Legal Counsel - ICT Contract Specialist - Banking (VP) - #2193712

Legal Counsel - ICT Contract Specialist - Banking (VP)

Key accountabilities and responsibilities

• Review and remediate existing software supplier agreements. The initial focus would be a software asset management programme covering reseller agreements, end-user licence agreements (EULAs) and related master services agreements (MSAs). You’d identify gaps, agree priorities with IT Asset Management and Procurement, and negotiate revised or replacement terms through to signature.
• Advise on software licensing and vendor risk. Review software usage and audit rights, compliance obligations, liability, information security and data protection. Keep stakeholders updated on progress and escalate material risks.
• Draft and negotiate technology, operations and procurement contracts across EMEA. The wider remit would cover SaaS, cloud services, software and data licensing, ICT consultancy, outsourcing and intra-group services. You’d work directly with strategic vendors, including suppliers supporting critical or important outsourced functions.
• Apply regulatory requirements to third-party and intra-group arrangements. Partner with Procurement, Third Party Management, IT, Operations and Data Privacy to assess which requirements apply and translate them into practical contract terms. The work would span DORA, UK and EBA outsourcing requirements, GDPR, cybersecurity and the EU AI Act.
• Manage a busy portfolio of around 20–30 live matters. Balance day-to-day contract negotiations and vendor disputes with longer-term projects on operational resilience, third-party governance and AI-enabled services.
• Improve how supplier contracts are reviewed and managed. Develop templates, negotiation playbooks and guidance, train internal teams where needed, and advise on changes to policies and procedures as regulations evolve.
• Support cross-border projects and global supplier arrangements. Work with legal and business teams across EMEA and collaborate with colleagues in APAC and the Americas on group-wide matters.

Key knowledge, skills and experience

• Qualified lawyer with hands-on ICT contracts experience. Typically around 5–8 years’ post-qualification experience, including at least three years drafting, advising on and negotiating ICT contracts in private practice or in-house.
• Recent experience leading vendor negotiations. Able to take ownership of complex agreements, negotiate directly with suppliers and manage contracts through approvals to signature.
• Software licensing and remediation experience. Experience reviewing and renegotiating existing software reseller agreements, EULAs or software licensing terms would be particularly relevant to the initial project.
• Broad technology and commercial contracting experience. A track record across SaaS, cloud, ICT outsourcing, consultancy and strategic supplier agreements, with a grounding in commercial and procurement law, intellectual property, data licensing, privacy and cybersecurity.
• Knowledge of third-party risk and operational resilience. Familiarity with DORA, UK and EBA outsourcing requirements and the EU AI Act. Experience applying these frameworks to supplier contracts or remediation in financial services would be particularly valuable.
• Strong drafting, negotiation and stakeholder skills. Able to explain complex legal risks clearly, work independently and prioritise competing matters in a high-volume environment.
• Desirable experience. Cross-border contracting, working with global legal teams, knowledge of banking products and financial services regulation, and experience advising on AI-enabled services, model risk or AI governance.