Job description
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
• Part of a specialist team of regulatory, commercial, and transactional lawyers, this role will work with clients primarily in the technology, retail and banking sectors across all aspects of payments systems and the underlying infrastructure that supports and connects the value chain.
• This is a dynamic, exciting and growing area of our regulatory practice, which now presents a new opportunity for a Managing Associate to specialise in Payments, and work closely with our corporate and commercial colleagues as the team continues to build from strength to strength, and act as the main point of contact for clients that are key to Financial Services Group, and to the Firm.

THE TEAM
• Addleshaw Goddard's Financial Regulation Team is one of largest in the UK with a mix of lawyers and compliance professionals based in Leeds, London, and Scotland. The team is led by Rosanna Bryant and 7 other Partners, with 14 dedicated fee earners. The Financial Regulation team is independently recognised as first rate and having "client focus and a pragmatic approach in complicated situations".
• This role sits within our dedicated Payments offering of the team, which is led by Rebecca Hickman and supported by a number of other Partners, MAs and Associates, who cover pre-paid products and payment technologies, merchant acquiring and other payment services. The team are frequently engaged to provide industry wide advice via trade associations relating to PSD2 and open banking, and in particular, the future strategy for open banking payments.

WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIS ROLE
• You will be involved in advising on all regulatory aspects of the provision of payment services by both bank and non-bank PSPs and e-money issuers, as well as drafting B2C and B2B agreements, assisting clients with authorisation applications and compliance matters and providing support to our transactional teams.
• You will quickly demonstrate that you can combine technical accuracy with pragmatism and an empathetic approach to our client teams.
• You will become an integrated and supportive member of the wider Financial Regulation team, helping others and learning from their knowledge as required.
• Working knowledge of different payment arrangement and their regulatory treatment, including;
• Services to consumers
• development
• Security issues
• Rewards / loyalty
• Credit arrangements
• Merchant services
• Loyalty schemes
• Merchant agreements
• Mobile wallets / payments
• Processor arrangements
• development security issues
• Merchant Acquirer/Processor arrangements
• BIN sponsorship alliances
• PSR / PSD application
• Processor arrangements
• Scheme relationships
• Merchant agreements
• Knowledge of different schemes
• Scheme rules compliance
• Relationship with members
• New ventures
• Issuer services
• Consumer credit regulation
• eMoney and pre-paid cards
• Mobile wallets / payments
• Affinity arrangements
• BIN sponsorship alliances
• Continuous self-development is valued, and you will be encouraged to engage with formal training programmes (whether technical or skills based) and to draw on mentoring, coaching and leadership development programmes available to you.
• Our market leading Managing Associate development programme will help you map out key objectives and timescales for your career progression and provide you with a mentor and frequent check-ins.

YOUR AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE
• At least 5yrs of PQE gained within a Financial Regulatory team and a strong knowledge of payment services and working with e-money businesses.
• Knowledge of the different payment systems that operate in the UK and Europe, and experience in advising and assisting clients to bring new products and services to market, including advice on customer journeys and drafting terms and conditions.
• Ability to draft regulatory provisions in relation to commercial contracts; a background in corporate transaction work and/or commercial contracts would be advantageous.
• Capability to lead on and have ownership of your matters to bring them to conclusion.
• Track record of business development activity and high levels of initiative; you are eager to grow and build your practice and make your mark in an exciting and dynamic area of the market.
• A genuine enthusiasm for the Payments sector and for intellectually challenging work.
• A team player with the ability to contribute to the continued learning, development and growth of the team, whilst being motivated and keen to progress your career.
• Ambitious and solutions-oriented approach; you want to help grow the practice and take an active role in core initiatives in the firm.

Our FIRM

Addleshaw Goddard is a place where you are valued, encouraged, and challenged to fulfil your potential in a supportive and collegiate environment. Our culture of improvement, growth and collaboration delivers results, drives innovation, and rewards ambition.

We not only provide technical excellence and experience but, crucially, demonstrate real insight into our clients and what really matters to them and as such we are natural choice for FTSE100 clients and their equivalents in other markets.

Our success has been built by people from the widest range of backgrounds, locations, and perspectives. We have a number of employee networks that provide space to discuss the differences that make us who we are and celebrate this at AG.

Addleshaw Goddard have implemented a flexible, hybrid working model that combines both office-based and remote work arrangements. This approach allows for a balanced and adaptable work environment. We anticipate that this arrangement will remain in place for the foreseeable future. Occasional travel between our various UK offices may be required to facilitate effective collaboration and teamwork.

OUR APPROACH: IMAGINE THE BEST YOU CAN BE

Everything we've accomplished can be traced back to our people and the way we work. Our reputation is something we are proud of, and constantly invest in.

Here, you'll do high calibre work, with high-character colleagues who care for one another and our clients.

Are you up for the challenge?