Legal Counsel

Marks Sattin; London; Hybrid; NOK 1,148,000 - 1,658,000; Full time

Job summary

Marks Sattin is seeking a mid-senior Legal Counsel to become the first in-house lawyer. You will partner with senior stakeholders and lead on lending transactions, commercial contracts and regulatory matters across the UK, Europe and US. The role offers autonomy, ownership of the legal function, and exposure to AML/KYC frameworks.

You will manage cross-border documentation, support governance, and drive practical, commercially focused advice while building the in-house capability.

Qualifications

• England and Wales qualified lawyer with 5+ years PQE.
• Strong drafting and negotiating capabilities, especially loan docs.
• Practical, commercially minded with ability to advise senior stakeholders.
• Knowledge of FCA regulations, AML and KYC advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead on legal matters including commercial contracts and transactions.
• Develop in-house legal function, processes and governance.
• Draft, review and negotiate loan agreements, facility docs, NDAs and contracts.
• Provide pragmatic legal advice on legal and regulatory risks to senior stakeholders.
• Oversee compliance and AML/KYC/sanctions framework; support FCA obligations.

Skills

Drafting

Negotiation

Commercial contracts

Regulatory awareness

Advising senior stakeholders

Education

England & Wales Qualified Lawyer

Job description

Job Title: Legal Counsel

Contract Type: Permanent, full time

Location: UK with a few days in London a month

We're working exclusively with a high-growth private credit fund, providing flexible, bespoke credit solutions to ambitious mid-market businesses across the UK, Europe and the US. Since their launch, they have grown rapidly and continue to expand the platform and have decided they are at the right stage to bring in their first in-house Legal Counsel.

They are looking for a mid-senior Lawyer to join and partner closely with senior stakeholders across the business and take the lead on all legal matters including commercial contracts and transactions. You'll be working autonomously and take ownership across a broad range of legal and compliance matters.

Primary Responsibilities

• Building and developing their in-house legal function, processes and governance framework
• Leading the legal aspects of lending & investment transactions from inception to completion, working closely with external counsel and internal stakeholders
• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating a wide range of legal documentation, including loan agreements, facility agreements, NDA's and commercial contracts
• Providing pragmatic and commercially focused legal advice to senior stakeholders, on legal and regulatory risks
• Leading the firm's compliance function, ensuring adherence to FCA regulations and the firms wider regulatory obligations
• Overseeing MLRO responsibilities including AML, KYC and sanctions framework

Key requirements

• An England and Wales Qualified Lawyer with 5+ years PQE
• A strong generalist legal background with excellent drafting and negotiating skills (specifically with loan documentation)
• Strong transactional experience with the confidence to lead documentation and manage transactions from start to finish
• A pragmatic, commercial minded individual with the ability to advise senior stakeholders
• Knowledge of FCA regulations, AML and KYC would be advantageous
• Exposure to FCA Regulated environments specifically banking, private credit or lending is desirable
• A proactive and entrepreneurial individual with the ambition to build and develop a legal function

Full time or 4 days and can be based remotely if you are coming from outside of London