General Counsel / Head of Legal

HR Force International; City Of London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

A growing technology firm in London is seeking a seasoned General Counsel / Head of Legal to lead its global legal and compliance function. This role requires over 12 years of legal experience, including strong knowledge of regulations across multiple jurisdictions. You will develop legal strategies, advise executives, and manage compliance with financial and data protection laws. This position offers competitive compensation and a dynamic work culture.

Benefits

Competitive executive compensation

Performance-based incentives

Dynamic, collaborative culture

Qualifications

• 12+ years of progressive legal experience.
• At least 5 years in a General Counsel / Head of Legal role.
• Strong knowledge of AML, KYC, data protection, and regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement global legal and compliance strategy.
• Advise Board and executive leadership on legal matters.
• Lead negotiations for enterprise SaaS contracts.

Skills

Experience in regulated industries

Strategic thinking

Hands-on legal expertise

Commercial acumen

Excellent communication

Education

Law degree (JD, LLB, or equivalent)

Job description

About the Role

We are seeking a seasoned General Counsel / Head of Legal to lead the global legal and compliance function for a rapidly growing technology company operating in regulated industries. This is a senior leadership role responsible for building and managing the legal strategy, ensuring compliance across multiple jurisdictions, and acting as a trusted advisor to the executive team and Board of Directors.

The ideal candidate will bring strong experience in SaaS, RegTech, FinTech, cybersecurity, or compliance-driven industries, and a proven ability to navigate complex regulatory landscapes across Americas, EMEA, and APAC. This role requires a mix of strategic thinking, hands-on legal expertise, and commercial acumen, with the ability to proactively identify risks and enable business growth at scale.

Key Responsibilities

Legal Strategy & Governance

• Develop and implement the company’s global legal and compliance strategy aligned with business growth objectives.
• Advise the Board and executive leadership on legal, regulatory, and governance matters.
• Ensure strong corporate governance frameworks and policies across global entities.

Commercial & Contract Management

• Lead negotiations for enterprise SaaS contracts, licensing agreements, and strategic partnerships.
• Draft, review, and approve contracts with customers, vendors, and partners to minimize risks and maximize business value.
• Standardize contract frameworks and streamline deal-closing processes for scalability.

Regulatory Compliance

• Oversee compliance with AML, KYC, data privacy (GDPR, CCPA, PDPA, etc.), cybersecurity, and financial regulations across multiple jurisdictions.
• Act as the primary contact for regulators, auditors, and external counsel globally.
• Monitor legal and regulatory developments that may impact business operations and proactively implement changes.

Risk Management & Disputes

• Identify, evaluate, and mitigate legal and commercial risks.
• Manage litigation, disputes, and investigations in collaboration with external counsel.
• Implement effective risk management and compliance training programs across the organisation.

Team Leadership

• Build, mentor, and lead an internal legal and compliance team with global coverage.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Sales, Product, Finance, and HR to provide proactive legal support.
• Foster a culture of accountability, compliance, and ethical business practices.

Key Requirements

• Experience: 12+ years of progressive legal experience, with at least 5 years in a General Counsel / Head of Legal role within SaaS, FinTech, RegTech, or other compliance-driven industries.
• Regulatory Expertise: Strong knowledge of AML, KYC, data protection, and financial regulations across Americas, EMEA, and APAC.
• Contracts & Commercial: Demonstrated experience leading enterprise SaaS contracts, licensing, and cross-border negotiations.
• Leadership: Proven ability to build and scale a global legal function, including hiring and mentoring legal and compliance professionals.
• Commercial Acumen: Strong business orientation, able to balance legal risk with strategic and commercial objectives.
• Education: Law degree (JD, LLB, or equivalent) from a top-tier institution; admission to practice in a major jurisdiction.
• Personality: Strategic, pragmatic, and solutions-driven, with excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

What We Offer

• Opportunity to lead the legal and compliance function at a fast-growing global technology company.
• High-impact leadership role with visibility at Board and executive levels.
• Competitive executive compensation, including performance-based incentives.
• Dynamic, collaborative, and innovation-driven culture.