Legal Counsel - London, United Kingdom - SSQ

Description

Legal Counsel – Commercial

London, Hybrid working

5+ PQE

This is a newly created senior role that will allow the right candidate to build extensive experience shaping their risk profile and approach to commercial insurance matters as well as being heavily involved in advising senior stakeholders on key regulatory matters.

The client is receptive to considering any proposal of flexible working arrangement, including a 4 day a week role with reduced office attendance, for a candidate with suitable experience and seniority

Responsibilities:

• Working closely with the 2x Counterparty Contracts Teams (dealing with Insurance Broking and MGA respectively) to review, update and overhaul their suite of contracts and drafting practices for TOBAs, DUAs, ARs and Introducer Agreements (among others).
• Ongoing training and development of the Counterparty Contracts Teams, as part of their dotted line reporting into this role.
• Developing and maintaining key standard documentation, including playbooks, policies and precedents for the Counterparty Contracts Teams, as well as various Conduct Teams / certain teams within the business who hold and issue commercial insurance agreements directly.
• Drafting, negotiating and amending a wide and varied range of commercial insurance agreements, including those listed above. This will involve working closely with colleagues to draft and negotiate contracts in line with the strategy and values of the organisation.
• Advising on insurance regulatory issues, including Consumer Duty, ICOBS etc.
• Working with the Deputy General Counsel and 3 Commercial Legal Counsel to provide general legal guidance, assistance and advice to the business on a day-to-day basis on wider commercial matters from time to time, including services agreements.
• Providing day-to-day advice and negotiating on wider commercial matters from time to time, including data protection and use of data within commercial arrangements.
• Supporting the business in following the right legal contracting compliance procedures, to ensure effective contracting, procurement and negotiation.
• Helping to develop the legal operations within the business, including ways of working and engagement with the business.

Who we are looking for

This is a fantastic opportunity for a mid-level to senior solicitor qualified in England and Wales equivalent foreign jurisdiction, with deep knowledge of insurance regulation and market practices in the UK. We are looking for someone has:

• Strong technical skills and market knowledge in this sector, including differing distribution models (essential), as the role requires someone who is able to work confidently and independently, referring matters to the Deputy GC for escalation where necessary.
• Knowledge, attention to detail and the ability to work as part of a small highly skilled team is essential as the role will necessarily be broad and varied.
• Experience of reviewing and negotiating a broad range of commercial insurance agreements (essential).
• Management experience is preferred – while there will not be a direct report for this role, each of the Counterparty Contracts leads are expected to have dotted lines into this role.
• Strong/clear communication and interpersonal skills, as you will need to develop and maintain good working relationships with internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to prioritise work is essential whilst demonstrating working well under pressure and changing priorities and, over time, with reducing supervision.
• Some in-house experience, although this is not essential.
• Knowledge of GDPR and data handling requirements.

For more information please contact me on or at