Financial Services and Products Paralegal

We are recruiting a Paralegal to join our Financial Services and Products group.

About Macfarlanes

Macfarlanes is a pre-eminent law firm that serves a global client base in private capital, private wealth, M&A and disputes. Personal connection, an entrepreneurial spirit and a commitment to excellence are at the heart of our firm. These values drive our ability to deliver exceptional outcomes for our clients.

We are big enough to undertake the most complex and demanding mandates yet small enough to know each other well and to be agile, adapting to the needs of our clients. We seek to strengthen the firm by recruiting talented people from all backgrounds who want to build long-lasting and impactful careers with us. Our culture is challenging and supportive, creating an environment where individuals can thrive.

What this means for you

Joining Macfarlanes means being part of a collaborative, approachable team who want you to succeed. You’ll be encouraged to get involved and be recognised for your contribution.

We take your development seriously. Our learning and development programmes are second to none and are designed to help you strengthen your skills.

Above all, you’ll be part of a firm where we all work together as part of a cohesive and supportive team, value your efforts and help you to thrive.

Practice overview

Our Financial Services and Products group consists of three Partners, two Senior Counsels, one Senior Knowledge Lawyer, five Senior Associates, six Associates, two Trainee Solicitors, one Paralegal and the Head of ESG. 

The team covers a broad range of work including advising on all aspects of FCA/PRA regulatory compliance, including applications and notifications as well as advising on the regulatory aspects of corporate and banking transactions and restructurings. We advise fund managers, advisers, other service providers and investors on a range of matters relating to their work and ongoing strategic issues. The practice also works closely with our disputes team on contentious regulatory matters. 

Our team has exceptional market knowledge. Many of our clients' projects bring together a number of disciplines; so we frequently draw on the expertise of the firm’s banking and finance, commercial, corporate, employment, real estate and tax lawyers to provide a seamless service.

The role

The successful candidate will be required to carry out a broad range of high-quality work. He or she will provide general support across the group, both on financial services and regulated funds matters. Key duties will include:

• assisting with regulatory applications, e.g. authorisations, variations of permission, change in control, waivers, fund launches and fund changes;
• assisting with notifications to the FCA;
• assisting with regulatory due diligence processes in support of our corporate and banking teams;
• co-ordinating advice from specialist advisers in overseas jurisdictions on cross- border matters;
• reviewing and processing amendments to key fund documentation;
• regular contact with clients;
• supporting fee earners with their day-to-day work; and 
• assisting with ad hoc administrative tasks, as and when required.

This job description encompasses the main duties of the role and is by no means exhaustive. It is anticipated that duties may vary from time to time according to the needs of the practice area.

The candidate

The right candidate will possess strong academic qualifications from A Levels and have a minimum 2:1 degree. Ideally the candidate will have worked as a paralegal at a law firm or financial services firm such as an asset manager for at least a year.

The successful candidate will be self-motivated, organised, interested in, and committed to providing high quality technical legal support in a practical context to fee earners.

Strong attention to detail is essential, along with excellent time management skills and a meticulous approach to work.

The candidate must take a pro-active stance, be able to work independently following appropriate instruction or in a team and take responsibility for the work product delivered.

Paralegal development 

Our learning curriculum is designed to equip our people with the broad range of skills and knowledge they need to develop and be effective in their roles. The curriculum includes sessions specifically aimed at paralegals, covering essential legal and business skills to support individuals at the start of their legal career.

We deliver training throughout the year in a range of different ways. This includes webinars, workshops, one-to-one skills support, mentoring and coaching. We support development opportunities in a variety of topics, including communication, presentation and drafting skills.

Routes to qualification

Paralegals looking to qualify as associates are encouraged to apply for our Training Programme. They can do so once they have completed six months’ employment, subject to certain conditions.

Some paralegals may prefer not to (or are unable to) undertake the Training Programme route for a variety of reasons, choosing the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) and Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) route instead.

The firm will offer study leave and exam leave for paralegals sitting the SQE, and will sign off QWE (that meets the SRA’s requirements) gained at Macfarlanes. Internal paralegals that have qualified in this way may be considered for NQ vacancies not filled by those qualifying through the firm’s Training Programme and where the firm is or may be looking to recruit externally providing they have completed at least one year of their QWE at Macfarlanes and passed both SQE 1 and SQE 2 on the first attempt.

Application screening

Any offer of employment with us is subject to our pre-employment checks which are conducted by a third-party screening provider. These checks will be initiated with your consent, and your CV will be sent to the provider by us. The screening will include but is not limited to your employment references, professional and academic qualifications including grades and any criminal records. Your offer will be subject to the successful completion of these checks. 

Our commitment to inclusion

Inclusion is one of our key priorities and it is a goal we are actively working towards. We believe that an inclusive, forward-thinking culture is intrinsically important and enables us to provide innovative solutions to our clients.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, bringing different perspectives and experiences, making Macfarlanes an exciting and stimulating place to work. We seek to recruit the best candidates, regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, social or economic background, religion, disability, sexual orientation or any other characteristic.

As part of this commitment, we will ask you certain diversity data questions. We would really appreciate you and/or your recruiter completing these questions when submitting an application to Macfarlanes as this data enables us to measure our progress and identify any actions needed to continue to support an inclusive culture. This data is anonymised to maintain the privacy of applicants. If you have any questions relating to how this data is used, please contact a member of the recruitment team.

Should you require any adjustments during the application and/or interview process, please do not hesitate to inform your recruiter or a member of the recruitment team. Please note, the job description is available in other accessible formats (for example, large print).

We are a Disability Confident Employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who best meet the essential criteria for the role. If you would like to apply through the Disability Confident Interview Scheme, please email the recruitment team at [email protected].

Key people

Lora Froud 
Partner, Head of Regulated Funds

Lora advises clients on the structuring and operation of onshore and offshore investment funds, both regulated and unregulated, and also advises on all legal aspects of asset management. She specialises in regulated funds.

Her clients include operators, asset managers, depositaries and custodians of investment funds as well as family offices. Advice is wide ranging and incorporates restructurings and reorganisations, outsourcing and hosting arrangements, investment management agreements, depositary agreements, platform and distribution arrangements and compliance with UK and EU ESG regimes. 

Lora is an active participant in Investment Association (IA) initiatives and was heavily involved in advising the FCA and the IA on the regulatory framework for the Long-Term Asset Fund (LTAF). She is also on the Technical Expert Group for the Pensions & Private Capital Expert Panel, the Alternative Investment Management Association working groups in relation to UCITS, AIFMD and Liquid Alternatives and is chair of the International Bar Association’s Asset Management and Investment Funds Committee.

Lora is included in the Hall of Fame in the UK Legal 500, a leading legal directory.

Alexandra Green 
Partner

Alex has a very broad regulatory practice advising banks, asset managers, wealth managers, mortgage providers, insurers, corporate finance advisers and intermediaries on all aspects of their financial services regulatory obligations.
 
Alex’s practice includes advising on:

• regulatory restructurings, new authorisations, consolidations and acquisitions, including regulatory capital and consolidation;
• Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 perimeter questions;
• regulatory developments including IFPR, changes to the appointed representative and financial promotions regimes, MiFID II, SMCR, Brexit, and the Consumer Duty;
• new service and product launches, conduct of business obligations, product governance and the Consumer Rights Act 2015;
• distribution and outsourcing;
• client money and assets;
• a wide variety of applications to the FCA and PRA;
• section 166 skilled person appointments, handling rule breaches and communication with the FCA and PRA;
• corporate governance, systems and controls; and
• remuneration and anti-money laundering obligations.

Alex also has extensive experience advising family offices on regulatory compliance including seeking FCA authorisation and, where required, ensuring that family offices and private investment structures are able to operate on an unlicensed basis.

Michael Sholem 
Partner

Michael specialises in advising banks, fund managers and financial technology firms in relation to financial regulatory issues.

Michael's practice focuses on the supervision and regulation of banks, investment firms, payment institutions and asset managers, including in connection with new authorisations, changes of control, corporate governance, financial benchmarks, ESG regulation and regulatory investigations.

His practice has also included advising non-financial groups on the impact of new regulation, with a particular focus on market infrastructure and financial technology. He also has extensive experience advising clients on developments in European Union laws and Brexit issues and has a particular interest in ESG and cryptocurrency.