Chief Legal Officer | General Counsel | Legal Director

In-House Legal & Recoveries - Specialist Lending / Asset Finance

East Midlands HQ | Hybrid Working (1-2 days office)

c. £120,000 - £150,000 + Bonus + LTIP + Car Allowance + Benefits

About the Role

We are recruiting a commercially astute Chief Legal Officer (CLO) to join a high-growth, independent finance group. This in-house legal leadership role offers genuine boardroom impact, leading legal, litigation, and recoveries operations in a regulated lending environment.

As CLO, you will oversee legal disputes, regulatory compliance, collections strategy, and commercial contract negotiation. The role is hybrid with 1-2 days/week in the East Midlands HQ, ideal for a Senior Associate, Legal Director, or Partner ready to transition into a strategic in-house legal role.

This is a rare opportunity to move from private practice into a full executive leadership role - without billing targets, and with the influence to shape legal policy, recoveries, and board decision-making.

Key Responsibilities

* Lead all legal and commercial dispute matters, litigation strategy, and contract reviews.

* Oversee internal collections and recoveries teams, including End of Term operations.

* Chair the Impairments Committee and report key risk insights to the executive team.

* Develop and implement legal frameworks for asset recoveries, defaults, and loan enforcement.

* Negotiate and advise on finance agreements, trading contracts, and lender partnerships.

* Manage relationships with external legal advisors, compliance, and regulatory bodies.

Ideal Candidate Profile

* Qualified Solicitor (England & Wales) with 7+ PQE.

* Background in commercial litigation/credit litigation, banking & finance disputes, or regulated lending related to finance agreements including defaults

* Current or recent experience as a Partner, Senior Associate, or Legal Director.

* Proven experience in credit litigation, contract enforcement, legal recoveries, and asset finance.

* Experience advising on FCA, FLA, or NACFB-regulated environments is a strong advantage.

* Confident communicator and advisor to the Board, CEO, and Executive stakeholders.

* Experience leading or managing legal, risk, or collections teams.

Why Apply?

* Board-level influence in a growing, agile finance group.

* Career-defining move for a commercial legal leader.

* No billing targets. Clear work/life balance.

* Hybrid working - just 1-2 days per week onsite.

* Strong total package: Base up to £150k + Bonus + LTIP + Car Allowance.

* Culture focused on outcomes, not hours.

Apply Now

To apply or find out more, send your CV quoting Ref LX (phone number removed)