Legal Counsel (Employment)

Hello, we’re Starling. We built a new kind of bank because we knew technology had the power to help people save, spend and manage their money in a new and transformative way. We’re a fully licensed UK bank with the culture and spirit of a fast-moving, disruptive tech company. We’re a bank, but better: fairer, easier to use and designed to demystify money for everyone. We employ more than 3,500 people across our London, Southampton, Cardiff and Manchester offices.

We are looking for an Employment Lawyer to support the business on all contentious and non-contentious employment matters. The role will report into the team’s Senior Employment Counsel.

You will have significant influence and exposure across the bank. The role represents a fantastic opportunity to join a vibrant institution and to help shape the bank’s future.

Your work will include:

• Advising the People team and, sometimes, wider business on all aspects of employment law, including on employment related regulatory issues such as the application of the SMCR and FCA’s Code of Conduct;
• Providing legal support to the bank and wider Starling group throughout the entire employee life cycle, including policy, hiring, dismissals, grievances and appeals, disciplinaries, settlement agreements and employment status matters;
• Providing legal support to the corporate and commercial legal functions, including on the application of TUPE;
• Advising on regulatory issues associated with financial services and banking;
• Managing international projects for the bank’s Saas business, Engine by Starling, including working with external counsel;
• Working with the bank’s Reward team to advise on compensation arrangements, including on the operation of malus and clawback, deferred compensatIon arrangements and remuneratIon policies;
• Managing multiple projects and supporting colleagues to ensure business and enterprise-wide initiatives are executed in a timely and accurate manner;
• Providing employment law training to the People team and wider business; and
• Instructing and working with outside counsel where necessary on specialist matters.

Requirements

• UK qualified lawyer with a strong academic record, excellent legal training and 2 - 5 years’ PQE gained at a law firm and/or in-house;
• Very strong technical employment law experience;
• Some prior in-house experience, ideally in banking and financial services or another regulated environment or technology;
• Strong experience supporting growing businesses on international employment law and HR matters; and
• Capable of working independently and proactively, with the appropriate support where required, in a fast-paced environment and keen to grow and develop within the organisation.

In-house experience in financial services or technology would be preferred, but is not essential for the right candidate. PQE is a guide only.

Benefits

• 25 days holiday (plus take your public holiday allowance whenever works best for you)
• An extra day’s holiday for your birthday
• Annual leave is increased with length of service, and you can choose to buy or sell up to five extra days off
• 16 hours paid volunteering time a year
• Salary sacrifice, company enhanced pension scheme
• Life insurance at 4x your salary
• Private Medical Insurance with VitalityHealth including mental health support and cancer care. Partner benefits include discounts with Waitrose, Mr&Mrs Smith and Peloton
• Generous family-friendly policies
• Perkbox membership giving access to retail discounts, a wellness platform for physical and mental health, and weekly free and boosted perks
• Access to initiatives like Cycle to Work and Salary Sacrificed Gym partnerships

About Us

You may be put off applying for a role because you don't tick every box. Forget that! While we can’t accommodate every flexible working request, we're always open to discussion. So, if you're excited about working with us, but aren’t sure if you're 100% there yet, get in touch anyway.

We’re on a mission to radically reshape banking – and that starts with our brilliant team. Whatever came before, we’re proud to bring together people of all backgrounds and experiences who love working together to solve problems.

Starling Bank is an equal opportunity employer, and we’re proud of our ongoing efforts to foster diversity & inclusion in the workplace. Individuals seeking employment at Starling Bank are considered without regard to race, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition, ancestry, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

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