Associate General Counsel, Corporate

Department environment

The Copper legal team is a collaborative and high energy group of smart, driven and intellectually curious lawyers and paralegals. We take our work but not ourselves incredibly seriously, tackling novel issues and supporting the business with focus, precision, and relentless good humour. We know and support each other deeply as professionals and humans. We proudly hold a range of passports and qualifications and speak as many languages as we have team members - diversity on all levels is deeply valued.

Our business is growing rapidly, both in terms of new people and new or enhanced products, and as a key support function the legal team has and continues to expand in a complimentary way. We need expert lawyers advising within their specialist areas, and for this reason we broadly break the team down into Product and Enterprise (including Commercial), Corporate and Regulatory. As we expand globally as a company, we are adding regional experts to help advise on the nuances of local legal and compliance regimes.

Key Responsibilities of the role

• Leading our Corporate Legal function, driving efforts in structuring, negotiating and executing M&A acquisitions and due diligence exercises.
• Advising on and managing all legal aspects of fundraising activities, working closely with the Finance Team and other key members of senior management.
• Assisting Chief Legal Officer in his role as Company Secretary, managing day to day company secretariat matters with support from more junior team members. Responsible for corporate governance matters including preparation of board meeting materials, resolutions of group entities and liaising with board members and shareholders for necessary approvals.
• Supporting other corporate transactions such as entity formation and management (including review and evaluation of constituting documentation), internal corporate reorganisation and employee incentive/shares schemes.
• Internal lead for contentious and real estate matters and intellectual property filings.
• Supporting the People Team on employment related matters, including drafting and reviewing employment contracts and supporting disciplinary procedures.
• Assisting with the management and maintenance of corporate records, filings and licences of group entities to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Collaborating with Compliance and Regulatory Legal on new licence applications and Product Legal with corporate aspects of new product structuring.
• Working with external counsel as and when required, including managing legal spend and invoices.
• Helping with the development of junior and trainee solicitors and paralegals.    
• Assisting with ongoing development and maintenance of a contract management solution and effective management of documentation records.
• Negotiating third party agreements relating to corporate structuring, governance and processes.
• Ensuring compliance with all local corporate filing regimes in jurisdictions in which Copper operates.
• Managing all legal operations and procedures, implementing appropriate measures to protect company from legal risks.  

Your experience, skills and knowledge

• Qualified solicitor, or barrister in a common law jurisdiction. A minimum of 6-8 years of experience in corporate law with significant exposure to mergers and acquisitions and fundraising activity.
• Prior in-house experience is highly preferred but candidates from top-tier law firms with relevant experience will also be considered.
• In-depth knowledge of corporate transactions and funding mechanisms. Proven ability to manage and close complex transactions independently and awareness as to when to escalate issues to senior management.
• Exceptional negotiation and drafting skills. Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with a keen eye for detail. Deep commercial acumen, with the ability to identify and articulate key risks for escalation.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, capable of influencing stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to prioritise and manage projects from inception through to completion. Willingness to embrace ambiguous issues and situations.
• Keeping up-to-speed with developments in the law and regulation relevant to the role and sharing knowhow as appropriate within the Legal team.
• An interest and curiosity in financial technology, tokenisation and crypto (although professional experience not essential).

The benefits offered

• Holidays: 27 days per annum paid holiday, in addition to bank holidays
• Years of Service Days: Employees are awarded one additional day of paid time off per year of service (up to three years)
• Vitality Health:
  • Medical Insurance: Copper provides all employees with individual cover. Medical history is disregarded, and a 24/7 virtual GP is available (£100 excess per person per year)
  • Dental Insurance: Comprehensive dental cover for preventative, restorative and emergency treatment
  • Audiology Cover: Employees can claim back up 80% of costs, up to £300, for any hearing tests or hearing aids
  • Optical Cover: £500 optical cover (through Vision Express) or 80% reimbursement up to £300 for any other optician
  • Menopause Support: Unlimited support for those experiencing symptoms of the menopause, such as video consultations with a dedicated menopause practitioner
  • Vitality services also include an additional £100 for minor diagnostic tests and private prescriptions, including home diagnostics
  • Headspace - Copper's policy provides all employees with a free Headspace subscription. Headspace provides great resources to manage stress, improve sleep, meditate and enhance mindfulness
  • Discounts and free benefits - the Vitality programme has been designed for preventative care to encourage members to improve their overall health and will reward those for doing so. Employees can access additional benefits such as 50% off running shoes, discounted health screenings, 50% off at Nuffield Health or Virgin Active gyms and much more
• Home Working Energy Support Scheme: to combat energy prices increasing globally, Copper will provide you, in addition to your salary, with a monthly top-up of £60 or £75 (subject to your energy supplier)
• Pension up to 10% matched contribution to our company pension scheme via Smart Pensions
• Cycle to Work
• Life Insurance cover: Four times your base salary
• EAP: access unlimited mental health consultations and contact a 24/7 confidential helpline for emotional support
• Unmind
• Sponsored Learning and Development opportunities
• Regular company events and social activities

In return for everything you can bring to Copper, we can offer you an exciting, challenging role in a fast-growing and dynamic business, with career opportunities and welcoming working environment.

If you think you have everything we're looking for and more, then we'd love you to apply for the opportunity.