Legal Counsel, Technology, Commercial & Litigation

Job Description

At Aberdeen our ambition is to be the UKs leading Wealth & Investments group.

Strengthening talent and culture is one of our strategic priorities. We strive to make Aberdeen a great place to work so that we can attract and retain the industrys best talent.

Our people put our stakeholders at the heart of everything they do by helping us to make a positive difference to the lives of our clients customers colleagues shareholders and society.

We are focused on growing our direct and advised wealth platforms and repositioning our specialist asset management business to meet client demand. We are committed to providing excellent client service supported by leading technology and talent.

Aberdeen comprises three businesses interactive investor (ii) Investments and Adviser each of which focuses on meeting and adapting to our clients evolving needs:

• interactive investor the UKs second largest direct-to-consumer investment platform enables individuals in the UK to plan save and invest in the way that works for them.
• Our Adviser business provides financial planning solutions and technology for UK financial advisers enabling them to create value for their customers.
• Our Investments business is a specialist asset manager that focuses on areas where we have both strength and scale to capitalise on the key themes shaping the market through either public markets or alternative asset classes.

About the Role

This role sits within the Technology Commercial and Litigation team which is part of the Legal Secretariat Public Affairs and Corporate Sustainability (LSPS) function. The successful candidate will provide legal advice and support across the Aberdeen Group globally on contentious and potentially contentious risk matters including litigation and disputes investigations regulatory matters and complex contractual and strategic arrangements that present commercial legal regulatory and reputational risk.

Working closely with business stakeholders (where applicable) external counsel and colleagues across LSPS the role will support effective risk identification and management including in relation to critical technology AI deployment and digital infrastructure arrangements while enabling the Groups strategic and commercial objectives. The role requires strong technical capability sound judgement and the ability to operate confidently across jurisdictions and at senior stakeholder level including in high-pressure or sensitive situations such as incident management or conduct matters.

The role will actively support modern ways of working across the LSPS function including the responsible use of technology and AIenabled tools process improvement and knowledge sharing. The successful candidate will be expected to work flexibly across team and functional boundaries contributing to an integrated forwardlooking legal service that supports innovation and data insights while maintaining robust legal and risk standards.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide high-quality legal technical and commercial advice to business stakeholders in relation to contentious and potentially contentious matters across all businesses in the Aberdeen Group including litigation and disputes regulatory matters investigations and significant risk issues arising from contractual commercial or operational arrangements operating where required at senior management or executive level.
• Support the identification assessment and mitigation of legal regulatory and reputational risk including complex contractual arrangements strategic partnerships and digital technology or infrastructure services balancing risk mitigation with the Groups strategic and commercial objectives.
• Advise the business on dispute avoidance escalation pathways service failure risk and resolution strategies and liaising with colleagues across LSPS as appropriate.
• Provide support in relation to the legal and regulatory aspects of incident management including matters with heightened regulatory reputational or conduct risk.
• Conduct and oversee internal investigations including regulatory or conductrelated matters working with internal stakeholders and external counsel as appropriate.
• Operate effectively across multiple jurisdictions working with local teams and external counsel as required.
• Contribute to effective governance and decisionmaking in relation to disputes investigations and other material risk matters affecting the Aberdeen Group.
• Collaborate closely with colleagues across LSPS to deliver an integrated high-quality legal service aligned to the Groups strategic commercial and financial priorities including supporting the wider delivery of commercial and technologyrelated legal services where appropriate.
• Develop and maintain strong trusted relationships with internal stakeholders to ensure legal advice is practical proportionate and delivers best value to the business.
• Manage the instruction and performance of external law firms and legal suppliers ensuring appropriate oversight cost control and efficient use of external resources.
• Contribute to the responsible use of legal technology and AIenabled tools including supporting risk assessment efficiency insight generation and knowledge management in line with Group policies and governance.

About the Candidate:

• Qualified lawyer with membership of the relevant UK or equivalent legal professional body.
• Circa 35 years post-qualification experience.
• Experience working in or (in an advisory capacity) with large corporates and/or financial services firms with exposure to contentious matters and experience in assessing and advising on risk and strategy in relation to complex commercial or contractual arrangements).
• Knowledge of broader financial services regulatory frameworks.
• Strong commercial awareness with the ability to explain legal issues clearly and pragmatically to nonlegal stakeholders.
• Proven ability to manage multiple matters concurrently and perform effectively under pressure including on sensitive or high-risk issues.
• Collaborative team player with a global outlook and strong stakeholdermanagement skills.
• Comfortable working in an evolving environment including the use of legal technology and AIsupported tools with sound judgement as to risk and appropriateness.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident Committed employer. If you have a disability and would like to apply to one of our UK roles under the Disability Confident Scheme please notify us by completing the relevant section in our candidate questionnaire. One of our team will reach out to support you through your application process.

Our benefits

Theres more to working life than coming home with a good salary. We have an environment where you can learn get involved and be supported.

When you join us your reward will be one of the best around. This includes 40 days annual leave a 16% employer pension contribution a discretionary performance-based bonus (where applicable) private healthcare and a range of flexible benefits including gym discounts season ticket loans and access to an employee discount portal. You can read more about our benefitshere.

Our business

Enabling our clients to be better investors drives everything we do. Our business is structured around three distinct areas our vectors of growth focused on our clients changing needs. You can find out more about what we dohere.

An inclusive way of working

Whatever way you like to work if you have the talent and commitment to join our team wed like to hear from you.

At Aberdeen weve adopted a blended working approach. This approach combines the benefits of face-to-face collaboration coaching and connecting in our offices with the flexibility of working from home. It enables colleagues to find a balance that works for their roles their teams our clients and our business.

An inclusive culture where diverse perspectives drive our actions is at the core of who we are and what we do. If you need assistance with your application or a reasonable adjustment to your interview arrangements for example because you are neurodivergent or have a physical sensory cognitive mental visible or invisible disability please let us know and well be happy to help.