Head of Legal

Redland Search - Professional Recruitment Solutions; England; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Part time

Job summary

A growing financial services business in the UK is seeking a part-time Head of Legal. This role involves developing a legal function and advising the CEO and Board. The ideal candidate will have extensive legal experience and a strong understanding of financial regulation, particularly regarding peer-to-peer lending. Responsibilities include negotiating contracts and ensuring compliance with legal standards. This is a hybrid position based in Cornwall or Cheltenham, requiring presence in the office three days a week.

Qualifications

• Experience in a senior legal role is essential.
• Relevant legal qualifications must be held.
• Understanding of the peer-to-peer lending model is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Review, draft, and negotiate commercial contracts.
• Maintain up-to-date investor terms and conditions.
• Provide legal advice to the Board and key stakeholders.
• Manage legal aspects of the loan book.

Skills

Senior legal experience

Written communication skills

Verbal communication skills

Commercial awareness

Collaborative work

Education

Relevant legal qualifications

Job description

Location: Cornwall or Cheltenham (Hybrid)

Part-Time, 3 days a week, with one day in either office.

Reporting to: Chief Executive Officer

An established and growing financial services business is seeking a highly capable Head of Legal.

The company is a UK-based marketplace lender, founded in 2013 and headquartered in Cornwall, specialising in providing secured loans to small and medium-sized businesses across the country. It connects investors with businesses needing capital, offering interest-only, property-secured loans typically starting from £100,000 with conservative loan-to-value ratios, while investors receive fixed-rate returns. Known for its relationship-led, human approach, the firm focuses on supporting regional and underserved economies and has grown from a local challenger into a nationally recognised alternative lender. Having now facilitated more than £700 million in lending, it has reported record turnover and multiple consecutive years of profitability, strengthening its position in the UK’s non-bank lending landscape. The firm currently has 40 staff.

Opportunity

This role offers the chance to build and embed a best-in-class legal function, acting as a trusted advisor to the CEO, Board, and senior leadership team. The successful candidate will combine legal expertise with a pragmatic, commercial mindset and a strong understanding of UK financial regulation.

Key Responsibilities

• Review, draft, and negotiate commercial contracts, maintaining a comprehensive contracts database.
• Maintain up-to-date investor terms and conditions.
• Review and update borrower loan contracts, security documents, and offer letters.
• Provide legal advice to the Board, internal committees, and key stakeholders.
• Support onboarding of third-party partners (law firms, valuers, brokers), ensuring terms of engagement and PI cover remain current.
• Support loan completions and redemptions.
• Manage legal aspects of the loan book in collaboration with the portfolio team, including working with external legal counsel.
• Contribute legal and practical input to strengthen internal loan, credit, and operational processes.
• Support legal aspects of new product development and commercial initiatives.
• Provide legal support to HR where required.
• Ensure the business meets FCA and other relevant financial legal standards.
• Oversee policies and processes relating to data protection, GDPR, and legal data handling obligations.

Skills & Experience Required

• Experience in a senior legal role.
• Relevant legal qualifications.
• Understanding of the peer-to-peer lending model (desirable).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong commercial and financial awareness.
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams and provide pragmatic, business-focused advice.