Senior Legal Counsel 12 month FTC

Senior Legal Counsel - 12 Month Contract

We're seeking a proactive, analytical Senior Legal Counsel to provide senior level, commercially focused legal advice across LV= on commercial and corporate law, strategic and complex matters.

The role follows a hybrid working pattern, with attendance required at our Bournemouth office.

Key Responsibilities

• Draft, negotiate and advise on complex commercial agreements, joint ventures and outsourcing arrangements within a regulated insurance environment.
• Take a lead role and advise on corporate legal matters, including group structure, governance requirements, constitutional issues and inter company agreements.
• Provide legal leadership on key transactions from early ideation to execution.
• Act as a senior legal adviser covering insurance and broader financial services laws, working closely with Risk, Compliance and Finance functions and the Executive Team.
• Provide pragmatic advice on legal risk within the UK regulatory landscape (including PRA/FCA expectations) as it relates to material commercial arrangements and corporate matters.
• Support interactions with regulators and external stakeholders on legally sensitive or high impact matters.
• Build trusted relationships with senior leadership, providing commercially grounded, solutions oriented legal advice.
• Proactively identify legal, governance and structural risks associated with strategic initiatives.
• Contribute to business decision making by balancing legal risk with commercial objectives.
• Collaborate with the Chief Legal Officer and existing Senior Legal Counsel on strategic development of the Legal team.
• Provide coaching and technical support to Legal Counsel and other colleagues, embedding high standards and continuous development.
• Act as an escalation point for complex or high risk legal issues.
• Manage instructions to external legal advisers, ensuring high quality advice, value for money and effective cost control.
• Ensure legal governance, records, logs and approvals are maintained to required standards.
• Promote strong risk management practices and adherence to LV= policies and values.

About You

• Qualified solicitor in England & Wales (or equivalent).
• Significant post qualification experience in commercial and corporate law, ideally gained within or advising financial services and insurance organisations.
• Demonstrable experience of strategic commercial and corporate matters, including drafting, negotiation and execution.
• Highly commercial mindset, with the ability to translate complex legal issues into clear business advice.
• Proven ability to influence and advise at senior levels.
• Strong analytical judgement and attention to detail.
• Confident, credible communicator with the ability to challenge constructively.
• Collaborative, values led approach aligned to LV's mutual purpose and culture.
• Proactive, resilient and comfortable operating in complex, high impact environments.
• Commitment to continuous improvement, professional development and team capability building.

Desirable

• In house legal experience within an insurance, mutual or regulated financial services organisation.
• Strong understanding of the UK financial services and insurance regulatory environment.
• Experience managing external counsel and legal budgets.
• Experience supporting governance frameworks, Boards or Committees in a mutual or member focused organisation.
• Experience leading or contributing to business transformation or significant change programmes.

Rewards and Benefits

• 30 days' holiday, with the option to buy up to 5 additional days.
• Competitive pension scheme - LV= Life and Pensions will double match the amount you pay, up to 14% (subject to National Minimum Wage requirements).
• An annual bonus scheme based on personal performance.
• Single cover private medical insurance (with the option for family cover).
• Flexible benefits, including a cycle to work scheme, personal accident insurance, critical illness cover and dental insurance.
• Up to 20% discount on our life products for you and your immediate family.
• A group life assurance policy with 4 your basic pay to go to your dependents (option to increase to 8 ).
• Group Income Protection (if you become a member of the Pension scheme and reach 5 years of service).
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) for support when you need it.
• A virtual GP service.
• Shared parental leave.

Please note that we are unable to offer Skilled Worker Visa Sponsorship for this role. Therefore, you must ensure that you are eligible to work in the UK without our sponsorship for your application to be considered.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We're proud of our inclusive culture at LV= and, as an equal opportunity employer, we continually work to remove unconscious bias from our recruitment process. We value our colleagues for what they bring to our team regardless of any protected status or characteristics they may have.