Associate Litigation and IP Legal Counsel

About Us at GoCardless

GoCardless is a global bank payment company. Over 100,000 businesses, from start-ups to household names, use GoCardless to collect and send payments through direct debit, real-time payments and open banking. 

GoCardless processes US$130bn+ of payments annually, across 30+ countries; helping customers collect and send both recurring and one-off payments, without the chasing, stress or expensive fees. We use AI-powered solutions to improve payment success and reduce fraud. And, with open banking connectivity to over 2,500 banks, we help our customers make faster, more informed decisions.

We are headquartered in the UK with offices in London and Leeds, and additional locations in Australia, France, Ireland, Latvia, Portugal and the United States.

At GoCardless, we're all about supporting you! We’re committed to making our hiring process inclusive and accessible. If you need extra support or adjustments, reach out to your Talent Partner — we’re here to help! 

And remember: we don’t expect you to meet every single requirement. If you’re excited by this role, we encourage you to apply!

We’re approaching ‘Legal Risk’ in Financial Services in a new way.

• We are ready to serve everyone, if we wanted to - we ensure Legal Risk does not constrain the business but empowers it to achieve its goals;
• We create the best possible customer experience - we want our customers (both internal and external) to look forward to going through our processes; and
• We aim to automate wherever possible - we don’t like inefficiencies nor do we believe that real risk mitigation is achieved by throwing people at the problem.

The Legal Function is at the forefront of GoCardless’ expansion. We must ensure that GoCardless adopts, implements and maintains forward-thinking and appropriate processes and controls, often coming across new challenges or issues that require innovative solutions. 

  The role

We are seeking an experienced In-House Litigation and IP Lawyer (5 to 6 years PQE) to oversee and manage the company's legal disputes and proceedings as well as the company’s trademark portfolio and everything linked to it. 

The key responsibilities of this role include:

• Manage and oversee all legal disputes and litigation processes involving the company
• Develop effective litigation strategies to protect and defend the company’s interests
• Advise internal teams on legal risks and potential liabilities related to ongoing matters
• Collaborate with external counsel when necessary
• Monitor legal developments and ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations
• Manage and oversee all aspects of the company’s intellectual property portfolio
• Conduct IP due diligence and assist in trademark filings, registrations and renewals
• Monitor and enforce IP rights, address infringement issues, and coordinate with legal agents and external counsel
• Advice legal teams on IP strategy, risk management and compliance
• Stay updated on IP laws and industry best practices to ensure ongoing protection and maximisation of IP assets
• Build out and maintain self-help tools, playbooks and guides for the legal team and for the wider business 
• Be able to support the team on other legal matters
• Work closely with your manager or other team members to support on projects
• Be prepared to deal with any legal issue, at any time.

  Desired skills

We’re looking for a lawyer with private practice training and/or in-house experience in a fast-paced environment. You will be driven, able to work independently and able to apply your existing knowledge and approach across a very wide range of legal (and quasi-legal) areas. As a technology business, it helps if you have had experience in a similar area, or perhaps you have a keen interest in tech outside of your day to day work.

 

We’d love to hear from you if:

• You have experience in dispute resolution and litigation.
• You have experience in IP management and handling IP related issues.
• You grasp new legal concepts quickly, and are not afraid to use your common sense.
• You are able to appropriately challenge ways of working and not be afraid to ask why.
• You are a self-starter who is proactive and you are willing to roll up your sleeves to get the job done. 
• Your communication skills are first class, and you are able to distil complex and cumbersome legalese into understandable English.
• You love tech and tools, and love exploring how they can contribute to efficiency and customer experience.  
• You enjoy project management and thrive on operational efficiency.
• You are easy to work with, do not take yourself seriously and want to work in a fun, fast-growing and challenging environment.

 

Bonus points if:

• You have knowledge of FCA requirements or payment services.
• You have experience reviewing marketing materials in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
• You have experience with selling and supporting SaaS solutions.
• You can explain what an API is.

 

Base salary range: £64,000 - £96,000

Base salary ranges are based on role, job level, location, and market data.  Please note that whilst we strive to offer competitive compensation, our approach is to pay between the minimum and the mid-point

of the pay range until performance can be assessed in role. Offers will take into account level of experience, interview assessment, budgets and parity between you and fellow employees at GoCardless doing similar work.

The Good Stuff!

• Wellbeing: Dedicated support and medical cover to keep you healthy.
• Work Away Scheme: Work from anywhere for up to 90 days in any 12-month period.
• Hybrid Working: Our hybrid model offers flexibility, with in-office days determined by your team.
• Equity: All permanently employed GeeCees get equity to share in our success.
• Parental leave: Tailored leave to support your life's great adventure.
• Time Off: Generous holidays, 3 volunteer days, and 4 wellness days annually.

Life at GoCardless

We're an organisation defined by our values; We start with why before we begin any project, to ensure it’s aligned with our mission. We make it happen, working with urgency and taking personal accountability for getting things done. We act with integrity, always. We care deeply about what we do and we know it's essential that we be humble whilst we do it. Our Values form part of the GoCardless DNA, and are used to not only help us nurture and develop our culture, but to deliver impactful work that will help us to achieve our vision.

Diversity & Inclusion

We’re building the payment network of the future, and to achieve our goal, we need a diverse team with a range of perspectives and experiences. As of July 2024, here’s where we stand:

• 45% identify as women 
• 23% identify as Black, Asian, Mixed, or Other 
• 10% identify as LGBTQIA+ 
• 9% identify as neurodiverse 
• 2% identify as disabled 

If you want to learn more, you can read about our Employee Resource Groups and objectives here as well as our latest D&I Report 

Sustainability at GoCardless

We’re committed to reducing our environmental impact and leaving a sustainable world for future generations. As co-founders of the Tech Zero coalition, we’re working towards a climate-positive future. Check out our sustainability action plan here. 

Find out more about Life at GoCardless via X, Instagram and LinkedIn.