Principal Legal Counsel - Disputes and Contentious Risk

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Our purpose is to make it easy for people to save and invest for a better future. We are looking for great people to join us, so please come and invest in YOUR future at Hargreaves Lansdown.

We know that sometimes people can be put off applying for a job if they don't tick every box. If you're excited about working for us and have most of the skills or experience we're looking for, please go ahead and apply. We’d love to hear from you!

About the role

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We have an exciting opportunity for a highly experienced, business-minded lawyer to join us in our Disputes and Contentious Risk team on a 9 month FTC. As Principal Legal Counsel, you will join a collaborative, supportive legal team with great ideas and big ambitions for the future of HL. We provide legal advice, support, and challenge across the HL Group. We manage legal risks and use commercial, legal, and business partnering skills to support HL in achieving its strategic objectives, while ensuring HL meets its legal and regulatory obligations.

Reporting into the Head of Disputes and Contentious Risk, the Principal Legal Counsel will be responsible for the provision of contentious regulatory advisory services to the business, ensuring effective management of contentious legal risk across the HL Group.

You will possess a range of experience from within the retail Financial Services industry to complement our passionate and skilled team in delivering a best-in-class service and be able to demonstrate this via pragmatic and knowledgeable application.

What you’ll be doing

- Provide expert contentious regulatory, disputes and enforcement advice to the leadership team and other senior stakeholders.
- Manage litigation and the legal work streams required for the successful completion of contentious regulatory projects within the business.
- Manage legal risk and resolve complex regulatory legal issues, including those arising from complaints and risk events.
- Instruct and manage external counsel where specialist expertise is required.
- Help develop the legal team’s training and knowledge function and play an active role in the supervision of trainees and more junior members of the team.
- Build and maintain networks internally and externally to gain insight in area of specialism and keep abreast of developments in relevant law and regulation.
- Take an active role in shaping the legal team’s strategy and in achieving its strategic goals.
- Assist the General Counsel and Head of Disputes and Enforcement with ad hoc projects as required.
- Lead on the development and implementation of appropriate standard-setting documents, templates, guidelines, FAQs and other tools to increase efficiency and consistency and manage legal risk

About you

- Qualified Solicitor (10+ years PQE)
- Experienced contentious financial services regulatory lawyer, preferably within a retail context and with litigation experience
- Good understanding of UK financial service laws, including a good understanding of FCA regulation and complaints handling by the FOS
- Able to proactively and effectively collaborate, translating complex matters into easily understood legal advice
- Excellent technical and legal drafting skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Able to communicate effectively and influence stakeholders at all levels
- Ability to negotiate confidently either verbally or in writing
- Excellent attention to detail

Interview process

This will be a 2-stage competency and behavioral based interview process, including a psychometric assessment.

Working Schedule

The role is based in our Bristol head office, BS2. This role is fixed term until 30th July 2027, full time, 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday. We have returned to the office, however for this role we offer a hybrid flexible working pattern.

Why us?

Here at HL, we’re the UK’s number 1 investment platform for private investors, based in Bristol. For more than 40 years we’ve helped investors save time, tax and money on their investments.

To achieve our mission, we believe we have a workplace like no other, with constant learning, dynamic teams, and a great ethos. We're steered by core values that promote service, quality, innovation, and opportunity in everything we do.

What's on offer?

- Discretionary annual bonus * and annual pay review
- 25 days * holiday plus bank holidays and 1-day additional Christmas closure
- Option to purchase an additional 5 days holiday **
- Flexible working options available, including hybrid working
- Enhanced parental leave
- Pension scheme up to 11% employer contribution
- Income Protection and Life insurance (4 x salary core level of cover)
- Private medical insurance*
- Health care cash plans - including optical, dental, and out patient care
- Health screening programme
- Help@hand - confidential support including mental health counselling and remote GP
- Wellhub - unlimited access to fitness provider s and w ellness c oach sessions
- Variety of travel to work schemes with bike storage and shower facilities
- Inhouse barista and deli serving subsidised coffee and sandwiches
- T wo paid volunteering days per year

* dependant on role level

** only available to select during our annual benefits window, in November each year

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Hargreaves Lansdown is an inclusive employer that values diversity in its workforce. We encourage applications from all individuals without regard to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or age.

This role may also be available on a flexible working or part time basis – please ask the Recruitment & Onboarding team for more information.

Please note, we are unable to provide employment sponsorship to candidates.