Senior Associate/Of Counsel Regulatory

About Walkers

We are a leading international law and professional services firm providing legal, corporate and fiduciary services to global corporations, financial institutions, capital market participants and investment fund managers. With a global presence spanning the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, we advise on the laws of Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Ireland and Jersey.

We treat everyone as the intelligent professional they are. Our approach is to trust and empower our people to deliver consistently, and enable them to succeed. Diversity is our secret weapon – it’s the sheer breadth of Walkers people that makes us who we are – gathered from across the globe and fluent in languages, jurisdictions and cultures that help us to mirror our clients and keep our own thinking in tune with the world in which we operate.

Financial institutions, capital markets participants, investment fund managers, global corporations and family offices all rely on us for the legal, corporate, compliance, formation and fiduciary services they need to succeed in today's markets.

Over sixty years of looking at the world through the same commercial lens as our clients means we deliver focused, clear, precise advice to get the deal done. Clients trust us to help them make good business decisions, create commercially sound products and strategies, resolve disputes and cement deals that are profitable.

From offices across geographies, we deliver business critical advice and services in the same time zones as our clients. Frequently acknowledged as the go-to firm for offshore legal advice, in a changing world we are a safe pair of hands in six globally important financial jurisdictions.

Consistently ranked in the top-tier of the leading legal directories, our people and our approach to solving our clients' challenges and ambitions are tried and tested, but that doesn't mean we ever stand still. Markets change, regulations evolve, businesses adapt, and we keep on reinventing our services for the times we find ourselves in.

The Role of Senior Associate/Of Counsel Regulatory

Walkers is currently seeking an ambitious and enthusiastic Senior Associate / Of Counsel with a minimum of 4 years PQE to join its highly regarded Financial Regulatory Group in Dublin. The Group advises on all areas of Irish and EU financial regulation and compliance, including:

• Investment services (MiFID II)
• Banking regulation (including CRD, domestic banking regulation and lending requirements)
• Fintech including payments, e-money, cryptoassets regulation and crowdfunding (including PSD2, e-money directive, MiCAR)
• Market abuse
• Financial crime including anti-money laundering and sanctions
• Regulatory change projects and ongoing compliance (e.g. the Digital Operational Resilience Act)
• Financial institution M&A
• The Central Bank of Ireland's fitness and probity and individual accountability regimes
• Data privacy

The Regulatory Group has a thriving FinTech practice and advises on innovative business models and products with clients benefitting from the Group's expertise in licensing, cryptoassets, payments regulation, AML and data privacy. The Regulatory Group has advised a number of high profile FinTech, credit institution and investment firm migrations to Ireland in recent years.

Members of the Regulatory Group contribute to numerous industry associations and working groups, including Irish Funds, Blockchain Ireland, the Irish MiFID Industry Association and the Compliance Institute, with the team and individuals being ranked by Chambers, Legal 500 and IFLR in FinTech, Data Privacy and in Regulation more generally. Walkers has a global regulatory group comprising regulatory lawyers practising across our global offices.

Key Focus Areas

• Play an integral part in a dynamic team, driving continued growth in a fast-paced area of practice.
• Opportunity to work on a broad range of matters representing top tier clients in Ireland with an international focus.
• Work closely with partners and associates, advising on Irish and EU legal and regulatory issues for domestic and international banks, investment firms, FinTechs, payment/e-money institutions, asset managers, and funds.
• Take responsibility for driving matters directly with clients, with partner support, and engage in business development.
• Collaborate with regulatory colleagues in other jurisdictions on business development, knowledge sharing, and client matters.
• Collaborate with the global FinTech group, meeting monthly to share knowledge across jurisdictions on FinTech matters, including crypto and DAOs.

This is an excellent opportunity to work in an internationally focused, professional organisation which places huge emphasis on continuous professional development, mentoring and career development within a collegiate team-based environment.

The Person

We are seeking qualified lawyers with a minimum of 4 years PQE and who ideally have prior experience in financial services regulation in a recognised practice in Ireland or other common law jurisdiction. However, we would also welcome interest from lawyers with regulatory or in-house regulatory experience and those with an asset management, general finance or banking background with a strong interest in regulation. We are open to hearing from those currently practising in Ireland or those interested in returning or relocating to Ireland.

Additionally we are looking for candidates who can demonstrate the following:

• Strong academic credentials
• Excellent research, analytical, technical and drafting skills
• A high level of commercial and business awareness
• A calm and measured approach to problem solving
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, including the ability delegate and manage appropriately
• Taking responsibility for meeting the client's requirements and driving matters forward
• Excellent communication skills
• Interest in financial regulation, including fintech, and in becoming a trusted advisor in this area
• Interest in participating in business development, both desk based and in person
• A proven track record in managing competing priorities and deadlines

Benefits

We offer excellent progression opportunities along with a competitive remuneration package and benefits including:

• Competitive Salary
• Supportive environment and open culture
• Prominent international clients and challenging work
• Working directly with partners
• 'Dress for your day' dress code
• Discretionary annual bonus scheme
• Generous annual leave
• Agile Working Policy
• Health insurance cover
• Pension scheme
• Life Assurance
• Paid Maternity & Paternity leave
• Income Protection
• Taxsaver and Bike to Work schemes
• Professional Membership Fees paid
• Learning & Development and Mentorship programmes
• Educational bursaries and assistance
• Client secondment opportunities
• Social Committee, DEI Committee, CSR Committee and various sports, social and charity initiatives
• Subsidised gym access / fitness classes
• Employee Assistance Programme
• VDU eye testing and medical screening
• Wellness programme

Walkers global is an equal opportunity employer. Equality and diversity are key to our global identity and an integral part of our goal to continue being an employer of choice. We are committed to a work environment that supports all individuals irrespective of gender, ethnicity, nationality, race, religion, marital status, age, disability, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other applicable legally protected characteristics. We make every effort to ensure that employment opportunities are open and accessible to all purely on the basis of personal ability.

Key skills/competency

• Financial Regulation
• MiFID II
• FinTech Law
• Anti-Money Laundering (AML)
• Data Privacy
• Banking Regulation
• Cryptoassets
• EU Law
• Compliance
• Legal Advisory