General Counsel - Wealth Management

MERJE; Greater London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

MERJE is partnering with an ambitious, investor-backed business to appoint a General Counsel. The role combines strategic leadership with hands-on drafting, negotiations and day-to-day legal matters, reporting to the CEO and senior leadership.

You will shape partnerships, funding, product development and expansion into new markets while establishing a scalable in-house function. Initially the sole in-house lawyer, you will balance advising on strategic decisions with practical negotiation and

Qualifications

• Senior-level legal leadership experience.
• Experience negotiating commercial partnerships and financing.
• Strong commercial judgement and independence.

Responsibilities

• Lead legal guidance on commercial agreements, financing transactions and strategic initiatives.
• Negotiate partnerships with financial institutions and wealth sector players.
• Develop contractual frameworks to support lending activity and growth.
• Collaborate with product, risk and commercial teams to evaluate opportunities.

Skills

General Counsel

Wealth management

UK experience

Commercial negotiations

Education

UK-qualified lawyer

Job description

MERJE is partnering with an ambitious, investor-backed business to appoint a General Counsel.

Combining financial services expertise with technology, the company is entering an exciting phase of growth and requires a commercially minded lawyer to help turn its plans into reality.

Working closely with the CEO and senior leadership team, you will shape how the business approaches new partnerships, funding, product development and expansion into additional markets. You will also have the autonomy to establish a legal function that evolves with the organisation.

This will suit someone who enjoys taking ownership and staying close to the detail. Initially operating as the sole in-house lawyer, you will move comfortably between advising on strategic decisions and personally drafting, negotiating and resolving day-to-day legal matters.

The opportunity

• Lead legal advice across commercial agreements, financing transactions and strategic business initiatives.
• Negotiate partnerships with financial institutions and businesses across the investment and wealth sector.
• Develop contractual arrangements that support lending activity, protect the business and accommodate future growth.
• Work alongside commercial, product and risk colleagues to assess opportunities and bring new propositions to market.
• Guide the legal approach to cross-border activity, drawing on specialist advice where required.
• Advise senior management and the Board on legal exposures, governance and key business decisions.
• Introduce effective processes, make thoughtful use of technology and develop the legal capability as the business expands.

What we’re looking for

• Previously operated as a General Counsel - ideally within a wealth management environment
• A qualified lawyer with relevant UK experience, strong commercial judgement and the confidence to operate independently in an evolving business.
• You will bring experience negotiating agreements within wealth management, investment platforms or custody, alongside a good grounding in lending, banking or financing transactions. Experience navigating cross-border arrangements is also important.
• Beyond technical ability, you will know how to explain complex issues clearly, take a proportionate approach to risk and help colleagues reach workable decisions. You should be comfortable with ambiguity, curious about unfamiliar challenges and motivated by the opportunity to build.