Legal Counsel – Commercial

JR United Kingdom; Southampton; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the financial services sector is seeking a junior lawyer to join their commercial team. The role offers substantial autonomy and the chance to work on a variety of complex legal agreements. Candidates should possess 3+ years of PQE and experience in financial services, along with strong negotiation and client interaction skills. This dynamic environment requires someone who can manage pressure, work independently, and communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Approximately 3+ years PQE in law.
• Experience in Financial Services is essential.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently.

Responsibilities

• Reviewing, drafting, negotiating legal documentation.
• Providing general commercial advice.
• Dealing with internal stakeholders/clients.

Skills

Financial Services

Legal Drafting

Negotiation

Communication Skills

Client Focus

Education

Qualified Lawyer (English or Commonwealth)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

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A junior lawyer within the commercial team. The team services the European, Middle East and APAC wholesale brokerage businesses of BGC, GFI, Aurel & Sunrise and the global FENICS technology businesses.

This role involves regular interaction with internal business stakeholders and management. There is a genuine global dimension to the remit as well as substantial autonomy, ownership and responsibility. The environment is fast paced with a demanding customer base therefore the role requires a person who is able to manage pressure and can commit and work to deadlines.

The contractual hours are 9 am to 6 pm but these are regarded as the minimum working hours.

For immediate start.

Key responsibilities:

A list of the main duties and expected outcomes of the role:

• Dealing with internal stakeholders/clients and external customers and/or service providers to ensure smooth delivery of legal documentation within an orderly time scale.
• Reviewing, drafting, negotiating a wide range of agreements and providing legal advice on associated business issues. Agreement types include: IB agreements, Terms of Business, brokerage rates agreements, commission sharing and netting agreements, confidentiality agreements, licenses, services agreements, technology contracts, intra group agreements, bank guarantees, engagement letters, clearing, custody and collateral agreements and marketing agreements and other agreements as required.
• Providing general commercial advice.
• Assisting periodically with M&A activities, including confidentiality, due diligence, and document reviews.
• Participating in new corporate projects, such as new offices, internal reorganisations, joint ventures, and advising on regulatory changes.

Skills / experience required:

• English or Commonwealth qualified lawyer with approximately 3+ years PQE.
• Experience in Financial Services is essential.
• Additional experience in compliance, intellectual property, structured products, or derivatives would be beneficial but is not mandatory.

Systems used:

Proficiency with Microsoft Office and familiarity with documentation management systems is advantageous.

Personal attributes:

The department is lively and busy; therefore, the candidate should handle competing demands maturely and build good rapport with stakeholders and colleagues.

Working effectively:

• Self-motivated and capable of working independently with minimal supervision.
• Confident in addressing a wide range of issues.
• Ownership of tasks and ensuring resolution within agreed timeframes.
• Highly organized, disciplined, and responsive.

Client focus:

• Understanding clients and their commercial needs.
• Collaborating effectively with other departments in both front and back office.

Communications:

• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with the business and other departments.
• Sharing knowledge and experience with the team.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

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