Legal Director to support the Legal Director in delivering the Group’s strategy by providing pragmatic advice, managing complex matters and mitigating legal, regulatory, and contractual risks. The role involves driving improvements across the Legal function, building stakeholder relationships, and enhancing capability through training and knowledge sharing.

The role requires substantial post-qualification experience in insurance or regulated financial services,

Qualifications

• Significant post-qualification experience in private practice or in-house, ideally in insurance or regulated financial services.
• Strong expertise in insurance distribution, risk transfer, and commercial contracts, incl. technology & outsourcing.
• Experience advising senior stakeholders, managing complex matters independently, and supporting regulatory compliance.
• Experience improving legal processes and controls and mentoring junior colleagues.
• Strong legal judgement, commercial awareness, and customer-focused decision-making.
• Excellent drafting, negotiation, and contract analysis skills.

Responsibilities

• Support the Legal Director in delivering the Group’s legal strategy and objectives.
• Provide practical legal and commercial advice to senior stakeholders and Boards.
• Lead legal support for complex insurance, commercial, reinsurance, distribution, outsourcing and technology agreements.
• Draft, review and negotiate contracts, managing legal, regulatory and commercial risks.
• Advise on disputes, litigation, data protection, employment, intellectual property and corporate matters.
• Manage legal matters independently, escalating significant risks appropriately.
• Improve legal processes, policies, contract management and the use of legal technology.
• Support legal risk controls and collaborate with Risk, Compliance and business teams on regulatory developments.
• Manage external legal advisers and ensure cost-effective delivery.
• Develop legal capability through training, guidance, mentoring and knowledge sharing.

Skills

Insurance distribution

Risk transfer

Commercial contracts

Regulatory compliance

Drafting

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Contract management

Data protection

Governance & controls

Job description

Location: The role is largely remote, however travel to London will be required.

We are looking for an Associate Legal Director who will support the Legal Director in delivering the Group’s legal strategy by providing pragmatic, commercially focused advice, managing complex legal matters and mitigating legal, regulatory and contractual risks. You will be required to drive continuous improvement across the Legal function, build strong stakeholder relationships and enhance legal capability through guidance, training and knowledge sharing.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Legal Director in delivering the Group’s legal strategy and objectives.
• Provide practical legal and commercial advice to senior stakeholders and Boards.
• Lead legal support for complex insurance, commercial, reinsurance, distribution, outsourcing and technology agreements.
• Draft, review and negotiate contracts, managing legal, regulatory and commercial risks.
• Advise on disputes, litigation, data protection, employment, intellectual property and corporate matters.
• Manage legal matters independently, escalating significant risks appropriately.
• Improve legal processes, policies, contract management and the use of legal technology.
• Support legal risk controls and collaborate with Risk, Compliance and business teams on regulatory developments.
• Manage external legal advisers and ensure cost-effective delivery.
• Develop legal capability through training, guidance, mentoring and knowledge sharing.

Essential Skills and Knowledge

• Significant post qualification legal experience within private practice or in-house, ideally in insurance or regulated financial services.
• Strong expertise in insurance distribution, risk transfer, claims supply and commercial contracts, including technology and outsourcing.
• Experience advising senior stakeholders, managing complex legal matters independently and supporting regulatory compliance.
• Experience improving legal processes and controls and mentoring junior colleagues.
• Strong legal judgement, commercial awareness and customer-focused decision-making.
• Excellent drafting, negotiation and contract analysis skills.
• Clear communication and strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, identify risks and work effectively under pressure.
• Strong understanding of risk management, governance and controls.
• Proactive, collaborative and adaptable, with high integrity and a commitment to continuous improvement, technology and knowledge sharing.