Senior Legal Counsel - Sustainability

TN United Kingdom; London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Senior Legal Counsel specializing in sustainability to join their London team. This role involves providing expert legal advice on ESG matters, ensuring compliance with evolving regulations, and supporting the Group Sustainability function. You will collaborate with senior management and legal teams to mitigate risks and enhance the company's sustainability initiatives. With a hybrid working pattern and a focus on professional development, this position offers a unique opportunity to influence the organization’s approach to sustainability while enjoying a competitive pay and benefits package.

Benefits

Private Healthcare

Enhanced Maternity Pay

Contributory Pension Scheme

Professional Development Opportunities

Qualifications

• Qualified Lawyer with experience in sustainability matters.
• Knowledge of UK and EU ESG regulations is essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal support to the Group Sustainability function.
• Assist with ESG reporting and compliance with regulations.

Skills

Legal Expertise

Sustainability Knowledge

Communication Skills

Problem Solving

Stakeholder Management

Education

Qualified Lawyer

Job description

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Senior Legal Counsel - Sustainability, London

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Client:

HSBC Global Services Limited

Location:

London, United Kingdom

Job Category:

Other

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EU work permit required:

Yes

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Job Reference:

3fb0ff0a9c18

Job Views:

4

Posted:

02.05.2025

Expiry Date:

16.06.2025

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Job Description:

Senior Legal Counsel, Sustainability – GCB4 – London

Some careers open more doors than others!

If you’re looking for a career that will unlock new opportunities, join HSBC and experience the possibilities. Whether you want a role that could take you to the top, or simply take you in an exciting new direction, HSBC offers opportunities, support and rewards that will take you further.

As an HSBC employee in the UK, you will have access to tailored professional development opportunities and a competitive pay and benefits package. This includes private healthcare for all UK-based employees, enhanced maternity and adoption pay and support when you return to work, and a contributory pension scheme with a generous employer contribution.

HSBC’s Legal function plays a critical role in supporting the bank’s global operations, managing legal risk, and ensuring the efficient and effective use of external legal resources. We work closely with leading law firms and alternative legal service providers (ALSPs) to secure the best commercial and strategic outcomes for the bank.

We are currently seeking an ambitious individual to join the Group Sustainability Legal team as a Senior Legal Counsel, working together with colleagues to provide legal subject matter expertise in the identification and pragmatic management of ESG legal risk.

The Group Sustainability Legal team is part of the Group Corporate and Treasury Legal Team (GCTL) in London. The Group Sustainability Legal team provides expert legal advice and business partnering to the Group Sustainability function, business lines and Group senior management and works closely with Group functions including Risk and Finance. Sustainability is a fast evolving area, with legal support required across a number of areas, including strategic approach, regulatory reporting and disclosure obligations, policy setting and risk management. Key areas of focus to date include supporting the publication of the Group’s net zero transition plan (including interim financed emissions targets), updates to the Group’s sustainability risk policies, the Group’s ESG reporting and disclosures, and legal support on the implementation of relevant sustainability regulations.

In this role, you will:

• Provide central legal support to the Group Sustainability function including the Sustainability Centre of Excellence.
• Provide central legal support to the Group Legal function regarding Group Sustainability matters.
• Assist with the review of HSBC’s ESG reporting and disclosures, including the ESG sections of the HSBC Holdings plc Annual Report and Accounts and related documents, and the Group’s Annual Modern Slavery Statements.
• Provide legal support on the implementation of relevant ESG regulations.
• Work closely with the Deputy General Counsel, GCTL and the Managing Associate General Counsel, Sustainability on emerging regulations and, horizon scanning regarding sustainability matters.
• Provide expert and professional legal advice, guidance and support to ensure that the legal and reputational risks in this area are identified, reported and mitigated.

To be successful in this role you should meet the following requirements:

• Qualified Lawyer with appropriate experience
• Experience in sustainability related matters, including in human rights, would be a strong advantage
• Knowledge and understanding of key UK, EU and global ESG regulations and disclosure frameworks, such as TCFD, Modern Slavery Act, CSRD and CSDDD, ISSB would be a strong advantage
• Ability to prioritise, take ownership of matters and work directly and manage multiple stakeholders
• Strong communication and inter-personal skills
• Lateral thinking/problem solving skills

The base location for this role is London with a hybrid working pattern.

You’ll achieve more when you join HSBC.

Being open to different points of view is important for our business and the communities we serve. At HSBC, we’re dedicated to creating diverse and inclusive workplaces. Our recruitment processes are accessible to everyone - no matter their gender, ethnicity, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or age.

We take pride in being part of the Disability Confident Scheme. This helps make sure you can be interviewed fairly if you have a disability, long term health condition, or are neurodiverse.

If you’d like to apply for one of our roles and need adjustments made, please get in touch with our Recruitment Helpdesk:
Email: [emailprotected]
Telephone: [phone]