Financial Regulation Contentious Associate

Contentious Financial Regulation Lawyer – 4–6 years PQE

Location:
London

Join a market‑leading financial services regulatory practice known for resolving complex and systemic challenges in the UK financial sector. You will work with a team of experts—including barristers, ex‑regulators and former ombudsmen—to develop strategies that align with commercial priorities and reduce regulatory scrutiny. This role offers the rare opportunity to work alongside Jonathan Cavill, who specialises in investigating and managing large‑scale regulatory issues for financial institutions.

His team leads high‑profile matters spanning FCA, PRA and FOS engagement, large remediation programmes, supervisory interventions and enforcement risk management. If you thrive on intellectually challenging work and navigating a fast‑evolving regulatory landscape, this role provides exceptional career growth.

Our Regulation, Insurance and Funds (RIF) Group brings together specialists in insurance, investment management, funds, banking products and financial regulation. The Financial Regulation team is a strategic growth priority and operates at the forefront of UK regulatory change.

You will join a team that:

• Handles high‑impact systemic investigations
• Advises on regulatory stress events, mass redress and supervisory interventions
• Works directly with former FCA, PRA and FOS specialists
• Advise on emerging regulatory themes such as AI governance, collective actions and redress frameworks
• Acts for leading banks, insurers, investment managers, platforms and pension providers

Key clients include:
Abrdn, Aegon UK, Aviva, AXA, HSBC, Legal & General, Lloyds Banking Group, Nat West, Phoenix Group, Royal London, RSA, Railpen Investments, Post Office Limited and others.
Clients value our blend of regulatory expertise and commercial insight, describing our advice as “rapid, practical and grounded in real‑world risk”.

You will play a central role in delivering strategic regulatory advice, supporting contentious matters and managing complex multi‑stakeholder issues. Work will include:

• Advising on large‑scale systemic issues across banks, insurers and investment firms
• Supporting FCA, PRA and FOS supervisory and enforcement processes
• Managing s.166 Skilled Person Reviews
• Developing risk mitigation and rectification plans
• Leading breach assessments and incident response strategies

• Preparing firms for regulator meetings and interviews
• Drafting regulator‑facing correspondence
• Designing engagement strategies to reduce scrutiny
• Advising on mass FOS exposures and complaint cohorts
• Supporting Judicial Review strategies relating to FCA, PRA and FOS decisions

• Advising on mass redress programmes (cohorting, compensation, governance)
• Working on collective actions, market abuse, insider dealing and consumer claims
• Leading financial services disputes and wider advisory matters

You will also have opportunities for client secondments and involvement in major cross‑disciplinary projects.

You should have experience in several of the following:

• FCA/PRA supervisory or enforcement matters
• Regulatory investigations and contentious regulatory issues
• FOS strategy and mass complaint management
• Section 166 Skilled Person support
• Redress schemes and systemic issue management
• Market abuse, insider dealing and financial crime‑related matters
• Financial services litigation or dispute resolution
• Drafting regulator communications and risk mitigation plans

• Strong academic background
• Ability to supervise and mentor juniors
• Confidence engaging with clients and regulators
• Appetite for high‑complexity regulatory work
• Interest in contributing to business development in a growing practice

Pinsent Masons is a global 100 law firm with over 3,800 employees across 28 international locations. We are recognised for delivering high‑quality legal advice on complex, multi‑jurisdictional matters, with particular strength in financial services, energy, infrastructure, real estate and technology. Our innovative delivery model includes…