General Counsel

JR United Kingdom; Slough; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a rapidly growing and award-winning bank as a General Counsel. This role involves overseeing all legal matters across the organization with a focus on retail and SME banking. You will be key to shaping the bank's legal strategies and ensuring compliance in a dynamic work environment.

Benefits

8% company pension contribution

Top tier private medical cover

Death in service at 4 x base salary

Mental health support services

Enhanced maternity and paternity leave

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years PQE, ideally in a top-tier law firm or in-house.
• Experience in retail and/or SME lending.
• Strong knowledge of UK banking regulations.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all legal and regulatory matters for the organization.
• Provide legal advice on lending, corporate, and regulatory issues.
• Lead legal support on transactions and ensure compliance.

Skills

Commercial awareness

Risk management

Legal advisory

Negotiation skills

Education

Qualified solicitor (England & Wales)

Job description

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Join one of the UK’s fastest growing and award-winning banks.

We are a team of ambitious, passionate, hardworking, and committed people who have successfully created and launched one of the UK’s newest specialist property finance banks. As we embark on an exciting journey of growth, we are seeking exceptional new team members who possess both the ambition and drive to contribute to our vision. At GB Bank, we believe that career progression should not only be achievable but accelerated, enabling our employees to reach their potential in a supportive and dynamic atmosphere.

Our environment is fast-paced and collaborative, where your efforts are recognised, rewarded, and make a tangible impact. We take pride in fostering and open and inclusive culture that not only embraces change but also encourages continuous learning and professional development.

In this role, you will:

As the General Counsel, you will play a critical role at the heart of our business. You will be responsible for overseeing all legal and regulatory matters across the organisation, ensuring compliance with the complex and evolving legal landscape of UK retail and SME banking. This role demands a commercially minded legal professional with a deep understanding of financial services regulation, structured finance and corporate governance.

You will act as the primary legal adviser to senior management and the Board, ensuring all decisions are grounded in sound legal reasoning. From the structuring of lending deals and commercial partnerships to advising on regulatory obligations and policy development, you will contribute significantly to the strategic direction and risk management of the bank.

Key areas of responsibility:

• Serve as the in-house legal expert across all aspects of the Bank’s activities, with a focus on retail and SME banking.
• Provide clear, pragmatic legal advice to internal stakeholders on a broad range of matters including lending, corporate, commercial, regulatory and employment.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and internal policies, keeping pace with changes in the legal and regulatory landscape.
• Act as a trusted advisor to the Board and Executive Team, including attending governance committees and presenting key legal insights.
• Lead legal support on lending transactions, including bridging and real estate finance, working closely with the Credit and Product teams.
• Draft, review, and negotiate complex loan and security documentation (e.g. facility agreements, debentures, intercreditor agreements)
• Advise on transaction structuring, due diligence, deal execution and associated regulatory considerations.
• Support the management of the existing lending portfolio, including restructurings, amendments, waivers, and enforcement actions where required.
• Provide specialist advice on UK financial services regulation, with reference to the PRA/FCA regimes, Consumer Duty, SMCR and associated obligations.
• Support engagement with regulatory authorities including the FCA, PRA and the Financial Ombudsman Service.
• Work alongside the Compliance and Risk teams to identify and mitigate legal and reputational risks and ensure effective governance.
• Draft, review and negotiate a range of commercial contracts, including technology and third-party supplier agreements, ensuring terms reflect legal and regulatory requirements.
• Develop and maintain legal frameworks, precedents, policies and internal procedures appropriate for a regulated financial institution.
• Build and scale a fit-for-purpose legal function, including the selection and management of external counsel /legal panel as required.
• Contribute to strategic decision-making and support business planning through a legal lens.
• Foster a culture of legal and regulatory awareness across the Bank through internal training and accessible guidance.

A bit about you:

• Qualified solicitor (England & Wales) with at least 10 years’ PQE, preferably gained in a top-tier law firm and/or in-house at a regulated financial institution.
• Demonstrable experience in retail and/or SME lending, including general finance, real estate finance or structured finance transactions.
• Strong working knowledge of UK banking regulation and regulatory frameworks, including FCA/PRA requirements.
• Experience advising on transactional lending documentation and negotiating with borrowers, counterparties, and external legal advisers.
• A hands-on, commercially savvy approach to risk management, balancing regulatory obligations with practical business needs.
• Ability to communicate complex legal matters in a concise and accessible manner to a range of internal stakeholders.
• Track record of delivering legal services in a fast-moving, high-growth, entrepreneurial environment, ideally within fintech or challenger banking.
• Strong team player, collaborative mindset, and ability to thrive under pressure.

What we can offer you:

? 8% company pension contribution and 3% individual contribution (which you can opt to increase)

? Top tier private medical cover with WPA - includes no excess + you can add family through salary sacrifice

? Death in service at 4 x base salary with Aviva

? Mental health support - through a helpline and counselling sessions

? Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave

? Various surprise and delight moments throughout the year to help build team connection

What else do I need to know?

• Location: London-based (Strong presence in London Office)

We are an equal opportunities employer and positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates, regardless of their age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital/civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity.

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