Senior Associate, Finance Regulatory (Payments)

ASHURST BUSINESS SERVICES LIMITED; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A global law firm is seeking a Senior Associate in Finance Regulatory to provide expert advice on payment regulations. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in EU and UK payments law and a strong interest in the fintech sector. Opportunities for career advancement and secondments are available, emphasizing a collaborative environment and client-focused solutions.

Qualifications

• Significant post-qualification experience in payments law.
• Strong knowledge of EU and UK payment legislation.
• Ability to explain regulatory issues in business-friendly terms.

Responsibilities

• Advise on regulatory requirements for payment service providers.
• Coordinate international regulatory projects.
• Engage with industry bodies to shape market practices.

Skills

Legal and regulatory work relating to payments

Advising on EU and UK legislation relating to payments

Knowledge of regulatory frameworks

Payments services expertise

Problem-solving for clients

Communication skills

Job description

Overview

Senior Associate, Finance Regulatory (Payments) – Ashurst's Financial Regulatory team and Payments Practice.

Ashurst is a leading progressive global law firm with a history spanning more than 200 years, expanding into new technologies through Ashurst Advance and our consulting arm. Our in‑depth understanding of clients and commitment to service have made us a trusted adviser to local and global corporates, financial institutions and governments in commercial law.

Team overview

Ashurst is strengthening its regulatory offering in London as part of its global strategy to grow in the financial sector. The firm is focused on expanding its payments practice and has recently hired a market-leading payments partner to support this growth.

What we do

The financial regulation practice is genuinely global. London and Sydney are the firm’s strongest offices in this area, with highly regarded teams also in Hong Kong, Melbourne, Tokyo, Beijing, Washington, Frankfurt, Paris, Luxembourg and Madrid. There are also contentious teams in these jurisdictions who work closely with the non‑contentious regulatory team. Our payments practice works with leading international banks, payment systems, fintechs and tech firms, advising on regulatory requirements including authorisation, conduct of business, financial crime and prudential requirements.

Typical work includes

• advising on the application of EU and UK regulation to payment service providers and payment systems in relation to business expansion, new products and commercial partnerships;
• designing, leading and coordinating with clients on international regulatory projects and reviews involving multiple jurisdictions across different regions;
• working as part of our global fintech practice to establish new regulated fintech businesses – engaging with the entire regulatory process from perimeter advice and new authorisations, to ongoing compliance and change management;
• reviewing, drafting and negotiating agreements relating to the provision of regulated payment services and related services, as well as agreements relating to outsourced functions supporting such services;
• working with industry bodies and regulators to help shape market practice and advocate for effective regulation;
• advising firms on digital transformation projects and new digital / fintech offerings.

We also host monthly regulatory breakfasts, roundtables and other events to inform clients of upcoming regulatory changes, enforcement action and market best practice.

Our associates and partners are often quoted in industry journals, mainstream media and in television and radio programmes, supported by an excellent team of business services colleagues.

Job overview

This is an excellent opportunity for a leading senior associate to drive their career to the next level. You will work among leading individuals for globally recognised clients. You should have the ability to think outside the box, the confidence to challenge peers and be able to proactively offer ideas and thoughts. The team prides itself on commercially sensible and pragmatic advice to clients. Our clients expect us to come up with risk-based solutions and we are looking for someone to whom this appeals.

The team has a flat structure – partner and senior support is always available, but all associates are given the autonomy to progress matters, build relationships with clients and become trusted advisors in their own right. Associates are encouraged to work collaboratively with the whole team.

We are currently looking for a Senior Associate.

Essential skills and experience

• Significant post‑qualification experience of a broad range of legal and regulatory work relating to payments.
• Significant experience advising on the application of EU and UK legislation relating to payments (including EU PSD2, EU EMD2, UK PSRs, UK EMRs).
• A strong working knowledge of related regulatory frameworks (e.g. UK FSMA, UK MLRs / EU MLD, EU/UK Funds Transfer Regulation, FCA Consumer Duty etc.).
• Experience advising on various payment services, including issuing (cards, digital wallets), merchant acquiring, operating e‑money and other payment accounts, money transfers and open banking services.
• The ability to apply law and guidance to complex fact patterns to problem solve for clients and to explain possible solutions to regulatory issues in a business‑friendly manner.
• An up‑to‑date knowledge of major regulatory developments affecting the payments sector and the ability to keep abreast of regulatory change and engage proactively with new and proposed legislation.
• A genuine interest in payment service providers, payment systems and related fintechs, and how the payments sector operates and is evolving.
• The ability to communicate clearly with clients and to earn their trust and confidence.

Representative clients

We work with many of the leading global banks, as well as major market infrastructure providers and fintech firms.

Career advancement

An established Senior Associate Career Path Framework is in place, clearly defining expectations and outlining opportunities for promotion.

Secondment opportunities

Opportunities often arise for associates to spend time on secondment in house with a key client of the firm. From time to time, secondment opportunities also come up within other Ashurst offices in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia.

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