Legal Counsel

NatWest Group; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial services institution in London seeks an experienced Legal Counsel to manage the legal team’s delivery of advice for the Fund Finance business. You will provide expert legal guidance, engage with stakeholders, and enhance the team's operational practices, all while minimizing legal risks. This role is critical to managing communications, achieving high performance standards, and supporting strategic objectives. Must have substantial legal experience and strong stakeholder management skills.

Qualifications

• Significant experience working as a solicitor or barrister.
• Experience in the financial services industry.
• Track record of stakeholder management.

Responsibilities

• Lead legal team's Fund Finance practice to deliver legal strategy.
• Provide expert legal advice and minimize legal risks.
• Manage internal and external communication of legal advice.
• Support strategic objectives and manage legal costs effectively.

Skills

Expert knowledge of law, regulation and practice

Stakeholder management

Industry level knowledge

Understanding of commercial environment

Job description

Join us as a Legal Counsel

• In this high profile role, you’ll lead our legal team's Fund Finance practice to deliver our legal strategy and provide expert, accurate and cost effective legal advice
• Your knowledge of law, regulation and practice will be invaluable, together with your significant experience in the financial services industry
• You’ll be recognised as an expert in your field, and be exposed to senior stakeholders across the bank and externally
• You'll gain significant exposure to market leading transactions and strategic projects, with high level market and industry engagement
• You'll have responsibility for development of the wider team's capabilities in this area, with the potential for line management responsibilities
• You'll be expected to work from the London office 2 days per week minimum

What you'll do

We’re looking for an experienced Legal Counsel to manage the team’s delivery of legal advice and support to NatWest Markets' Fund Finance business. You’ll work closely with stakeholders and legal colleagues to ensure the timely, effective and efficient delivery of all issues, projects and initiatives, either directly or through the team.

You’ll also be:

• Making sure the legal advice is readily understandable to non-lawyers, delivered at the right time, and remains commercial while minimising legal risks
• Striving for continuous improvements in the operating practices and processes of the legal team, including identifying efficiencies, improvements and opportunities to reduce costs through the use of technology and other solutions
• Building, managing and leading the legal team's Fund Finance practice to attain high performance standards with a focus on development opportunities for yourself and the other team members and proactive succession planning
• Making sure the legal team manages and delivers the communication of internal and external legal advice and input on transactions and projects to stakeholders in a commercial, user friendly and efficient manner
• Engaging with the external market, including building relationships with law firms across the sector, representing NatWest Markets on industry level working groups and interacting with our regulators
• Actively supporting the wider Legal and Regulatory Affairs strategic objectives, including managing legal costs through the use of e-billing, auctions and other cost tools, driving a culture of disciplined cost management and controls and leveraging opportunities presented by technology, data and AI

The skills you'll need

You’ll have significant experience working as a solicitor or barrister. You’ll also have experience in the financial services industry with a track record of stakeholder management

You’ll also demonstrate:

• Industry level knowledge of the legal and regulatory environment and issues within which the division or business operates
• An in depth understanding of the commercial environment within which the division or business operates
• Expert knowledge of law, regulation and practice in connection with the division or business
• The ability to recognise issues of strategic, legal or reputational importance and evaluate and direct how they should be addressed or resolved
• The ability to gain the respect of senior executive, other colleagues and external professional contacts