Senior Legal Counsel

First Central; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading insurance company is seeking an experienced Senior Legal Counsel to provide strategic legal advice and lead negotiations across a variety of insurance matters. The role offers flexibility in work location, with options for remote work or attendance at the office. Ideal candidates will have over 5 years of PQE in insurance law, strong regulatory knowledge, and excellent communication skills. This position is integral to shaping risk management and meeting regulatory challenges.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Supportive workplace environment

Mentoring opportunities

Qualifications

• 5+ years PQE in insurance law, gained in-house or in private practice.
• Experience managing legal negotiations and drafting agreements.
• Strong understanding of regulatory frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic legal advice across the Group.
• Lead negotiations and drafting agreements related to insurance.
• Manage legal responses to regulatory bodies.

Skills

Experience in insurance law

Regulatory compliance expertise

Commercial contract law knowledge

Excellent communication skills

Mentoring ability

Education

Qualified Solicitor or Barrister (or equivalent)

Job description

Overview

We’re 1st Central, a market-leading insurance company utilising smart data and technology at pace. Rapid growth has been based on giving our 1.4 million customers exactly what they want: great value insurance with an excellent service. And that’s the same for our colleagues too; we won Insurance Employer of the Year at the British Insurance Awards 2024 and our Glassdoor score is pretty mega too!

Are you an experienced legal professional with deep expertise in insurance law?

We’re looking for a Senior Legal Counsel to join our collaborative legal team and take the lead on complex legal matters across the insurance landscape. This is a high-impact role where your specialist knowledge will help shape how we operate, manage risk, and stay ahead of regulatory developments.

What you’ll be doing

• Providing strategic legal advice across the Group, with a focus on insurance law, regulatory compliance, and commercial contracts.
• Leading negotiations and drafting agreements related to insurance distribution, underwriting, claims, and financial services.
• Managing legal responses to regulatory bodies including the FCA, HMRC, Gibraltar Financial Services Commission, and Guernsey regulators.
• Supporting broker and distribution activities, including consumer lending and County Court matters.
• Advising on company law and broader corporate governance issues.
• Collaborating with the Group General Counsel and deputising when needed.
• Mentoring junior legal professionals and promoting knowledge-sharing across the business.

Flexible working

We offer flexible working options: you can be based near Haywards Heath (West Sussex) and join us in the office once a week, or you can be based remotely or from our Salford Quays (Manchester) office, with occasional visits to the office to connect with the team.

What you’ll bring

• Qualified Solicitor or Barrister (or equivalent) with circa 5+ years PQE.
• Proven experience in insurance law, ideally gained in-house or in private practice within the insurance or financial services sector.
• Strong understanding of regulatory frameworks and commercial contract law.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• A collaborative mindset and a passion for mentoring others.

What we’re looking for

• Detail-oriented, organised, and proactive.
• Open-minded, adaptable, and approachable.
• Able to present complex information clearly and confidently.
• Committed to continuous improvement and professional development.
• Discreet and professional when handling sensitive information.

Why join us?

If you're a strategic thinker with a strong foundation in insurance law, and you want to work on meaningful projects in a supportive, down-to-earth legal team — we’d love to hear from you.

How to apply

Apply now and let’s talk.

What can we do for you?

People first. Always. We’re passionate about our colleagues and know the best people deserve an extraordinary working environment. We owe it to them so that’s what we offer. Our workplaces are energetic, inspirational, supportive. To get a taste of the advantages you’ll enjoy, take a look at all our perks here.

Intrigued? Our Talent team can tell you everything you need to know about what we want and what we’re offering, so feel free to get in touch.