Contentious Financial Regulation Lawyer – 4–6 years PQE
Location: London
Overview
Join a market‑leading financial services regulatory practice known for resolving complex and systemic challenges in the UK financial sector. You will work with a team of experts—including barristers, ex‑regulators and former ombudsmen—to develop strategies that align with commercial priorities and reduce regulatory scrutiny. This role offers the rare opportunity to work alongside Jonathan Cavill, who specialises in investigating and managing large‑scale regulatory issues for financial institutions. His team leads high‑profile matters spanning FCA, PRA and FOS engagement, large remediation programmes, supervisory interventions and enforcement risk management. If you thrive on intellectually challenging work and navigating a fast‑evolving regulatory landscape, this role provides exceptional career growth.
The Team
Our Regulation, Insurance and Funds (RIF) Group brings together specialists in insurance, investment management, funds, banking products and financial regulation. The Financial Regulation team is a strategic growth priority and operates at the forefront of UK regulatory change.
You will join a team that:
1. Handles high‑impact systemic investigations
2. Advises on regulatory stress events, mass redress and supervisory interventions
3. Works directly with former FCA, PRA and FOS specialists
4. Advises on emerging regulatory themes such as AI governance, collective actions and redress frameworks
5. Acts for leading banks, insurers, investment managers, platforms and pension providers
Key clients include: Abrdn, Aegon UK, Aviva, AXA, HSBC, Legal & General, Lloyds Banking Group, NatWest, Phoenix Group, Royal London, RSA, Railpen Investments, Post Office Limited and others.
Clients value our blend of regulatory expertise and commercial insight, describing our advice as “rapid, practical and grounded in real‑world risk”.
What You’ll Do
You will play a central role in delivering strategic regulatory advice, supporting contentious matters and managing complex multi‑stakeholder issues. Work will include:
Systemic & Contentious Regulatory Matters
6. Advising on large‑scale systemic issues across banks, insurers and investment firms
7. Supporting FCA, PRA and FOS supervisory and enforcement processes
8. Managing s.166 Skilled Person Reviews
9. Developing risk mitigation and rectification plans
10. Leading breach assessments and incident response strategies
Regulator & Ombudsman Engagement
11. Preparing firms for regulator meetings and interviews
12. Drafting regulator‑facing correspondence
13. Designing engagement strategies to reduce scrutiny
14. Advising on mass FOS exposures and complaint cohorts
15. Supporting Judicial Review strategies relating to FCA, PRA and FOS decisions
Redress & Disputes
16. Advising on mass redress programmes (cohorting, compensation, governance)
17. Working on collective actions, market abuse, insider dealing and consumer claims
18. Leading financial services disputes and wider advisory matters
You will also have opportunities for client secondments and involvement in major cross‑disciplinary projects.
What We’re Looking For
Core Experience
You should have experience in several of the following:
19. FCA/PRA supervisory or enforcement matters
20. Regulatory investigations and contentious regulatory issues
21. FOS strategy and mass complaint management
22. Section 166 Skilled Person support
23. Redress schemes and systemic issue management
24. Market abuse, insider dealing and financial crime‑related matters
25. Financial services litigation or dispute resolution
26. Drafting regulator communications and risk mitigation plans
Additional Attributes
27. Strong academic background
28. Ability to supervise and mentor juniors
29. Confidence engaging with clients and regulators
30. Appetite for high‑complexity regulatory work
31. Interest in contributing to business development in a growing practice