Legal Counsel

Company Description

Shawbrook provides finance to a wide range of customer segments that value the premium experience, flexibility and certainly we deliver. We are a purpose-led organisation, with a focus on delivering long-term sustainable value for all our stakeholders.

We have a diversified offering, with our innovative lending propositions tailored to meet specific customer needs in carefully selected markets across SME, Real Estate and Personal. Our products range from complex structured credit facilities for growth-focused businesses to mortgages for professional landlords and property investors, as well as simple loans for consumers delivered digitally. We fuel our lending through customer deposits, which we attract by delivering a premium experience, choice and consistently great value to smart savers.

The business model we have created is unique and difficult to replicate, with our ‘best of both’ approach combining deep human expertise with advanced digital, tech and data capabilities. This combination not only allows us to deliver excellent customer experiences, but to do so efficiently and at scale. We are proud of our innovative and agile culture, which drives consistently high employee engagement scores and makes Shawbrook an attractive destination for the best talent. If you’re willing to roll up your sleeves, contribute new ideas and believe anything is possible, you’re our kind of person.

Work with us because you:

• Want to be part of a bank built for the dynamics of the modern world
• Relish a challenge and enjoy a fast-paced, innovative and hardworking culture
• Enjoy finding new and better ways to solve complexity and make things happen
• Want to belong to a diverse culture that stands shoulder to shoulder with minority and underrepresented groups
• Care about society and the environment and want to be part of a business that cares too
• Want to continue to grow professionally and be the best version of yourself

Job Description

To take a lead role in protecting the Group’s interests in relation to contentious legal and regulatory matters, including managing inbound and outbound litigation.

To develop a deep understanding of and competency in the wider legal and regulatory framework in which the Group operates.

Key Responsibilities

• Effectively manage contentious matters and litigation, including: inbound litigation, complex (Non-BAU) outbound litigation, insurance claims and contentious regulatory issues across all Group companies. This includes overseeing external law firms handling individual litigation cases.
• Identify and pursue opportunities for proactive claims against 3rd parties, including via insurance claims, warranty / indemnity claims, professional negligence and other outbound litigation.
• Work closely with external counsel to develop, implement and evaluate strategies to effectively resolve contentious matters, ensuring alignment with the Group’s goals, risk appetite and business objectives. Ensure that external counsel are meeting performance expectations and resolving matters in line with agreed strategies and within budget.
• Support with designing and implementing cost-effective pricing frameworks for use of such external law firms that support the Group’s strategies on contentious issues and its commercial interests. Ensure effective management of the Group’s litigation spend, including reporting, scrutiny and challenge (where appropriate) and budgeting. This includes reviewing and approving invoices, negotiating fee arrangements, and ensuring cost-effectiveness in managing external counsel’s work.
• Develop, implement and present quality management information required to support the agreed strategies in order to demonstrate their success (or otherwise) and identify any need for change and emerging risks. Regularly update Head of Litigation on the progress and potential outcomes of litigation cases and escalations as required to other senior stakeholders and governance forums.
• Ensure all legal and regulatory obligations are met and provide legal risk mitigation advice to the Group’s business and functional teams.
• Develop strong working relationships (and manage those relationships) with internal stakeholders in the Group including, in particular, the Group’s General Counsel, Legal Directors, Heads of Legal and the Compliance, Complaints and Finance teams ensuring consistent and collaborative ways of working and focussing on overall customer outcomes.
• Delivering applicable training on contentious issues, legal risks and best practices to internal teams.
• Develop an understanding of and competency in the wider legal and regulatory framework in which the Group operates.

Qualifications

• The candidate will be a qualified solicitor, and will hold a current England and Wales practising certificate. Qualified lawyers in other common law legal jurisdictions (e.g. Australia, New Zealand) who can demonstrate sufficient UK law experience will also be considered.
• The candidate will be able to demonstrate an understanding of civil litigation practices and procedures as they relate to a financial services company (including the management of external counsel, fee structures and budgeting). Experiences of contentious regulatory matters (e.g. FCA, FOS, ICO etc), insurance claims, complex debt recovery matters and consumer claims are highly desirable.
• Experience in being the direct point of contact for your client(s)/senior stakeholders (up to ExCo level) and providing pragmatic, solutions-based and commercially astute legal advice and decision making.
• In-house experience (permanent or secondment) in the financial services/banking sector is preferable.

Additional Information

Your Wellbeing - We take your health and well-being very seriously by providing a range of benefits to give you and your family peace of mind. These include:

• Market leading family friendly policies such as access to our Maternity, Adoption and Paternity policies from Day 1 of your employment
• Free access to Headspace, a mindfulness & meditation digital health app
• Free access to Peppy digital health app that offers personalised support through fertility treatment becoming a parent or menopause
• EAP (Employee Assistance Programme) - Offering you support on a wide range of subjects including financial concerns, mental wellbeing and more general queries around family, work, housing, and health
• Cycle to work scheme
• Discounts on gym membership
• Contributory pension scheme & death in service

Your Lifestyle - It’s important you strike the right balance between your work and personal life. We provide benefits to support you when at work and when you’re enjoying your leisure time.

• Minimum of 27 days holiday per year
• Option to buy or sell holiday days through our flexi-holiday scheme
• Discounts on gym membership nationwide
• Access to discounts on a range of high street and online brands
• Community support and charitable giving

Your Contribution - We’re focused on rewarding those that go the extra mile in helping us achieve our goals.

• Participation in our annual discretionary bonus scheme designed to reward your contribution to our success
• Proudly Shawbrook recognition scheme focused on recognising our role models and thanking our colleagues for a job well done