Commercial / Data Licensing Lawyer

Appleby Brown Search; Greater London; On-site; GBP 110,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Appleby Brown Search is seeking a commercially minded Legal Counsel (5–10 years’ PQE) for a London-based in-house team, focusing on data licensing, market data, and vendor agreements.

The role is hands-on in a fast-paced environment, negotiating data licences, technology agreements, and licensing arrangements to support investment and trading activities.

Qualifications

• 5–10 years PQE in financial services or related field.
• Experience negotiating data licences, technology agreements, or vendor contracts.
• Commercially astute with ability to advise stakeholders clearly.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review and negotiate data licence agreements with market data vendors and tech providers
• Advise on data usage rights, restrictions and compliance
• Support procurement and commercial teams on vendor contracting
• Provide pragmatic legal advice to front-office, tech and operations
• Manage relationships with data providers and external counsel

Skills

Data licensing

Vendor contracts

Negotiation

Commercial awareness

Financial services experience

Job description

A leading London-based investment manager is seeking a commercially minded Legal Counsel (5–10 years’ PQE) to join its dynamic in-house legal team, with a particular focus on commercial ,data licensing and vendor agreements.

This is a hands‑on role within a fast‑paced environment where the legal team works closely with the business. The successful candidate will play a key role in negotiating and advising on a wide range of market data, technology, commercial and information licensing arrangements that support the firm’s investment and trading activities.

Key Responsibilities

• Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating data licence agreements with market data vendors and technology providers
• Advising the business on data usage rights, restrictions, and compliance considerations
• Supporting procurement and commercial teams on vendor contracting matters
• Providing pragmatic legal advice to front‑office, technology, and operations teams
• Managing relationships with key data providers and external counsel where required

Candidate Profile

• 5–10 years’ PQE, ideally gained within financial services, though candidates from broader finance or commercial technology backgrounds will be considered
• Strong experience negotiating data licences, technology agreements, or vendor contracts
• Commercially astute with the ability to provide clear, pragmatic advice to business stakeholders
• Comfortable operating in a fast-moving, hands‑on environment where priorities can shift quickly
• A proactive and quick‑thinking lawyer who enjoys being close to the business

This opportunity would suit someone who thrives in an energetic and collaborative environment and enjoys taking ownership of workstreams.
It may be less suitable for candidates seeking a strictly structured 9–5 role, as the team operates in a responsive and commercially driven setting.