Description

Our Platform. Your Progression.

We are currently recruiting for a Senior Associate / Legal Director to join DLA Piper's European Financial Services Regulatory team, to be based in London. Our team forms part of the firm’s wider Finance, Projects and Restructuring group, who are a close-knit, collegiate group with an emphasis on developing talent. 

This is your opportunity to join our growing Finance, Projects and Restructuring group where you will have the platform to progress your career and become an integral leader. You will join a global team that operates across more than 40 countries, a team of trusted advisors, innovators and game-changers who go above and beyond to challenge the status-quo. 

This is a unique opportunity for a Financial Services Regulatory Senior Associate or Legal Director to join a market leading firm.  Find out how to join us now. 

DLA Piper understands that you're building a future and our priority is supporting you reach the full potential of your own personal career ambitions. 

We are currently recruiting for a Senior Associate / Legal Director to join DLA Piper's European Financial Services Regulatory team, to be based in London. Our team advises both regulated and unregulated businesses operating in the UK and internationally on principally non-contentious financial services regulatory issues, as well as some contentious matters. The team has extensive experience in both wholesale and retail financial services regulation and works for a range of internationally renowned banks and investment firms, as well as other key clients operating in the sector.

Our team forms part of the firm’s wider Finance, Projects and Restructuring group, who are a close-knit, collegiate group with an emphasis on developing talent and finding opportunities for our associates to stretch themselves. The partners in the immediate team have very varied experience from previous roles in the financial sector that they are keen to pass on to associates. One of the partners in the immediate regulatory team was previously in a senior executive role at a leading UK trade association, in addition to their extensive experience in private practice; the other was the UK Head of Financial Services Regulation at a large European bank until joining DLA Piper in 2022.

The ideal candidate will be knowledgeable in and experienced in navigating a wide range of UK, European and global financial regulatory initiatives and able to work collaboratively with colleagues in other offices in the firm in helping clients with global businesses successfully navigate financial regulation, both at an entity level and at a product and service level.

An understanding of the Financial Services and Markets Act (FSMA), the FCA Handbook, the PRA Rulebook and the second Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II) are key.

Recognising that all financial regulatory lawyers tend to specialise to some extent, working knowledge of some (but not all) of the following would also be beneficial: the European Markets Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR), the Central Securities Depositaries Regulation (CSDR), the second Payment Services Directictive (PSD II), the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD), the second e-money directive (EMD II), the Capital Requirements Regulation (CRR) and the fifth Capital Requirements Directive (CRD V).

In each case, understanding how these pieces of legislation have been onshored in the UK and how they may differ from their EU equivalents is important in being able to advise clients effectively on the practical implications for them.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

By joining one of the largest teams of dedicated finance lawyers in the world, you will receive support from Partners devoted to developing and achieving your goals. Candidates will enjoy a uniquely dynamic range of work, acting for clients operating across the financial services sector. Responsibilities will include, but not be limited to: 

• advising on obtaining and maintaining authorisation by one or more of the UK regulatory authorities, including the FCA and the PRA;
• advising on the ongoing obligations associated with running a regulated business in the UK, including from a senior management perspective, from a product, service and an operational perspective;
• advising on the interpretation and application of EU and UK financial services regulations;
• practical advice on ensuring that products and services are designed to comply with all applicable financial regulatory obligations;
• working with colleagues in other offices of the firm in managing any conflicts between EU, UK and other global and local regulatory rules;
• understanding and advising on the supervisory expectations of the FCA and the PRA;
• advising on and amending regulatory-driven contractual documentation, including client terms and conditions, trading and clearing terms, custody agreements, distribution agreements, etc.
• advising on emerging ‘new assets’ in the crypto and digital spaces, their regulatory categorisation and the implications of their regulatory categorisation;
• advising on any fee and commission arrangements that may arise in clients’ dealings with other third parties;
• advising on regulatory issues relating to ESG and sustainability;
• advising on cross-border financial services activity, including any licensing, registrations or exemptions considerations that may arise;
• engaging in work with industry trade associations, through the firm’s associate memberships;
• business development activities and contributing to client growth;
• opportunities to develop specialist sector knowledge; and
• opportunities to work with partners from across the UK and globally, not just in your ‘home’ office.

ABOUT YOU

We do not set upper or lower limits of PQE for any of our vacancies. We have however given an indicative PQE as an approximate guide for applicants. Candidates who have between 4 – 7 years' PQE are likely to have the right level of knowledge and have gained the right level of experience needed to be able to successfully undertake this role.

The ideal candidate will be:

• Solicitor qualified (ideally) in England & Wales or a Commonwealth jurisdiction
• Be an experienced financial services regulatory lawyer with the key areas of knowledge noted above 
• Demonstrate strong technical skills, with an international awareness and focus to their work
• Be willing to work in practice areas outside of their experience to become a more rounded lawyer
• Commercially astute and stay current on key legal and business news
• Excellent skills in communication, client relations, and team-working 
• Provides a professional, quality service in a timely manner, and responds effectively to requests from internal and external clients 
• Understands positive client support 
• Experience of multi-jurisdictional projects
• Be able to handle multiple priorities, working to sometimes conflicting timescales in a fast-paced and challenging environment
• Be able to build trust and rapport to develop effective relationships, internally and externally
• Be keen to work collaboratively with more junior members of the financial services regulatory team, with a view to sharing their own knowledge and experience and working together to meet client expectations and further develop the profile of the team.
• Comply with professional standards and all relevant regulatory obligations
• Comply with the firm's systems, policies and procedures in all matters, including compliance, financial systems and time recording.
• Maintains a controlled, objective and flexible approach under pressure 
• Proactive and innovative

ABOUT US

DLA Piper is a global law firm with lawyers located in more than 40 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. Our global reach ensures that we can help businesses with their legal needs anywhere in the world. We strive to be the leading global business law firm by delivering quality, service excellence and value to our clients and offering practical and innovative legal solutions to help them succeed. Our clients range from multinational, Global 1000, and Fortune 500 enterprises to emerging companies developing industry-leading technologies, as well as government and public sector bodies.

OUR VALUES

In everything we do connected with our People, our Clients and our Communities, we live by these values:

• Be Supportive - we are compassionate and inclusive, valuing diversity and act thoughtfully
• Be Collaborative - we are proactive, passionate team players, investing in our relationships
• Be Bold - we are fearless and inquisitive, challenging ourselves to think big and find creative new solutions
• Be Exceptional - we are strategic and driven, exceeding standards and expectations

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

At DLA Piper, diversity and inclusion underpins how we live our values and everything we do.  We believe that everyone has a voice, and that everyone’s voice counts. We know that the rich diversity across our firm makes us stronger, more innovative and creative, which helps us to better serve our clients and communities. We are committed to providing an inclusive working environment and culture across our global firm, where everyone can bring their authentic self to work. 

Diversity of perspective, thought, background and culture combine to make us the leading global law firm; that’s why we actively seek to build balanced teams. We welcome the unique contribution that you will bring to our firm and actively encourage applications from all talented people – however your talent is packaged, whatever your background or circumstance and regardless of how you identify.

We support anyone with a disability or long term health condition to ensure they have the opportunity to perform at their best. If you have not done so already, please let us know if you require any support so we can make the right adjustments and considerations should they be required.

AGILE WORKING

We know that people have responsibilities and interests outside of their career and that as a business, we all benefit from working flexibly. That's why we are open to discussing with candidates the different ways in which we are able to support requests for agile working arrangements.

PRE-ENGAGEMENT SCREENING

In the event that we make an offer to you, and where local legislation permits, we will conduct pre-engagement screening checks that may include but are not limited to your professional and academic qualifications, your eligibility to work in the relevant jurisdiction, any criminal records, your financial stability and references from previous employers.