Legal Director / General Counsel (In-House)
7 days ago
City of London
Legal Director / General Counsel (In-House)\n Location: Hybrid – London (flexible working) Contract: Full-time, Permanent Reporting to: CEO Sector: Litigation Finance / Financial Services \nThe Opportunity\n A leading UK-based litigation finance provider is seeking an experienced Legal Director / General Counsel to lead all legal, regulatory, and governance functions across a rapidly scaling business. \n This is a senior, strategic in-house role with significant influence at board and executive level. You will play a central part in shaping the legal architecture of the organisation, supporting investment and underwriting decisions, managing risk, and enabling sustainable growth. \n The role suits a commercially minded lawyer with strong experience in litigation funding, financial services, secured lending, insolvency, or complex corporate/commercial matters, who is comfortable operating in a fast‑paced, entrepreneurial environment \nKey Responsibilities:\nLegal Governance & Strategic Oversight\n\n • Act as principal legal advisor to the Board and senior leadership team.\n, • Maintain and develop robust governance frameworks, policies, and legal controls.\n, • Oversee legal risk across funding structures, SPVs, borrower arrangements, and investor documentation.\n\nCommercial & Corporate Matters\n\n, • Draft, negotiate, and manage complex commercial agreements, including:\n\n, • Loan and facility agreements\n, • Debentures and security packages\n, • Intercreditor agreements\n, • SPV documentation\n, • Servicing, assignment, and funding agreements\n\n\n, • Lead on corporate structuring, group reorganisations, shareholder arrangements, and new entity formation (UK and offshore).\n\nLitigation Funding & Underwriting Support\n\n, • Provide legal input on funded case types (including housing disrepair, motor finance, financial mis‑selling, PI, BI, and IVA‑related matters).\n, • Support underwriting teams with legal risk analysis, case viability assessments, and insurance structures (ATE / PG).\n, • Advise on audits, portfolio monitoring, and enforcement strategy.\n\nRegulatory & Compliance\n\n, • Oversee compliance with relevant regulatory frameworks, including FCA considerations, AML, data protection, and Companies House obligations.\n, • Support regulatory applications and future licensing initiatives.\n, • Lead legal review of investor disclosures, IMs, and regulatory documentation.\n\nSecurity Enforcement & Borrower Management\n\n, • Advise on borrower defaults and enforcement processes, including:\n\n, • Enforcement of security and debentures\n, • Administrations, pre‑packs, and insolvency processes\n, • Appointment of Insolvency Practitioners\n, • Assignment or transfer of funded cases\n\n\n, • Manage relationships with external counsel, auditors, and administrators.\n\nInvestor & Transactional Support\n\n, • Review and approve all investor‑facing legal documentation, including term sheets, loan notes, subscription agreements, and data room materials.\n, • Ensure strong investor protections and legal accuracy across capital‑raising activities.\n\nInsurance Oversight\n\n, • Lead legal negotiations relating to ATE insurance, Surety Bonds, and Performance Guarantees.\n, • Liaise with insurers, brokers, and claims handlers on coverage, recoveries, and disputes.\n\nExperience & Background:\n\n, • 8–12+ years’ PQE (Solicitor or Barrister).\n, • Strong experience in at least two of the following:\n\n, • Litigation funding\n, • Financial services / secured lending\n, • Insolvency & restructuring\n, • Corporate / commercial law\n, • Insurance law / ATE\n\n\n, • Prior in‑house experience or exposure to high‑growth, entrepreneurial environments preferred.\n, • Proven experience negotiating complex debt instruments, security packages, and commercial contracts.\n, • Confident engaging with regulators, senior investors, auditors, and external advisers.\n\nSkills & Attributes:\n\n, • Highly commercial with strong business judgement.\n, • Exceptional drafting, negotiation, and legal structuring skills.\n, • Able to balance strategic leadership with hands‑on execution.\n, • Decisive, organised, and comfortable operating autonomously.\n, • Collaborative, proactive, and solutions‑focused.\n, • Thrives in data‑driven, operationally intensive environments.\n\nPackage & Progression:\n\n, • £90,000 – £110,000 base salary, plus performance‑based bonus.\n, • Potential long‑term incentives aligned with senior leadership.\n