Lead Counsel for EMEA - Network Deals & Products (Discover Global Payment Network)

The Ark (95988), United Kingdom, London, Senior Counsel - EMEA Commercial Contract and Product Job Title: Senior Counsel - EMEA Commercial Contract and Product (Discover Global Payment Network) - Senior Manager Location: London - Hybrid Working Pattern: 3 days in-office (Tuesday-Thursday) and 2 days remote. Our Mission We’re on a mission to be a force for good in lending. Throughout our almost 30-year history, we’ve consistently been recognised as a great place to work; in 2026, Capital One was officially ranked 9th in the UK’s Best Workplaces™ list. Hear from our team about what it’s like working at Capital One UK. About the Role We’re seeking an experienced and collaborative Senior Manager to join our growing Global Payment Network Legal team to lead our legal strategy across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). You won’t just be giving advice, you will be a critical strategic partner embedded directly within the business. The successful candidate will be a valued member of a truly global team, providing legal and commercial guidance to the Global Payments Network, to support the business in navigating our growth agenda. They will leverage their outstanding legal and communication skills, and bring an ability to anticipate and deliver on the needs of an innovative, sophisticated, and fast-paced business while simultaneously managing a wide range of transactions and projects. As a key strategic partner embedded within the business, you will negotiate commercial agreements, help identify risks, and solve problems alongside a team of world-class professionals. You will find that the Legal Department is not a “check the box” function but instead, an important voice and strategic partner in all aspects of the business. What you’ll do Serve as lead counsel to help drive international expansion for our Global Payments Network by providing strategic and actionable legal and commercial advice and expertise. Own our EMEA legal and commercial contracting strategy, and delivery roadmap for the Global Payments Network. Provide cross-functional assistance by partnering closely with Risk and Compliance officers to ensure comprehensive support. Provide thought and strategic leadership on relevant legal and commercial considerations for EMEA. Engage and oversee outside legal counsel as needed in an effective and efficient manner. Stay abreast of external legal and regulatory developments and expectations that could impact the environment in which Capital One operates, understanding its impact on Capital One's inherent compliance risk. Stand up and refine processes that make legal workflows dramatically more efficient and user-friendly for our business partners. The skills and experience you need Qualified solicitor with solid post-qualification experience Prior experience negotiating, drafting, and guiding implementation of commercial agreements strongly preferred. Experience working within a financial services environment. Strong business judgment and analytical skills Excellent communication skills, with an ability to clearly communicate legal and commercial terms, business strategy, and compliance risk to stakeholders at all levels across the business and to external stakeholders. A willingness and ability to influence and effectively challenge stakeholders with credibility at all levels of business, as well as external stakeholders. Being comfortable balancing trade-offs between risk and returns in order to achieve our business objectives and to support us in effectively managing all compliance legal risks associated with the Capital One. An ability to understand complex topics quickly with depth that allows for the delivery and actionable insights. An ability to build and leverage relevant networks inside and outside the organisation Where and how you'll work This is a permanent position based in our London (Hammersmith) office . We embrace a hybrid approach to work. You'll spend three days a week in the office (Tuesday-Thursday), with Monday and Friday being dedicated work-from-home days. Our offices are designed to inspire and support you. What’s in it for you We invest in the growth of our people alongside our business. You will have extensive opportunities to learn and develop your career, including access to up to £5,000 in funding for external qualifications. In addition to career development, our comprehensive benefits package is designed to grow with you, ensuring your wellbeing is prioritised at every stage of your career: Wealth & Future: Competitive pension and performance-based bonus schemes Holidays: Start with 25 days of annual leave, increasing with tenure. Need more? You have the option to buy 5 additional days. Health: Access premium care through our private medical insurance. Family Support: We champion your milestones with enhanced parental leave. A full list of our benefits is available here . What you should know about how we recruit We pride ourselves on hiring the best people, not the same people. Building diverse and inclusive teams is the right thing to do and the smart thing to do. We want to work with top talent: whoever you are, whatever you look like, wherever you come from. We know it’s about what you do, not just what you say. That’s why we make our recruitment process fair and accessible. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging at our core. We empower our associates to do great work by creating an inclusive culture—one that values diverse perspectives, fosters collaboration and encourages innovative ideas—and a place where associates of all backgrounds can thrive by bringing their most authentic selves to work. We call this our Culture of Belonging, and it rests at the heart of our business. Our associate-led Business Resource Groups were created to help support our diverse population and include over 10 groups across our offices. Because each Business Resource Group is as unique as the population it serves, they offer a range of activities, networking opportunities, special events and learning programmes to associates. Capital One is committed to diversity in the workplace. If you require a reasonable adjustment, please contact All information will be kept confidential and will only be used for the purpose of applying a reasonable adjustment. For technical support or questions about Capital One's recruiting process, please send an email to Capital One does not provide, endorse nor guarantee and is not liable for third-party products, services, educational tools or other information available through this site. Capital One Financial is made up of several different entities. Please note that any position posted in Canada is for Capital One Canada, any position posted in the United Kingdom is for Capital One Europe and any position posted in the Philippines is for Capital One Philippines Service Corp. (COPSSC).