Deputy General Counsel

Morgan Hunt UK Limited; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 82,000 - 92,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading public sector organization is seeking a Deputy General Counsel in London. The successful candidate will lead legal advice on significant financial transactions and oversee a small legal team. The role requires substantial experience in financial markets and offers a competitive salary between £82,000 - £92,000 annually, along with a hybrid working model.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Hybrid working

Strong public sector benefits package

Qualifications

• Significant experience in financial markets transactions.
• Experience in managing and developing junior legal professionals.
• Ability to provide pragmatic, outcome-focused legal advice.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice on debt capital markets and financial regulation.
• Lead a team of legal professionals ensuring high-quality delivery.
• Document and negotiate financial service agreements.

Skills

Legal drafting

Negotiation

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Team leadership

Education

Qualified lawyer (solicitor or barrister)

Job description

Overview

Morgan Hunt are currently working with a high-profile Public Sector Organisation in their search for a Deputy General Counsel to provide strategic and operational leadership across their legal function.

This permanent opportunity offers the chance to work at the intersection of government and financial markets, advising on complex transactions and regulatory matters while leading and developing a small legal team.

This is a senior role requiring deep technical expertise and the ability to work confidently with executive leadership, C-suite stakeholders, and external partners. The successful candidate will bring significant experience in financial markets transactions - including derivatives, loans and capital markets - and will demonstrate excellent judgement, communication skills and a pragmatic approach to problem-solving. You will play a critical role in ensuring legal services uphold the highest professional standards while supporting the organisation's strategic objectives.

Alongside your technical ability, you will provide leadership to a small team of paralegals and contractors, setting priorities, managing performance and developing capability. You will also work closely with other senior colleagues across risk, compliance and governance functions to ensure a joined-up approach. This role offers the chance to work on complex, high-value transactions, influence strategic decision-making, and help shape the legal function for the future.

Job Details

Job Title: Deputy General Counsel
Location: London (Hybrid working - 3 days per week in office)
Salary: £82,000 - £92,000 per annum + benefits
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full-time (36 hours per week, flexible working considered)

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational legal advice across a wide range of practice areas including debt capital markets, derivatives, loans, financial regulation, fund management, commercial contracts and public law.
• Lead and develop a small team of legal professionals, ensuring high-quality delivery and supporting their professional growth.
• Support and advise on major capital markets activities, including debt issuance programmes and transactions.
• Document and negotiate counterparty agreements (including GMRA and ISDA) and other financial services arrangements.
• Monitor legal, regulatory and market developments, identifying risks and opportunities.
• Provide clear, concise legal advice to senior executives, ensuring risks are managed effectively and decisions are well informed.
• Oversee engagement with external legal advisers, ensuring value for money and quality of service.

Candidate Profile

• Qualified lawyer (solicitor or barrister) in England & Wales (or equivalent jurisdiction) with significant experience gained in a law firm, financial institution, regulatory body or public sector organisation.
• Strong track record in financial markets transactions - derivatives, loans, bonds/gilts, or related areas.
• Excellent legal drafting, negotiation and analytical skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence at C-suite and executive level.
• Experience managing and developing junior lawyers or paralegals.
• Ability to balance technical legal accuracy with pragmatic, outcome-focused advice.
• Experience across both public and private sector environments would be advantageous.

Why Apply?

• Opportunity to work in a unique environment at the interface of government and financial markets.
• Senior leadership role with visibility at executive and C-suite level.
• Complex and varied work across high-value transactions, regulation, and strategy.
• Chance to lead and shape a growing legal team.
• Competitive salary, hybrid working, and strong public sector benefits package.

If you are a senior lawyer with extensive financial markets experience seeking a permanent leadership role, we would love to hear from you. For more information about this excellent opportunity, please contact.

Morgan Hunt is a multi-award-winning recruitment business for interim, contract and temporary recruitment and acts as an Employment Agency in relation to permanent vacancies. Morgan Hunt is an equal opportunities employer. Job suitability is assessed on merit in accordance with the individual's skills, qualifications and abilities to perform the relevant duties required in a particular role.