Legal Counsel

CMC Markets is seeking an experienced, commercially minded and versatile Legal Counsel to join its EMEA Legal team in London.

The successful candidate will provide high-quality legal advice and support across a broad range of corporate and commercial matters, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, intellectual property, commercial contracts, data protection and employment law.

The role requires a lawyer with strong technical skills, excellent drafting ability and sound commercial judgement, who can provide practical and effective legal advice in a fast-paced, regulated financial services environment.

The successful candidate will be comfortable taking responsibility for legal matters independently, working collaboratively with other members of the Legal team and supporting colleagues across the business. They will also be expected to demonstrate flexibility and a willingness to develop expertise in new areas as business requirements evolve.

This is an opportunity to work on a diverse range of legal matters, including significant corporate transactions, strategic commercial projects and new business initiatives, while contributing to the wider objectives of the EMEA Legal function.

Key Responsibilities

Corporate Law and Strategic Transactions

• Provide legal advice and support on corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures, strategic investments and corporate reorganisations.
• Draft, review and negotiate corporate transaction documentation, including share purchase agreements, shareholders' agreements, joint venture agreements and related contractual arrangements.
• Support transaction structuring, legal due diligence, negotiations, execution and post-completion implementation.
• Advise on corporate governance matters and the legal implications of corporate structures and business initiatives.
• Work closely with Senior Legal Counsel and other stakeholders on significant corporate projects.
• Identify, assess and help manage legal and commercial risks associated with corporate transactions and strategic initiatives.

Commercial Law and Contracts

• Draft, review and negotiate a broad range of commercial contracts, including services agreements, supply agreements, technology contracts, licensing arrangements, outsourcing agreements and strategic partnership agreements.
• Advise on contractual risk allocation, liability, indemnities, warranties, termination rights and dispute resolution provisions.
• Provide practical advice on commercial arrangements and support business stakeholders in structuring and negotiating contracts.
• Develop and maintain legal precedents, standard contractual terms and negotiation guidance.
• Support the implementation of effective contract management and legal risk management processes.
• Work collaboratively with Procurement, Technology, Finance, Operations and other business functions to support commercial objectives.

Intellectual Property

• Advise on intellectual property matters, with particular emphasis on trademarks, brand protection and trademark portfolio management.
• Support the registration, protection, maintenance and enforcement of the Group's trademarks across relevant jurisdictions.
• Work with external intellectual property advisers on trademark applications, oppositions, disputes and enforcement matters.
• Advise on intellectual property ownership, licensing, assignment and protection in commercial agreements and corporate transactions.
• Support legal matters relating to software, technology, copyright and other intellectual property rights.

Employment Law

• Provide legal advice and support on employment-related matters, working closely with Human Resources and other relevant stakeholders.
• Advise on employment contracts, consultancy arrangements, confidentiality obligations, restrictive covenants and termination arrangements.
• Support the preparation and review of employment-related policies, agreements and documentation.
• Assist with legal matters arising from employee relations issues, disciplinary and grievance processes, organisational changes and employment disputes.
• Support employment law aspects of corporate transactions, business reorganisations and outsourcing arrangements.
• Liaise with external employment law specialists where appropriate.

Data Protection and Financial Services

• Provide legal advice on data protection and privacy matters, including the application of UK GDPR, EU GDPR and related legislation to commercial arrangements.
• Draft, review and negotiate data processing agreements, data sharing agreements and other contractual provisions relating to personal data.
• Support the assessment and management of data protection risks associated with commercial projects, technology arrangements and new business initiatives.
• Advise on corporate and commercial legal matters arising in a regulated financial services environment.
• Work closely with Compliance, Risk, Information Security and other specialist functions to address legal and regulatory considerations affecting business activities.
• Support the legal assessment of emerging products, technologies and business models, including those involving digital assets.

General Legal Advisory and Stakeholder Management

• Provide clear, practical and commercially focused legal advice to stakeholders across CMC Markets.
• Take responsibility for legal matters from initial instruction through to completion, escalating significant issues where appropriate.
• Work collaboratively with other members of the EMEA Legal team.
• Support complex cross-functional and cross-border projects involving multiple business stakeholders and external advisers.
• Identify legal risks and recommend proportionate, commercially appropriate solutions.
• Assist with the development and improvement of legal processes, precedents and knowledge management resources.
• Manage external legal advisers where required, ensuring that advice is proportionate, timely and cost-effective.
• Provide legal support across other areas of law as business requirements evolve, demonstrating flexibility and a willingness to work outside core areas of expertise.

Qualifications and Experience

Essential Requirements

• A law degree or equivalent education and relevant professional experience.
• Professional qualification as a solicitor in England and Wales, or an equivalent qualification in another common law jurisdiction.
• At least six years of relevant legal experience, preferably gained at a leading law firm, a financial institution or a well-regarded in-house legal department.
• Strong working knowledge of corporate and commercial law, including experience advising on corporate transactions, commercial arrangements and associated contractual documentation.
• Experience supporting mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures or other corporate transactions.
• Good working knowledge of intellectual property law, particularly trademarks, brand protection and intellectual property provisions in commercial contracts.
• Familiarity with data protection law and its application to commercial arrangements.
• An understanding of UK financial services law and regulation, or experience working in a regulated business environment.
• Excellent contract drafting and negotiation skills, including the ability to produce clear, accurate and commercially effective contractual documentation.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify legal risks and develop practical solutions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex legal issues clearly and concisely to non-legal stakeholders.
• Excellent organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple matters simultaneously, prioritise effectively and meet demanding deadlines.
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgement and take ownership of legal matters.
• Ability to contribute effectively as a subject-matter expert and as part of a collaborative legal team.
• A flexible and adaptable approach, with a willingness to develop expertise in new areas and provide legal support across different subject matters as business requirements arise.

Desirable Experience

• Working knowledge of UK employment law, including employment contracts, restrictive covenants, employee relations, terminations and employment-related disputes.
• Experience advising on the employment law implications of corporate transactions, reorganisations and outsourcing arrangements.
• Experience working within an international financial services group, investment firm, brokerage or other FCA-regulated business.
• Experience in trademark portfolio management, brand protection and intellectual property enforcement.
• Experience negotiating complex technology contracts, software licensing agreements and outsourcing arrangements.
• Knowledge of digital assets, including cryptoassets, tokenised securities and the associated legal and regulatory frameworks.
• Experience supporting cross-border transactions or providing legal advice across multiple jurisdictions.
• Experience working directly with senior business stakeholders and managing external legal advisers.

CMC Markets is powered by our people. We are an equal opportunities employer and are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace, where our people feel confident to be themselves, feel valued and can do their best work. We don’t just value differences and unique perspectives, we seek them out and we invite them in, because we know it will lead to better outcomes for everyone.