Senior Legal Counsel

SquareTrade; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading insurance technology provider in London seeks a Senior Legal Counsel to provide legal guidance and support across departments. The ideal candidate has a strong background in law, especially in insurance, and the ability to manage complex legal matters independently. This position offers competitive compensation, a stimulating work environment, and opportunities for career development while ensuring compliance with legal frameworks.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Flexible working arrangements

Paid volunteer day

Qualifications

• Minimum of 6 years experience practising law in a similar role.
• Ideally at least two years at a law firm and prior in-house experience preferred.
• Familiarity with Belgian insurance regulations is a plus but not required.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert legal advice on regulatory compliance and contractual obligations.
• Draft and review insurance policies and legal documents.
• Conduct training sessions for employees on legal issues affecting the business.

Skills

Legal Advisory

Regulatory Compliance

Risk Management

Strong Analytical Skills

Project Management

Fluency in English

Education

Degree in Law

Qualified Solicitor/admission to bar in Europe

Job description

SquareTrade operates in 13 markets in Europe. As one of the largest and fastest growing mobile and consumer electronic insurance providers in Europe, SquareTrade is revolutionising and disrupting the £2bn+ market whilst setting the service standard in Europe by creating the most consumer‑centric digital protection service, obsessed with best‑in‑class operations and technology, hassle‑free service, and driving pace and product innovation in an industry that has lagged behind others. Partners include major European telecom operators such as Magenta, 3, Telenor, YouSee, DNA and Elisa as well as leading consumer electronics retailers including Amazon, FNAC, Power, Elkjop and MediaMarkt.

The European Legal and Compliance Team

The European Legal and Compliance team is responsible for all legal and regulatory compliance activities across SquareTrade in Europe. This includes advising on legal risk associated with insurance distribution, relationships with partners and suppliers, outsourcing of business services, and ensuring appropriate internal controls are always in place and adhered to. The European Legal and Compliance team also takes an active part in supporting the development of the business in Europe and the contracting and on‑boarding of new partners.

Currently based mainly in the UK, the Legal team is recruiting this role to support the extension of our business in the EEA and the next step of our expansion.

Job Description

As the company continues to grow at a rapid rate, there is an opportunity for an ambitious and hands‑on Senior Legal Counsel to assist in the development of the European Legal team to be set up for long‑term success.

As a Lawyer within SquareTrade’s in‑house team you will play a pivotal role in providing legal guidance and support to various departments within our organization. Together with colleagues in our Legal and compliance team, you will ensure that SquareTrade operates within the legal framework and remains compliant with all relevant regulations in Belgium.

This is a unique opportunity to work in a fast‑paced and entrepreneurial environment where you will be able to make an impact quickly and where your hard work will be rewarded. You will work in a lean and dynamic team and be encouraged to identify problems and bring your own solutions to improve the overall performance of the team.

We offer a competitive salary package and a stimulating work environment where your expertise and contribution will be highly valued. Join our dedicated team of professionals and make a significant impact in safeguarding data privacy for our customers across Europe and the UK.

Job Responsibilities

• Legal Advisory: Provide expert legal advice and guidance to SquareTrade management and other personnel on a wide range of topics, including insurance policy interpretation, regulatory compliance, contractual obligations, and employment.
• Insurance Policy Drafting and Review: Draft and review insurance policies, contracts, and other legal documents to identify potential risks, ensure accuracy, and mitigate liabilities.
• Regulatory Compliance: Stay abreast of changes in insurance laws and regulations in Belgium, assess their impact on the company and colleagues in the Compliance team, and help to implement necessary compliance measures.
• Litigation Management: Manage external legal counsel and represent the company in litigation matters, including escalated disputes with policyholders, regulatory and law enforcement agencies, court authorities, and other parties.
• Training and Education: Conduct training sessions and workshops for employees to increase awareness of legal issues and requirements affecting SquareTrade’s business.
• Risk Management: Observe and uphold risk‑management strategies to minimise legal exposure and protect SquareTrade’s interests.

Qualifications

• Degree (or equivalent) in Law and qualified solicitor or admission to a bar in Europe is essential. Advanced certifications or relevant professional qualifications in insurance law are highly desirable.
• Minimum of 6 years experience practising law in a similar role. Experience working in the regulated financial services industry and preferably within the insurance industry.
• Ideally at least two years at a law firm and prior in‑house experience preferred.
• Willingness to travel to Brussels on a frequent basis (about once a month).
• Familiarity with Belgian insurance regulations, including IDD, Solvency II, and GDPR is a plus but not required.
• Excellent knowledge of legal principles, practices, and industry standards, with the ability to apply them in a practical and business‑oriented manner.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to assess complex situations, identify risks, and recommend appropriate actions and practical solutions.
• Strong project management and stakeholder management skills.
• Fluency in English is required; French or Dutch is a plus but not required, with the ability to communicate effectively in both written and verbal forms. Other European languages are considered an asset.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the capacity to explain complex concepts (sufficient to conduct business in the insurance industry) in English, both written and verbal, to non‑technical audiences.
• Proven track record of managing legal matters independently and collaboratively within a team environment.
• Ability to be pragmatic and understand and communicate legal requirements as well as effective risk‑mitigation strategies and implications of non‑compliance.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast‑paced environment, prioritising and managing multiple tasks simultaneously.

Additional Information

Some of the benefits of working @Squaretrade include:

• Competitive salaries, benefits (medical, dental, vision), flex PTO, paid parental leave
• Respect for your work‑life balance
• A paid volunteer day to give back to the community
• Flexible working – 3 days per week in the office (Thursday expected)
• Remote working options available for 3 weeks each year
• Not feeling stuck! This team has exposure to many different parts of the business, making transitioning easy…we work on developing careers based on what people enjoyli>

SquareTrade is an Equal Opportunity Employer