Managing Associate – Digital, Data and Commercial (Payments)

We are seeking a Managing Associate or Legal Director to join our Digital, Data and Commercial (DDaC) practice, with a focus on payments. The role is available on a hybrid basis across our offices in Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham, Edinburgh, or Glasgow.

You will advise banks, payment service providers, fintechs, retailers, and technology businesses on the commercial arrangements underpinning payment products and services. Our work includes payment processing arrangements, merchant acquiring and card issuing agreements, payment scheme arrangements, Open Banking propositions, strategic partnerships, outsourcing arrangements, and broader technology and commercial contracts.

This is a client-facing role where you will manage a broad range of commercial and strategic matters, contribute to business development, supervise junior lawyers, and help shape the growth of the practice. Opportunities for client secondments may also arise.

You will be:

• A qualified solicitor (SRA or Law Society registered) with at least six years’ post-qualification experience in a commercial, technology, or financial services practice, or a relevant in-house legal team.
• An experienced commercial lawyer with strong drafting, negotiation, and advisory skills.
• Comfortable advising clients in regulated sectors, particularly financial services, fintech, or payments.
• Interested in how payment products and services are developed, delivered, and commercialised.
• Skilled in working alongside financial services regulatory specialists on matters with both commercial and regulatory dimensions.
• A pragmatic, commercially focused advisor with effective communication, organisational, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experienced in supervising, mentoring, and developing junior lawyers.
• Committed to building client relationships and contributing to practice development.

Previous payments experience is beneficial but not essential; we welcome applications from candidates with broader commercial, technology, or financial services backgrounds who are keen to develop a payments specialism.