K3684 – Interim Head of Legal 6m FTC – UK, Greater London / Surrey (Hybrid) – Asset Finance

Excellent salary and benefits.

New Leaf Search is partnering with an established European Asset Finance organisation in its search for an experienced Interim Head of Legal on a 6-month Fixed-Term Contract

This senior leadership appointment will take responsibility for the management and continued effectiveness of the UK Legal function, providing commercially focused legal advice, managing legal risk and supporting business decisions within a regulated Asset Finance environment

Reporting to the Deputy CEO, you will lead a team of four legal professionals and work closely with senior management, commercial teams and wider stakeholders to ensure legal governance, operational continuity and effective support for the organisation’s ongoing business activities

Key Accountabilities:

• Lead, manage and develop the UK Legal team, comprising a Senior Legal Counsel, two Legal Counsels and a Paralegal
• Provide commercially focused legal advice to senior management and business stakeholders, balancing commercial objectives with legal and regulatory risk
• Oversee the development, implementation and maintenance of legal policies, procedures and governance frameworks
• Identify, assess and manage legal risks, including those arising from new regulations, products, transactions and business processes
• Review, draft and negotiate commercial agreements, customer documentation and introducer contracts
• Provide legal support to Sales and other business functions on complex transactions, framework agreements and financing structures
• Oversee pre-litigation and litigation matters, including commercial disputes, debt enforcement and complex arrears cases
• Manage external legal advisers and specialist counsel, ensuring appropriate support and effective cost management
• Establish and monitor departmental KPIs, service levels and delivery standards
• Provide guidance and training to colleagues on legal documentation, contractual obligations and regulatory developments
• Maintain effective relationships with internal and international legal stakeholders
• Support business continuity, operational resilience and effective legal risk escalation

Person Specification:

• Qualified Commercial or Finance Lawyer with strong expertise in UK law
• Significant experience operating as a Senior Lawyer, Head of Legal or in a comparable senior in-house legal position
• Background in Asset Finance, Equipment Leasing, Banking or Financial Services highly desirable
• Strong understanding of vendor finance programmes and commercial financing arrangements
• Excellent commercial drafting, contract negotiation and legal analysis skills
• Experience managing litigation, commercial disputes, debt enforcement and relevant regulatory matters
• Proven ability to lead, coach and develop qualified legal professionals
• Sound understanding of legal governance, regulatory compliance and risk management
• Strong commercial judgement and the ability to provide practical, risk-based legal solutions
• Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills, including engagement with senior executives
• Highly organised, self-motivated and capable of operating autonomously in a demanding senior leadership role

We strongly favour applicants with proven, relevant experience in Financial Services, particularly in Asset Finance and Leasing. Relevant IN-COUNTRY experience is required; applications without it will not be considered

Contact us for a confidential discussion

📩 Apply in confidence by sending your CV

Job Reference:	K3684
Contract Type:	6 Mth FTC
Location	Surrey
Remote Working:	Hybrid
Consultant:	Katherine Amin
Function:	Leadership & Executive, Legal
Contact phone:	0203 740 7222
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