Legal Counsel

Job Description

Please note that due to the Christmas period, application review and interviews will begin in the first week of Jan 2026, we appreciate your patience and look forward to reviewing your application in the new year.

Let’s transform banking forever

ClearBank is built on the belief that banking infrastructure shouldn’t slow down progress. Quite the opposite. Speed it up and that’s when you unlock potential. When you really start to innovate.

That spirit and ‘can-do’ attitude is why our clients – from FinTech's and crypto platforms, to banks and credit unions – choose to use our API to power their banking infrastructure.

But it’s our people who are the stars here. They power that innovation, push harder to break boundaries. They make coming to work (or working from home) fun. They’re the ones we trust to catapult our clients to success. Just as they trust us to build a business that’s always striding forward.

What you can expect:

You’ll be a key member of the Group Legal Team as Legal Counsel reporting to the Head of Legal – Group. You’ll be a part of a fast-growing business that is challenging the market and doing things differently. And you’ll be joining one of the fastest-growing tech companies in the UK, according to Deloitte Fast 50.

You’ll play a pivotal role in supporting strategic corporate initiatives, advising on corporate organisational structures, and our expansion into new jurisdictions to develop and promote our capabilities in payments, clearing, agency and embedded banking and digital asset products. You’ll help with implementation of Group standards across the ClearBank Group which currently comprises UK and EU subsidiaries. You will:

• Provide accurate, practical and timely legal advice on a broad range of general corporate and commercial matters, including drafting and negotiating material contracts, collaboration and strategic partnership agreements.

• Support the business in managing and protecting its intellectual property (IP) portfolio and leading legal support for IP matters including software licensing, trademarks, and brand protection.

• Advise senior management, Group Board and functional partners on corporate governance matters, compliance with shareholder and funding agreements and ensuring that organisational activities align with relevant law.

• Draft and agree intragroup services and outsourcing agreements and agreements covering use of Group IP and Group level data and privacy protection agreements.

• Work collaboratively with stakeholders across all departments to help shape and deliver on ClearBank corporate strategy and provide legal and regulatory advice from an early stage or when requested, in Group level projects and programmes.

• Assist teams in understanding the legal implications of their activities and empower them to manage risks effectively.

• Develop and maintain corporate legal resources, including templates and guidance documents, to improve efficiency and support the wider organisation.

• Support with M&A, restructuring, fundraising rounds, and investor matters.

What you'll bring:

The ideal candidate will be a qualified solicitor or barrister in England and Wales with at least 5 years PQE advising on corporate law, commercial contracts and governance matters in a financial services institution. A breadth of experience will complement the broad nature of work in this role. Direct experience of the areas highlighted in the above section is preferred. A working knowledge of UK and other payment systems is beneficial but not necessary.

To be successful within the ClearBank Legal Team, candidates must be able to work independently whilst liaising effectively and building relationships with stakeholders. In terms of culture, we are looking for a motivated individual with great people skills. Someone who is delivery focused and confident in suggesting solutions and enhancements. You’ll need to enjoy working through complex, novel situations as well as problem-solving. You’ll also need to be comfortable reprioritising and adapting to change.

Bonus attributes:

• Experience in a high‐growth or scale up environment

• Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.

• Strategic thinker with strong problem-solving abilities and attention to detail.

• Comfortable with reprioritising and adapting to change.

• Experience in reviewing legal business processes and providing recommendations

• Experience of advising on prudential matters e.g. leverage ratio and large exposure considerations

What makes a great ClearBank team member? Does this sound like you?

• You focus on solutions and positive outcomes, thinking radically and responsibly to find the best result for our customers, your colleagues and the bank;

• You actively seek feedback from others to drive your growth and development, always assuming positive intent from others and develop strong, trusting relationships you’re your colleagues and customers: you really, genuinely care;

• You always strive for the highest quality, but you know that done is better than perfect; you welcome a challenge knowing that they learn as you go and iterate;

• ‘I’ before ’we’, isn’t in your vocabulary

If this sounds like you then we encourage you to dust off that CV and apply!

What we offer in return:

• We're flexible – We support a culture of flexibility which allows our employees to achieve a strong work-life balance.

• Offices – Work in a way that works for you – whether that’s in the Amsterdam office, at home, or hybrid.

• Holiday – 27 days of annual leave per year, plus public holidays.

• Work abroad – You have the flexibility to work outside of the Netherlands for up to 30 days in a rolling 12-month period.

• Socials – Regular social events open to all.

• Holiday swap – Option to swap your bank holidays to any other day of your choice.

• Wellbeing – long term disability cover and accident cover.

• Bigger than ClearBank – Take a couple of days per year to do something that matters to you.

• Pension – We offer generous pension contribution without mandatory employee contribution.

• Expense coverage – Mobile phone allowance and travel cost reimbursement.

• Family – Enhanced family-friendly leave.

• Personal development – We offer personal development budgets, opportunities to take part in role-related training and unlimited LinkedIn Learning.

And not forgetting the biggest benefit of all. The opportunity to be part of an incredible team that’s building a tech-bank fit for the future.

A little bit more about us!

ClearBank is Where You Can belong:

At ClearBank we think about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) a lot. Not because we think we should. But because we know we should – how else can we build a happy workforce and be successful as a business. We’re committed to making sure our teams reflect society. And we put energy and effort into making this a place where everyone feels at home, where they’re given the trust and encouragement to do their very best work. Here are some of the things we’re most proud of:

• 42% of our senior management roles are held by women

• Our enhanced family leave policies

• Launching our partnership with Code First Girls

• Increasing awareness of neurodiversity in the workplace through our partnership with the Inclusive Group

Our hiring process and what you can expect:

Application: a member of our talent acquisition team will review your application against the key requirements for the role and let you know within two weeks whether you’re moving forward to the next stage;

Screening: You’ll spend 30-45 minutes speaking to one of our recruiters learning more about the role and ClearBank, and we’ll get it know more about you, your experience and how your skills align with the role (this will be via phone or Teams video call). You can expect to hear back from us within seven days following this meeting (if things are taking longer than expected, we’ll let you know that too);

First Interview: You’ll spend one hour with a member of our hiring team focusing on your skills, competencies and your ways of working at the same time we’ll give you time to ask more questions about the role, the team and learn more about the ClearBank culture. This will be via Teams.

Second Interview: This will be a competency-based interview with one or more members of our team.

Final Stage: You will have a final meeting with the Head of Department. This will be around 45-60 minutes.

Offer: Congratulations! Get ready to transform banking forever!

Our commitment to you as a candidate:

We will always try our best to get back to you within seven days of your interview whether you’ve been successful or not and provide you with feedback. Sometimes things take a little longer, so we may not have a decision to share but we will get it touch to let you know we need a little more time.

We’re unable to provide specific individual feedback at the application or screening stage but know that your application was reviewed and considered carefully.

We wish you the best of luck with your application and maybe we’ll be celebrating your new role at ClearBank soon!

Equal Opportunities

ClearBank is committed to ensuring equal opportunities throughout every stage of the recruitment process. ClearBank recognises that diversity is vital to the long-term success of the business in the communities and markets in which it operates. ClearBank is also a firm believer that an inclusive culture fosters greater employee engagement and collaboration.

ClearBank strives for diversity and inclusion of all forms, including (but not limited to): gender, age, educational and professional background, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief and sexual orientation.

As part of the Company’s commitment to equal employment opportunity, we provide reasonable adjustments, to candidates during the recruitment process, including to individuals with disabilities. We want to create a safe space that welcomes everyone so please let us know how we can accommodate you. In case you have any accessibility requirements you can share that with our Talent Acquisition team prior to your interview stage, if applicable.

The legal bit

By submitting your CV to ClearBank Limited you are providing your consent for us to use the information you provide for recruitment purposes. For more information on how we manage your data go and check out our Candidate Privacy Notice on the ClearBank website to see how we process, manage and look after your data. You are also allowing us to communicate with you by email and telephone for recruitment purposes.