Senior Legal Counsel – Commercial Contracts

Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Capital One UK
Nottingham Trent House (95002), United Kingdom, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire

Senior Legal Counsel – Commercial Contracts

About this role
Capital One is excited to have a new opportunity for an experienced in-house commercial contracts solicitor within the UK Legal Team, to lead on technology contracts for the UK business.

Reporting to the head of UK Contracts, you’ll provide legal advice to the technology teams within Capital One’s business on a range of supplier contracts, including SaaS agreements, software licences, outsourcing contracts and IT infrastructure arrangements, as well as other commercial matters.

Our Contracts team within Legal plays a key role in managing risk when we are engaging suppliers who work for Capital One. As a financial institution, ensuring robust supplier contracts is essential. We are looking for a strong team player with great communication skills, contract drafting and negotiating experience and commercial acumen. If you’re looking for a new, exciting step in your career this could be for you!

What you’ll do

• Prepare and negotiate contractual arrangements, including services agreements, outsourcing agreements, SaaS and other cloud based agreements, software licences, terms and conditions of purchase, variation agreements, termination agreements, and renewals, following Capital One’s precedents
• Support Capital One’s US Legal and supplier management teams with UK aspects of global agreements, with a focus on SaaS
• Manage the contractual workstreams for the technology department and partner with the relevant supplier management and business teams to integrate legal considerations into initiatives at the appropriate point and ensure timely execution in line with business priorities
• Advise on legal and regulatory risks as well as strategic considerations for third party contracting, including in relation to outsourcing requirements and data protection, intercompany agreements and other international matters, and collaborate with other legal specialists where necessary
• Supervise and mentor junior team members in relation to contract negotiation and drafting, legal research and advice
• Develop and maintain great working relationships with stakeholders including suppliers, sourcing managers and business managers in Capital One UK and where appropriate within our US parent company
• Identify and assess the impact of new laws, training other business areas where appropriate, and provide advice on legal risks for new tech initiatives
• Instruct and manage input from outside counsel where needed
• Manage your workload in a timely and effective manner and proactively communicate to stakeholders on progress
• Ensure contracts procedures and policies are followed and risks escalated appropriately
• Own your own development and support the development of others within the business through feedback, coaching and mentoring

What we’re looking for

• Qualified solicitor with significant experience in drafting and negotiating complex commercial contracts, with expertise in technology contracts and a strong understanding of data protection law
• In house experience preferred, ideally with financial services context, although this is not essential
• Ability to apply strategic thinking and strong problem solving skills to support the business with navigating challenges
• Excellent workload management skills, with an ability to work in a fast paced environment, and flexibility to adapt to our changing business needs
• Confidence in written and verbal communications, tailoring content and style to the audience as needed
• Proven track record of delivery with a results focus
• Great relationship building and team working – across our supplier and sourcing managers and our broader Legal department and throughout our business’ multi-functional teams
• Forward thinking on maximising use of digital opportunities as part of providing legal advice and contract drafting
• Genuine focus on delivering a best in class legal service to our business
• Previous experience with managing a team (preferable)

We are committed to creating a level playing field and seek to create teams that are representative of our customers and the communities we serve. We’d love to hear from you if you identify with a typically under-represented group in our industry and are particularly keen to hear from women, the LGBTQ+ community and ethnic minority candidates.

Where and how you’ll work

This is a permanent position based in our Nottingham office.

We have a hybrid working model which gives you flexibility to work from our offices and from home.

We’re big on collaboration and connection, so you’ll be based in our Nottingham office 3 days a week on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Many of our associates have flexible working arrangements, and we’re open to talking about an arrangement that works for you.

What’s in it for you

• Bring us all this – and you’ll be well rewarded with a role contributing to the roadmap of an organisation committed to transformation
• We offer high performers strong and diverse career progression, investing heavily in developing great people through our Capital One University training programmes (and appropriate external providers)
• Immediate access to our core benefits including pension scheme, bonus, generous holiday entitlement and private medical insurance – with flexible benefits available including season-ticket loans, cycle to work scheme and enhanced parental leave
• Open-plan workspaces and accessible facilities designed to inspire and support you. Our Nottingham head-office has a fully-serviced gym, subsidised restaurant, mindfulness and music rooms

What you should know about how we recruit

We pride ourselves on hiring the best people, not the same people. Building diverse and inclusive teams is the right thing to do and the smart thing to do. We want to work with top talent: whoever you are, whatever you look like, wherever you come from. We know it’s about what you do, not just what you say. That’s why we make our recruitment process fair and accessible. And we offer benefits that attract people at all ages and stages.

We also partner with organisations including the Women in Finance and Race At Work Charters, Stonewall and upReach to find people from every walk of life and help them thrive with us. We have a whole host of internal networks and support groups you could be involved in, to name a few:

• REACH – Race Equality and Culture Heritage group focuses on representation, retention and engagement for associates from minority ethnic groups and allies
• OutFront – to provide LGBTQ+ support for all associates
• Mind Your Mind – signposting support and promoting positive mental wellbeing for all
• Women in Tech – promoting an inclusive environment in tech
• EmpowHER – network of female associates and allies focusing on developing future leaders, particularly for female talent in our industry

Capital One is committed to diversity in the workplace.

If you require a reasonable adjustment, please contact All information will be kept confidential and will only be used for the purpose of applying a reasonable adjustment.

For technical support or questions about Capital One’s recruiting process, please send an email to

Capital One does not provide, endorse nor guarantee and is not liable for third-party products, services, educational tools or other information available through this site.

Capital One Financial is made up of several different entities. Please note that any position posted in Canada is for Capital One Canada, any position posted in the United Kingdom is for Capital One Europe and any position posted in the Philippines is for Capital One Philippines Service Corp. (COPSSC).

Who We Are

At Capital One, we’re building a leading information-based technology company. Still founder-led by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Richard Fairbank, Capital One is on a mission to help our customers succeed by bringing ingenuity, simplicity, and humanity to banking. We measure our efforts by the success our customers enjoy and the advocacy they exhibit. We are succeeding because they are succeeding.

Guided by our shared values, we thrive in an environment where collaboration and openness are valued. We believe that innovation is powered by perspective and that teamwork and respect for each other lead to superior results. We elevate each other and obsess about doing the right thing. Our associates serve with humility and a deep respect for their responsibility in helping our customers achieve their goals and realize their dreams. Together, we are on a quest to change banking for good.