Legal Counsel (12 Month FTC)

Close Brothers; London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading UK merchant banking group as part of the Legal Team. You will provide strategic legal advice and manage risks across various legal matters. The role involves advising on corporate governance, M&A transactions, and ensuring compliance with legal frameworks. We value diversity and inclusivity and encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Qualifications

• Broad legal experience including corporate, M&A, company, and commercial law.
• Experience advising on governance and legal risk issues.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice on corporate and business risk management issues.
• Support M&A transactions, including structuring advice and due diligence.
• Negotiate commercial and corporate contracts.

Skills

Corporate Law

M&A

Commercial Law

Risk Management

Communication

Education

Strong Academic Credentials

Job description

Division Close Brothers Central Functions - Legal

Location: London, United Kingdom

Salary: Competitive Basic Salary + Benefits + Discretionary Bonus

The Vacancy

Overall Summary

At Close Brothers, we seek to recruit individuals from diverse backgrounds and encourage applications even if you don't meet every requirement. We celebrate diversity, promote inclusivity, and are open to discussing flexible work options to support work-life balance.

Join the Close Brothers Legal Team, where you will provide advice and manage legal risks across various legal matters. As part of the legal team, our ideal candidate will have experience advising on strategic, corporate, governance, and legal risk issues, with the ability to think strategically and creatively, considering the wider context of legal issues and advising accordingly.

Responsibilities

1. Provide legal advice and support on strategic, corporate, business, and legal risk management issues, collaborating with colleagues across Group Central Functions and relevant divisions (including Corporate Development, Investor Relations, Finance, Company Secretariat, Facilities).
2. Support on M&A and other corporate transactions (including intra-group matters), including structuring advice, heads of terms, NDAs, due diligence, data-room processes, and transaction documentation, working with external counsel where appropriate.
3. Structure, review, and negotiate a range of commercial and corporate contracts, advising on legal and risk implications, including engagements with external auditors and advisors.
4. Add value across various legal areas, including intellectual property, even in areas outside your subject matter expertise, with external counsel involvement as needed.
5. Proactively manage legal matters and transactions.
6. Advise on the legal, regulatory, and corporate governance frameworks applicable to a listed company, including Listing Rules, Disclosure Guidelines, Transparency Rules, and Corporate Governance Code compliance.
7. Potentially manage insurance claims, including litigation affecting Group divisions, liaising with insurers, external counsel, and stakeholders.
8. Develop effective relationships with internal stakeholders and external partners such as counsel and insurers.

Candidate Requirements

• Broad legal experience, including corporate, M&A, company, and commercial law, with a willingness to provide generalist legal advice.
• Strong academic credentials, a solid career track record, and demonstrable intellectual capabilities.
• Understanding of the financial services industry and issues affecting Close Brothers.
• Knowledge of legal, regulatory, and corporate governance frameworks relevant to a listed company.
• Technically strong, pragmatic, and business-oriented legal expertise with broad legal and regulatory risk experience.
• Sound judgment, risk awareness, and excellent communication skills across all levels of the business.
• Ability to provide incisive, proactive legal advice.
• Experience operating with internal and external stakeholders in a high-paced environment, aligning legal priorities with business goals.

Desirable Skills

• In-house experience, through secondments or permanent roles, is advantageous.

We are committed to inclusivity and accessible recruitment processes. Adjustments are available for those with disabilities or long-term conditions. Please contact us at [e-mail] for alternative formats or to discuss your needs.

About Us

Close Brothers supports work-life balance with hybrid working options. We are a leading UK merchant banking group providing lending, deposit-taking, and securities trading, employing around 3,000 people mainly in the UK and Ireland. Listed on the London Stock Exchange and part of the FTSE 250, our mission is to be the best place in the UK for wealth professionals and their clients.

We serve professionals, business owners, individuals, charities, families, and employers, offering financial advice and investment services to preserve and grow savings and investments.

With approximately 900 staff across 15 UK offices, we combine local service with long-term client relationships. Sustainability and social responsibility are core to our purpose, and we are dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce from the top down.

We encourage applicants from all backgrounds. If you're interested but don't meet every criterion, we still welcome your application as we offer training opportunities. We are open to flexible working arrangements to help balance your work and home life.