Legal Counsel, Employment Law, UK and Europe

Standard Chartered Bank is an inclusive employer and a member of myGwork – the largest global platform for the LGBTQ+ business community.

The Legal Counsel – Employment Law is responsible for providing expert legal advice on employment-related matters across the UK and Europe, supporting the Bank in managing legal, regulatory, and reputational risks arising from people-related issues.

This role combines contentious and advisory work, including employment litigation, employee relations matters, regulatory considerations, and strategic HR initiatives. The position also plays a key role in supporting cross‑border projects and driving best practice in employment law across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

Employment Litigation & Disputes

• Advise on and manage employment litigation and disputes across the UK and Europe.
• Liaise with external legal counsel regarding the strategic approach to employment law disputes, critically assessing advice received and tailoring this to the business/organisation.
• Coordinate the disclosure process in employment litigation, liaising with internal and external stakeholders to ensure all disclosure obligations are met.
• Manage the witness statement phase of employment litigation, ensuring statements are accurately tailored to the business or organisation.
• Work with the corporate communications team to manage and mitigate reputational risk.
• Identify and evaluate settlement opportunities and advise Human Resources (HR), Employee Relations (ER), and relevant business stakeholders on potential settlement options.

Advisory & Employee Relations

• Provide strategic legal advice on a wide range of employment matters, including:
  • Investigations and accountability reviews
  • Disciplinary and grievance processes
  • Performance management
  • Redundancies, restructures, and exits
• Support HR and Employee Relations teams with complex, high‑risk cases.
• Advise on regulatory considerations impacting employees, including remuneration and regulated references.
• Review and advise on Data Subject Access Requests (DSARs), particularly where linked to disputes.
• Contribute to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives from a legal perspective.
• Provide training and updates on legal developments and best practices.

Projects & Policy Development

• Advise on employment law aspects of HR policies, procedures, and strategic initiatives.
• Support global and regional HR transformation projects.
• Provide legal support on M&A activities, including employee consultation and TUPE‑related matters.
• Draft, review, and maintain employment contracts and global template documentation.

Skills and Experience

• Strong experience in employment law across the UK, with exposure to European jurisdictions (e.g., France, Germany, Poland advantageous).
• Proven track record managing employment litigation and complex disputes.
• Experience advising on employee relations issues, including disciplinaries, grievances, restructures, and terminations.
• Strong understanding of employment‑related regulatory frameworks, particularly within financial services.
• Experience with data privacy matters, including Data Subject Access Requests (preferred).
• Commercially focused with strong business acumen and ability to provide pragmatic legal advice.
• Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to operate effectively in ambiguous and fast‑paced environments.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with experience advising senior leaders.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor messaging to different audiences.

Qualifications

• Law degree (LLB) or equivalent, or non‑law degree with Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL).
• UK Solicitor’s Regulation Authority practising certificate.
• Post‑qualification experience (PQE) in employment law.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools (Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel).

Core Competencies

• Employment Law (UK & Europe)
• Litigation & Dispute Resolution
• Regulatory & Compliance Awareness
• Business Acumen
• Stakeholder Management & Influencing
• Analytical Thinking & Decision‑Making

Additional Attributes

• Highly organised with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Strategic mindset with awareness of broader commercial and reputational implications.
• Strong attention to detail and disciplined approach to case management.
• Ability to work collaboratively across global, cross‑functional teams.

What we offer

In line with our Fair Pay Charter, we offer a competitive salary and benefits to support your mental, physical, financial and social wellbeing.

• Core bank funding for retirement savings, medical and life insurance, with flexible and voluntary benefits available in some locations.
• Time‑off including annual leave, parental/maternity (20 weeks), sabbatical (12 months maximum) and volunteering leave (3 days), along with minimum global standards for annual and public holiday, which is combined to 30 days minimum.
• Flexible working options based around home and office locations, with flexible working patterns.
• Proactive wellbeing support through Unmind, a market‑leading digital wellbeing platform, development courses for resilience and other human skills, global Employee Assistance Programme, sick leave, mental health first‑aiders and all sorts of self‑help toolkits.
• A continuous learning culture to support your growth, with opportunities to reskill and upskill and access to physical, virtual and digital learning.
• Being part of an inclusive and values‑driven organisation, one that embraces and celebrates our unique diversity, across our teams, business functions and geographies – everyone feels respected and can realise their full potential.

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