Legal Counsel - FS Reg

Our client, a leading financial institution, is looking for an experienced transactional finance lawyer to join their small legal team in London. This hire will be responsible for providing legal advice on structured and infrastructure finance transactions, working closely with the deal origination teams in the UK on structuring and negotiating of such transactions.

The legal team work closely with a number of different teams internally in the UK and US and the role would suit an individual who enjoys being a part of a commercial environment.

The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 7 years of asset backed structured finance and infrastructure finance experience in a leading law firm or financial institution in London.

We're looking for a senior legal professional to lead and oversee the Group's legal and regulatory framework across multiple jurisdictions.

This is a high-impact role, working closely with the Board and executive team, with responsibility for managing legal risk, supporting commercial decision making and ensuring the business operates within a robust and compliant regulatory environment.

You'll take the lead on a broad range of legal matters across the business, including drafting, reviewing and negotiating commercial contracts, overseeing supplier and procurement arrangements, and advising on corporate transactions including M&A, due diligence and post-completion integration. You'll provide clear, pragmatic legal advice to senior stakeholders, balancing legal risk with commercial objectives, and supporting the business on complex regulatory, contractual and structural matters.

Alongside this, you'll retain oversight of company secretarial responsibilities, acting as Company Secretary to the Group holding company and supporting effective board and committee operations where required, ensuring compliance with applicable statutory and governance requirements.

You'll also oversee the Group's policy and governance frameworks, including the development, implementation and ongoing review of policies, procedures and controls to ensure alignment with legal and regulatory obligations.

We're looking for someone with strong in-house legal experience, a solid grounding in corporate and commercial law, and the ability to operate confidently at senior level within a fast-paced, multi-jurisdictional environment. Strong stakeholder management, sound judgement and a pragmatic, solutions-focused approach are key.

The Associate General Counsel ensures compliance with GxP regulations while supporting Essential Pharma's global legal operations. The role provides strategic and practical legal advice to internal teams, helping the company manage risk, maintain compliance, and support business growth.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide legal guidance across areas such as commercial law, corporate matters, competition law, M&A, intellectual property, regulatory compliance, data protection, financing, and disputes.

• Draft, review, and negotiate complex commercial agreements (e.g., distribution, licensing, supply/manufacturing, and service contracts).

• Support mergers, acquisitions, and business development through due diligence, contract negotiation, execution, and post-transaction integration.

• Oversee and protect the company's intellectual property portfolio, including managing external trademark attorneys.

• Manage relationships with external legal counsel and control related costs.

• Identify and mitigate legal risks across business functions.

• Support company secretarial work, including entity setup/closure and intra-group agreements.

• Collaborate with internal departments to align legal advice with business goals.

• Advise the Rare Disease division on legal aspects of clinical trials and product development across multiple regions, including agreements with CROs, CDMOs, and trial sites.

• Assist with international expansion, including entity formation, governance, employment law matters, third-party service engagement, and product launch support.