Legal Counsel

Job closing date: 9th October 2024
Canada Life UK looks after the retirement, investment and protection needs of individuals, families and companies. We help to build better futures for our customers, our intermediaries and our employees by operating as a modern, agile and welcoming organisation.

Part of our parent company Great-West Lifeco, Canada Life UK has operated in the United Kingdom since 1903. We have hundreds of respected and supported employees committed to doing the right thing for our customers and colleagues.

Canada Life UK is transforming to create a more customer-focused business by providing our customers with expertise on financial and tax planning, offering home finance and annuities propositions, and providing collective fund solutions to third party customers.

The Purpose of the role

To provide first class legal advice on a complex and varied strategic initiatives and projects to the UK insurance and wealth business.

What you'll do

• Provide first class legal advice on a variety of legal issues affecting Canada Life's UK business and deliver commercial and pragmatic solutions which enables the business to operate successfully, within legal and regulatory requirements, supported by Senior Legal Counsel within the team. This will include drafting, reviewing, researching legal issues and negotiating on contractual obligations for the business, advising on products and supporting on claims or complaint-related work in order to meet business objectives.
• Advise on a range of project work, which might involve Part VII transfers, closures of products, corporate restructurings, litigation, acquisitions, or disposals, supported by Senior Legal Counsel within the team.
• Work with external lawyers to ensure that their input to any given assignment meets the company objectives, is delivered in a timely manner and is within the agreed cost parameters.
• Develop close relationships with senior management and colleagues across the UK and the global business, in order to ensure a continued cohesive and collaborative working relationship with the legal team (which will include representing the legal team on relevant business committees and working groups as required).
• Ensure legal risks are identified, considered, and appropriately mitigated (which will include contributing to the team's legal risk report as required).
• Advise on emerging legal or regulatory developments, guidance, or best practice to both the wider legal team and the business. Consider the impact of any legal or regulatory change on the business (including if any new processes or systems are required to be implemented).

What you'll bring to the role

• Legal qualification - Solicitor, Barrister (with c. 1-5 years PQE).
• Knowledge of financial services (in particular insurance) sector and relevant regulatory regime preferable.
• Strong legal drafting and negotiating skills.
• Effective communication and organisation skills.
• Robust, personable and takes a pro-active approach to learning and self-development.
• Ability to manage projects and collaborate with a range of stakeholders, internally and externally, alongside Senior Legal Counsel.

Benefits of working at Canada Life

We believe in recognising and rewarding our people, so we offer a competitive salary and benefits package that's regularly reviewed. As a Canada Life UK colleague, you'll receive a competitive salary and comprehensive reward package including a generous pension and bonus scheme, along with, income protection, private medical insurance and life assurance. We have a fantastic number of other benefits and support services as well as regular personal and professional development.

How we work at Canada Life

Our culture is unique and incredibly important to us. We care about doing the right thing for our people, customers and community and helping others to build better futures. Our blueprint behaviours shape and influence how we work, and are central to the relationships we have with others. Every day we are encouraged to be more curious, own the outcome, face into things together and find a way forward.

We want colleagues to have rewarding careers with us so we invest in the development of our people, technology and workplaces. That's why we offer a range of training, flexible working and opportunities to grow and develop.

Diversity and inclusion

Building an inclusive workplace with a diverse workforce where everyone can feel they belong and achieve their potential regardless of gender, ethnicity or any other characteristic is a key commitment for us. We are proud of the progress we're making in DEI, and we continue for it to be a significant focus.

"At Canada Life we believe in the power of great people from different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives coming together to build better futures. Emerging talent is crucial to our growth and creating an environment that continues to inspire us all." Nick Harding, Chief People Officer, Canada Life UK

We appreciate that everyone has different work and life responsibilities. We're happy to discuss flexible working arrangements, including part time, for any of our roles should this be a requirement for you.