Information about the business and team
One of the world's leading payments companies. The fintech serves over 430 million account holders and operates in more than 200 markets across 100+ currencies. We have a long-standing relationship with this organisation, and contractors play key roles across its global legal teams.

This role sits within the UK/EMEA Legal function and will support the business on financial services regulatory, competition, and payments law matters. It is a highly collaborative role, working closely with compliance, government relations, product, communications, and international legal colleagues on multi-jurisdictional matters.

What does the client need help with?
Our client is seeking an experienced regulatory and competition lawyer to support the UK/EMEA Legal team on a broad range of financial services regulatory, payments, competition, enforcement, and policy matters.

What will the role involve?
This is an exciting opportunity for a senior LOD with the right regulatory and competition law expertise to hit the ground running and make a measurable impact over a 12-month engagement. Key responsibilities will include:

• Advising on obligations arising under UK and EU financial services and payments regulation, including FCA-regulated activities, PSD2/Strong Customer Authentication requirements, and consumer protection obligations.
• Leading and coordinating responses to regulatory investigations, enforcement proceedings, statutory notices, and regulatory information requests.
• Managing internal fact-finding exercises, document preservation activities, and defence strategy workstreams in partnership with compliance, government relations, and business stakeholders.
• Assessing competition law risks in commercial and strategic partnership arrangements, including exclusivity, scheme, and merchant agreements, and advising on risk mitigation strategies.
• Supporting responses to competition authority inquiries and information requests.
• Developing policy positions and supporting engagement with regulators, government bodies, and industry associations.
• Drafting and reviewing regulator-facing submissions, position papers, and briefing materials.
• Managing external law firms on complex regulatory, competition, and litigation matters, including oversight of scope, budget, and quality of advice.
• Providing legal analysis and guidance in relation to cybersecurity incidents, data breaches, and significant fraud events, including consideration of regulatory notification requirements.

What skills do they need?

• 8+ PQE in financial services and/or competition law.
• England & Wales qualified (or equivalent).
• Financial services regulatory and/or competition law experience.
• Experience managing or supporting regulatory investigations, enforcement processes, and contentious regulatory engagements.
• Strong knowledge of UK and EU financial services and payments regulation.
• Experience instructing and managing external counsel on complex, multi-workstream matters.

Work Pattern
Full-time

Location
Remote or Hybrid

Start Date
Immediate

Duration
12 months

IR35 Status
Employed