Expertise Counsel, Finance Regulatory

Overview

About Ashurst

Ashurst is a leading progressive global law firm with a history spanning more than 200 years. We are future-focused, with activities across Ashurst Advance and our consulting arm. We are trusted advisers to local and global corporates, financial institutions and governments in all areas of commercial law. Please visit  for more information.

Team Overview

Ashurst is an expert in global financial services regulation, advising leading banks and institutions on regulatory obligations. We also work closely with regulators to prepare clients for regulatory issues. The practice is genuinely global, with strong London and Sydney presence and teams in Hong Kong, Melbourne, Tokyo, Beijing, Frankfurt, Paris, Luxembourg and Madrid. There are also contentious teams in these jurisdictions working with the non-contentious regulatory team.

Ashurst recognises the regulatory team as a core practice, not a support function.

Coverage

Primarily UK and EU law and financial services regulation focused, with engagement and support with financial regulation colleagues globally, particularly in the UK and Europe and other jurisdictions with similar regulations.

About Knowledge & Expertise (K&E)

K&E supports Ashurst’s 2027 strategy by empowering legal teams with insights, skills and tools. K&E activities include:

• Equip practice areas with high-quality research and thought leadership, and develop legal knowledge resources.
• Enable lawyers to achieve practice excellence through legal learning programmes and mentoring.
• Enhance client delivery by implementing tools and driving consistency in documents and processes.

You will join a highly expert, dynamic, friendly global community of expertise lawyers and K&E specialists. This new role is pivotal for the Fin Reg practice as it grows, working with partners and leadership to develop a credible, integrated expertise function for the UK and European Fin Reg practice and embed collaborative practices globally.

The role is supported by the EMEA Regional Head of Expertise and Legal Learning, and works with Expertise Lawyers, BD teams, and the CMG function. It is supported by the London Fin Reg Practice Executive team.

Reporting to

The role reports to the London Fin Reg Expertise Partner, on behalf of the broader Fin Reg practice leadership team. The Expertise Partner and Expertise Counsel jointly develop and implement expertise plans for UK and European Fin Reg practice and ensure a coordinated global approach.

Role overview

The role requires an excellent technical and client-focused lawyer who can develop and drive forward Fin Reg expertise in a dynamic, impactful way for lawyers and clients. The successful candidate will:

• Guide and contribute to client and industry-facing thought leadership initiatives
• Develop and manage high-quality internal and client-facing legal content
• Ensure information, resources and insights are easy to access
• Develop and maintain standard documentation, guidance and know-how
• Develop effective legal learning programmes for our lawyers and clients and coach junior lawyers
• Drive a culture of knowledge sharing and continuous improvement

The role suits someone with significant experience in a similar expertise-focused role in professional services or financial institutions, or a senior fee-earner transitioning to an expertise lawyer role.

Responsibilities

Strategy

Play a leading role in setting, maintaining, evaluating and implementing Ashurst’s Fin Reg expertise strategy and annual expertise plans to support the Fin Reg practice and firm strategy.

Thought leadership

• Maintain awareness of relevant legal, regulatory and commercial developments and coordinate with other practices to identify relevant developments or opportunities. Conduct horizon scanning to identify developments, issues and trends affecting clients and the broader financial services sector; assess impact on our practice, strategy and clients.
• Plan, create, coordinate and support client campaigns on significant Fin Reg developments. Produce client publications, thought pieces, insights and analysis, and provide training.
• Prepare articles for Ashurst website, Linked In, and trade publications to inform clients of regulatory developments.
• Prepare articles for trade publications showing understanding of developments with value-added content.

Client engagement

• Guide Fin Reg client training, pitches and ongoing client development.
• Support leadership to identify and take to market client engagement strategies through horizon scanning and regulatory knowledge.
• Collaborate with other practices, regions and industries to identify cross-selling and growth opportunities.

External engagement

• Raise Ashurst’s profile in Fin Reg by building networks within the financial services sector, including trade bodies, directories, clients and prospective clients.
• Attend relevant trade association meetings and events and report insights to the team.

Legal learning and on-the-job coaching

• Foster a culture of continuous learning and knowledge…