Mergers & Acquisitions and Strategic Transactions Legal Counsel

About the role

Barclays is looking for a Mergers & Acquisitions and Strategic Transactions Legal Counsel to join its Legal team and protect the bank, its employees and its brands while ensuring global competitiveness and compliance. The role supports the Mergers & Acquisitions and Strategic Transactions (MAST) function, which advises on M&A, strategic minority investments, intragroup restructurings and other strategic transactions for the Barclays Group. It is open to candidates based in Glasgow, Birmingham or Manchester.

Key responsibilities

• Support or lead complex cross-border transactions across the full M&A lifecycle, from early-stage assessment and structuring through due diligence, negotiation and closing.
• Lead Principal Investments transactions.
• Prepare and present clear legal advice and analysis for senior management, executive committees and the Board.
• Identify, assess and coordinate the management of legal and regulatory risks, working with subject matter experts across Barclays Legal and the wider Group.
• Select, instruct and manage external legal advisers globally, ensuring high-quality, commercially focused advice and effective cost and risk management.
• Horizon scan for legal risks, develop AI use cases, provide legal training and build team know-how.
• Develop and implement best-practice legal strategies, and give advice on due diligence, deal structuring, negotiation and drafting of legal documents.
• Represent the bank in litigation, arbitration and regulatory investigations related to M&A, minority investments or reorganisations.
• Create, negotiate and review acquisition, sale, joint venture and investment agreements and other transactional documents.
• Research and analyse changes in laws and regulations, and deliver training on legal and regulatory requirements.

Required profile

• Experience advising on all areas of UK corporate/M&A law, including UK Listing Rules.
• Ability to prioritise a high volume of work and operate independently and as part of a global team, with strong project management and organisational skills.
• Strong communication, attention to detail, interpersonal skills and a strong risk and controls mindset.
• Ability to deliver under pressure and to build key stakeholder relationships.

Required skills

• Highly valued: experience in the financial services sector, either in-house or in private practice.
• Highly valued: experience providing regulatory advice in financial services, US M&A and other corporate transactions, and experience with UK Private Capital (BVCA) and NVCA model documentation.