Legal Counsel - Legal Strategy

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

The Legal Counsel – Legal Strategy will support Shawbrook’s central strategic legal function, working closely with the Head of Legal Strategy. The role will assist in shaping, coordinating, and executing key corporate and strategic matters, including M&A, finance and treasury initiatives, corporate advisory, HR, and regulatory change projects. The Legal Counsel will provide expert legal insight and governance, enabling the wider Legal Services team to focus on BAU activity.

Key Role Responsibilities

Leadership and Collaboration

• Assist in leading strategic legal projects, with oversight and guidance from the Head of Legal.
• Act as a trusted adviser to internal stakeholders, collaborating across functions.

Strategic Legal Support

Identify and manage legal risks across central, strategic legal matters, including:

• Mergers & Acquisitions (including integrations and group reorganisations)
• Corporate advisory for the Group and Board-level decision-making
• Finance and treasury initiatives (e.g., funding structures, capital markets activity)
• HR support and strategic people-related initiatives
• Complex regulatory and strategic change projects

Delivering Value & Reducing External Legal Spend

• Support efficient delivery of strategic legal work internally, reducing reliance on external counsel where possible.
• Assist in managing external legal advisers, ensuring cost-effective and high-quality service.
• Translate external advice into clear, actionable guidance for internal stakeholders, with support from the Head of Legal.

Governance, Risk & Controls

• Contribute to legal risk management frameworks, controls, and policies.
• Support the Company Secretariat team with advice to strengthen governance across strategic projects.
• Ensure legal risks are understood and proactively managed, escalating complex issues to the Head of Legal.

External Counsel Management

• Assist in managing the external legal panel for strategic matters.
• Assist in ensuring quality, efficiency, and commerciality of external legal engagements.
• Support panel reviews, performance management, and allocation of work, under the direction of the Head of Legal.

Capability Building & Training

• Participate in and facilitate training to enhance legal awareness, strategic thinking, and risk management capability.
• Promote legal knowledge-sharing and best practices across the organisation.

• Qualified lawyer with experience in financial institutions, M&A, corporate, or strategic advisory work.
• Experience working in legal teams and with senior stakeholders.
• Strong commercial acumen and ability to apply legal advice in a practical business context.
• Experience supporting major transactions and regulatory change programmes.
• Confident in managing external counsel and supporting cost-efficient legal delivery.

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