Legal Counsel

Job Description

About 9fin

The world's largest asset class, debt, operates with the worst data.

Technology has revolutionized equity markets with electronic trading, quant algos and instantaneous news. However, in debt capital markets, the picture is completely different. It still behaves like it’s in the 1980s; trillions of dollars of trades are placed over the phone, news is slow, and corporate credit information is imperfect and scattered.

Our mission is to change this.

9fin's proprietary technology delivers fast and comprehensive financial, credit, legal & ESG analysis. Our clients are able to make faster, more informed decisions, win more business and most importantly, save time.

Our fast growing list of clients include 9 of the top 10 Investment Banks, leading Asset Managers, Hedge Funds and Law Firms.

The opportunity

If you’re an English qualified solicitor with 5 or more years PQE at a reputable law firm, or an established in-house legal team, looking to move to a very fast moving scale up - look no further! You will be working across the global business, and while you won’t be expected to be an expert on non-UK law, you will be exposed to areas relevant to 9fin and expected to navigate them.

The ideal candidate will have spent some time in private practice and in-house already, with exposure to the following core topics: commercial contracting (sales contracts (ideally SaaS), vendor agreements, NDAs), company secretarial management, as well as privacy and digital regulatory work (with a particular focus on GDPR compliance).

Exposure to the following will also be helpful in the role: legal operations, intellectual property, employment, and general corporate including M&A and financing support.

You will report to the General Counsel, working alongside your team members based in New York and London, and be one of the go to persons for 9fin’s legal work.

What you’ll work on

Every day is different, but here’s an example of the kind of things you’ll work on:

• Drive contracting process, e.g. independently handling sales and vendor contract negotiations

• Assist or own the roll-out of key initiatives, for example:

  • 9fin’s leading edge contracting strategy and policies

  • Core compliance programs for new legislation across the globe that is relevant to the business, such as DORA

• Manage and implement critical data privacy initiatives and compliance (GDPR)

• Help 9fin to mature as a business by drafting key policies that not only help with compliance, but drive the business forward

• Provide tailored and appropriate product advice as we build our client offering

• Help to implement and maintain corporate archives as well as formal processes including filings, option grants, board packs, etc.

• Assist with initiatives related to Data Protection and Cyber Security compliance

• Supervise and develop junior members of the team

About you

We are looking for someone who identifies with the following traits, even if you don’t have all of them.

• Team player: You enjoy working with a team that all pulls in the same direction, and you want to build-up those around you, helping the whole team succeed

• Growth mindset: You believe that your most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work — brains and talent are just the starting point

• Commercial awareness: Experience in commercial in-house work, including contract review and negotiation

• Regulatory exposure: demonstrable exposure to key regulatory laws, such as GDPR and DORA

• Want to build a business: You are interested in 9fin’s business and want to be a commercial partner to the business, and willing to support on M&A activity, including diligence and integration workstreams

• Excellent communication skills: You thrive on working with a wide range of stakeholders across the business including advising senior management and executives

• Strong attention to detail: With exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills - you only deliver work you believe is complete

• Ability to work quickly and accurately: You are happy to work with some time pressure, and can quickly interpret information and construct effective solutions to complex problems, often working to tight deadlines

• Solution minded: You partner with the business to move fast and build scalable solutions without getting bogged down in the minutiae.

• Willingness to challenge the status quo: You see how things could be done better, and you aren’t afraid to speak up

• Communication: Demonstrate clear and effective written and verbal communication, conveying messages accurately and concisely

Our benefits

We’re a scaling start up, and we enjoy sharing our success, when the company succeeds, we always reinvest that in our people. We also offer huge amounts of responsibility, an abundance of opportunity for growth and a platform to truly excel.

Financial & Insurance

• Competitive Salary (our salary bands are benchmarked at the top end of the market)

• Equity

• Pension (your minimum contributions are 4% with 9fin matching up to 7%)

• Private Medical Insurance

• Paid sick leave with Income Protection for long periods of illness

• Group Life Assurance

• Season Ticket Loan & Cycle to Work schemes

Time off

• 25 holiday days per year

• Local public holidays (with the ability to exchange them for alternative days)

• Hybrid working model, to allow you the flexibility to decide how, where and when you do your best work

• Work abroad for up to 3 months a year

• 1 month paid sabbatical after 5 years of service

• Enhanced parental leave & flexible working arrangements available

Training & Culture

• Professional learning and development budget

• Quarterly team socials

• Summer and Winter company social events

A note from the hiring manager

“9fin is a fast growing and evolving business, there are so many opportunities to grab hold of. I’m looking for someone to join the in-house legal team and immediately make an impact by being proactive, excited and willing to completely own projects.” — Brian Dearing, General Counsel

9fin is an equal opportunities employer

At 9fin we are dedicated to building and promoting a fair and inclusive workplace where everyone can reach their full potential and truly belong. We recognize that building diverse teams enables a more creative and productive environment. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t perfectly align with the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You might just be who we’re looking for — either for this role, or perhaps another.