We are looking for a qualified Senior Solicitor to lead and develop our Group Lending Legal Team. The legal team supports the lending function of our Group providing expert property legal advice, strategic guidance, and operational support across the full end-to-end lifecycle of lifetime mortgage products.
The Head of Group Lending Legal Team is a senior leadership role with primary responsibility for overseeing the property and conveyancing related legal aspects of lifetime mortgage lending within more2life, together with the provision of legal oversight on key contracts and commercial arrangements. The role plays a key strategic role in shaping lending policies, managing legal risk and providing oversight and direction on conveyancing related legal issues arising from secured lending activity.
The successful candidate will act as the senior legal authority for our lending division, ensuring regulatory compliance, legal risk management, operational excellence, and high-quality technical legal support to the wider business.
Main role & responsibilities:
As well as leading, mentoring and developing the legal team you will play a key role in providing legal leadership across the full lifetime mortgage cycle. Working closely with Underwriting, Risk, Compliance and Operations teams, you will provide expert legal oversight and strategic support across the business.
Origination & Conveyancing
Provide senior legal oversight of all legal property conveyancing related aspects of lifetime mortgage lending,
Provide expert advice on complex conveyancing matters, including leasehold, title defects, estate rent charges and non-standard property issues, ensure processes align with regulatory requirements, lender policies, and industry standards.
Post Completion
Support the Servicing team on post completion activity including transfers of equity, part sale of land and service charge arrears
Instructing and managing external legal advisors on repossession litigation, providing clear advice to senior stakeholders on risk, progress and outcomes
Contract Support
Drafting, reviewing and advising on a range of commercial contracts supporting the lending business, with a particular focus on supplier agreements.
Providing legal advice on contractual risk, negotiating terms and ensuring agreements align with internal policies and commercial objectives
Working with Operations and the Head of Supplier Relationships to support effective supplier onboarding and ongoing contract management
Legal Risk & Governance
Identify, assess, and mitigate legal risks across the lending lifecycle.
Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, regulation, and best practice
Contribute to governance frameworks, internal policies, and audit responses.
Provide clear and pragmatic legal advice to senior stakeholders.
Advise the business on legal risk, policy changes, and legislative developments affecting conveyancing and lifetime mortgage products
Stakeholder Engagement
Act as a trusted legal adviser to senior leadership and key business stakeholders.
Work collaboratively with Compliance, Risk, Operations, and Customer teams.
Represent the legal function in internal forums, projects, and change initiatives.
Continuous Improvement
Drive process improvements and efficiencies within the legal function.
Embed consistent standards, strong controls, and high-quality legal outcomes.
Support transformation initiatives and growth of the lending business.
Ideally, we will be looking for:
Qualified Solicitor (England & Wales) with a minimum of 7 years PQE in Residential Property gained either in house or in private practice
Experience of drafting and negotiating commercial contracts
Ability to identify and communicate legal issues to a non legal audience
Strong technical knowledge of conveyancing and mortgage-related legal work.
Experience managing or leading legal teams.
Strong commercial awareness and ability to provide pragmatic business-focused advice.
Experience within lifetime mortgages, equity release or specialist lending is desirable
Most of all we look for people who display and work around the core values of our business:
Ambitious - to break ground to help our customers enjoy a better retirement.
Supportive - relationships are key to everything we do.
Personal - going above and beyond to offer exceptional service.
Integrity - honest, true and transparent in all of our relationships.
Responsive - whatever the challenge we'll deliver the right result.
Expert - experts in our field, our thirst for knowledge never stops
Salary description
£60000.00 - £70000.00 per year