An exciting opportunity for a Legal Counsel to join our litigation team here in London. The role will support the current Head of Legal (Litigation) in providing a first-class Litigation and contentious legal service to the L&G Group. In the role, you’ll be responsible for providing day-to-day advice to business managers in a way that allows the business to achieve its aims, and which ensures a consistent corporate approach is taken across the Group while minimising material legal risk. We see the role being well-suited to someone with 2-6 years PQE. The role offers highly competitive pay, stimulating work and a fantastic work-life balance.

Supporting the current Head of Legal (Litigation) in providing legal advice to all L&G business divisions to ensure:                

• the Group’s strategic and commercial objectives are, where possible, furthered;
• a proper account is taken of material legal risks and the Group’s position is mitigated and protected;
• compliance with relevant legislation and regulation; and
• all corporate governance aspects are considered.

Assisting the current Head of Legal (Litigation) to:

• Provide legal advice to all L&G business divisions in relation to contentious matters (including pre-action disputes, alternative dispute resolution methods, commercial litigation and contentious regulatory), ensuring clear strategic direction is given and the Group’s commercial objectives are achieved. Advice will cover a very broad and varied range of areas including insurance, pensions, investment management, intellectual property, real estate, financial crime, sanctions, data protection and professional indemnity claims;
• Instruct and managing external legal counsel where appropriate on contentious legal matters;
• Resolve legal disputes in a way that has regard to the Group’s commercial objectives;
• Provide legal advice in relation to complaints and regulatory investigations across the Group;
• Provide support to other members of the Group Legal team and the business in relation to contentious issues arising on corporate transactions, for example litigation due diligence on acquisitions or interpretation of contracts;
• Manage, in co-operation with LGIM colleagues, L&G’s international securities litigation portfolio of claims, including assessing new claims and preparing recommendations to the Securities Litigation Group and LGIM Board; 
• Assist in the maintenance of the Group’s Contingent Liabilities Register;
• Keep abreast of legal developments in the field of dispute resolution and identify and drive process change within the disputes team and the wider business;
• To design, implement and regularly review dispute resolution policies and procedures across the Group to ensure fitness for purpose.

Qualifications:

• Degree from a recognised UK university (or qualification gained from a non-UK university)
• Qualified solicitor (or a solicitor or attorney qualified in another jurisdiction)

Knowledge:

• Detailed knowledge of the relevant statutory, regulatory and common law applicable to the field of Dispute Resolution in a major financial services group
• Experience advising Financial Services companies in relation to Litigation and contentious matters
• Good working knowledge and experience of the UK courts system
• Experience in dealing with regulatory complaints
• Competent in use of IT systems such as Microsoft Word

The role is envisaged to be a full-time role although we are happy to consider the role on a part-time or job-share basis.

Whatever your role, we reward ability, performance and attitude with a package that looks after all the things that are important to you. Our employees have a wide range of benefits including a generous pension scheme, life assurance, 30 days' holiday, private medical insurance, performance related bonuses, discounts at both a huge range of high street stores and our own great products, as well as a 12% car allowance scheme. Your hard work will be rewarded when you join us.