Legal Counsel

Finastra; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited vacation

Hybrid working

Employee assistance program

Healthcare and life insurance

Retirement plans

Volunteer time off

Job summary

Finastra is seeking an experienced Legal Counsel to join the Universal Banking European Commercial & Legal team in London. This hands-on role focuses on technology contracting, drafting and negotiating software, SaaS, hosting and services agreements, and managing complex negotiations with enterprise customers.

You will lead negotiations, provide pragmatic legal guidance to senior stakeholders, and help develop the European legal function as Universal Banking evolves as a standalone business.

Qualifications

• Fully qualified lawyer in England & Wales with significant commercial experience in software/technology.
• Experience drafting and negotiating complex technology contracts (software, SaaS, hosting, services).
• Proven track record leading negotiations with large enterprise customers.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex commercial negotiations with enterprise customers and suppliers.
• Draft and negotiate software licences, SaaS, hosting and services agreements.
• Identify and mitigate contractual risk while protecting Universal Banking’s commercial model and standards.
• Provide pragmatic legal advice to senior stakeholders across Sales and Finance.
• Participate in deal approval committees and provide legal input into key commercial decisions.
• Ensure internal approvals are obtained before contracts are committed.
• Review regulatory developments and translate them into contract changes.
• Lead analysis and resolution of customer disputes and develop practical solutions.
• Provide guidance on pre-contractual and contractual documentation.
• Support development of the European Commercial & Legal team and processes as Universal Banking grows.

Skills

Technology contracting

SaaS contracts

Enterprise negotiations

Regulatory awareness

Education

England & Wales qualified

Job description

Who are we?

At Finastra, we’re a global leader in financial services software, dedicated to expanding access to financial services and shaping what’s next for the industry. Our technology powers mission‑critical solutions across Lending, Payments and Universal Banking, supporting over 7,000 customers, including 80% of the world’s top 50 banks, in more than 110 countries.

About the role

We’re looking for an experienced Legal Counsel to join the Universal Banking European Commercial & Legal team in London.

This is a hands‑on commercial role with a strong focus on technology contracting. You’ll take ownership of complex negotiations with enterprise customers, draft and negotiate software, SaaS, hosting and services agreements, and work closely with senior stakeholders to deliver commercially sound outcomes while managing legal and contractual risk.

You’ll be joining at an important point in the evolution of Universal Banking as it develops as a standalone business following its divestment from Finastra. Alongside your core commercial work, you’ll provide leadership within the European Commercial & Legal team and contribute to the development of the function, its processes and ways of working.

This role will suit someone who enjoys ownership and autonomy. You’ll be comfortable running complex contracts and negotiations largely independently, engaging confidently with customers, in‑house legal teams, external counsel and senior internal stakeholders, while applying sound judgement about when escalation is needed.

What you’ll be doing

• Lead complex commercial negotiations with enterprise customers and suppliers, taking ownership of transactions largely independently.
• Draft and negotiate software licence, SaaS, hosting and services agreements.
• Identify and mitigate contractual risk while supporting commercially workable outcomes and protecting Universal Banking’s commercial model and standards.
• Provide clear, pragmatic legal advice to senior stakeholders, particularly across Sales and Finance.
• Participate in deal approval committees and provide legal input into key commercial decisions.
• Ensure the appropriate internal approvals are obtained before contractual commitments are made.
• Review relevant legal and regulatory developments and translate these into appropriate contractual changes.
• Take a leading role in analysing and resolving customer disputes and developing practical solutions.
• Provide guidance on pre‑contractual and contractual documentation.
• Provide leadership within the European Commercial & Legal team and support the continued development of the legal function and its processes as Universal Banking develops as a standalone business.

What we’re looking for

You’ll be a fully qualified lawyer in England & Wales with significant commercial legal experience in the software or technology sector.

• Strong experience independently drafting and negotiating complex commercial technology contracts.
• A proven track record of leading negotiations with large enterprise customers.
• Strong experience of software, SaaS and technology contracting, ideally from the technology provider or supplier side.
• Working knowledge of DORA, GDPR, privacy and security in the context of a software or technology provider.
• Excellent legal and commercial judgement, with the ability to make pragmatic, risk‑based decisions.
• The confidence to operate autonomously while recognising when matters need to be escalated.
• Strong stakeholder‑management skills and the ability to communicate complex legal issues clearly, including with executive‑level stakeholders and investor representatives.
• The ability to manage multiple transactions and competing priorities.
• Effective leadership skills and the ability to contribute to the development of the European Commercial & Legal team, with experience working on enterprise wide initiatives (e.g AI principles, internal escalation frameworks, template reviews and refreshes).
• Fluency in written and spoken English, including legal terminology.
• A collaborative and adaptable approach, with a willingness to contribute beyond your core area of expertise when needed.

It would be great if you also have

• Experience within FinTech, banking, payments or financial‑services technology.
• Experience working with regulated financial‑services customers and an understanding of the contractual requirements that can flow down to technology providers.
• Additional experience in data protection, privacy or information‑security matters.
• Exposure to AI governance or AI‑related legal matters.
• Vendor or procurement contracting experience.
• Experience working across international markets, including Middle East & Africa or APAC.
• Knowledge of German, French, Spanish, Italian or Portuguese.

The kind of person who will thrive in this role

You’re comfortable being given a complex commercial matter and running with it. You can sit across the table from a sophisticated customer and their legal advisers, understand the commercial objective as well as the legal risk, and move a negotiation towards an outcome without requiring significant day‑to‑day direction.

You’ll also be comfortable stepping outside a narrow commercial‑contracting remit when the team needs it. Commercial technology work will remain the primary focus, but experience in areas such as data protection, procurement, regulatory matters or AI governance would add value to the wider team.

Why join?

This is an opportunity to join Universal Banking at a significant point in its development. As the business moves forward independently following the divestment from Finastra, you’ll have the opportunity not only to provide high‑quality commercial legal support, but also to contribute to how the European legal function evolves.

For someone who enjoys autonomy, complex technology transactions, senior stakeholder exposure and the opportunity to have a visible impact, this is a role where you can make a meaningful contribution to the development of the function.

Working model

The role is based in London with a hybrid working model requiring a minimum of two days per week in the office. Occasional travel within Europe may be required for client meetings.

We are proud to offer a range of incentives to our employees worldwide. These benefits are available to everyone, regardless of grade, and reflect the values we stand for:

Flexibility: Enjoy unlimited vacation, subject to local regulations and business priorities. Benefit from hybrid working arrangements and inclusive policies such as paid time off for voting, bereavement, and sick leave.

Well‑being: Access confidential one‑to‑one support through our Employee Assistance Program, connect with our network of Wellbeing Champions and Gather Groups, and take part in monthly events and initiatives designed to help you thrive—inside and outside of work.

Health & Financial Security: Medical, life and disability insurance, retirement plans, lifestyle, and other benefits.*

Sustainability: Paid time off for volunteering and donation‑matching opportunities to support causes that matter to you.

Inclusion: Get involved in our inclusion communities, such as Count Me In, Culture@Finastra, Proud@Finastra, Disabilities@Finastra, and Women@Finastra—open to everyone who wants to participate and contribute.

Career Development: Access online learning and accredited courses through our Skills & Career Navigator tool.

Recognition: Take part in our global recognition program, Finastra Celebrates, and share your voice through regular employee surveys that help shape our culture and ways of working.

*Specific benefits may vary by location.

At Finastra, each individual is unique—bringing their own ideas, perspectives, cultural backgrounds, and experiences. We learn from one another, value what makes us different, and create an environment where everyone feels included, supported, and able to be their authentic selves.

Be unique. Be exceptional. Help us make a difference at Finastra.