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German Legal Counsel (m/w/d)

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iwoca

2mo ago

  • Job
    Part-time
    Mid & Senior Level
  • Legal
  • Frankfurt

AI generated summary

  • You must be a qualified German lawyer fluent in German and English, with experience in commercial contracts, GDPR, in-house environments, and a motivation to deliver high-quality legal work.
  • You will support German teams with legal advice, draft and negotiate contracts, ensure GDPR compliance, manage external counsel, and mentor a paralegal while enhancing legal processes.

Requirements

  • You are an experienced lawyer, qualified in Germany
  • You are fluent in German and English
  • You have experience in:
  • commercial contracts, partnership and broker agreements
  • GDPR and data protection laws, and have been involved in implementing policies and procedures to ensure compliance
  • working in an in-house environment, particularly a fintech or finance business
  • You are smart, meaning you:
  • use thoughtful legal analysis to quickly cut through legal and commercial complexity
  • give concrete feedback in a way that facilitates decision-making
  • You are motivated, meaning you:
  • go above and beyond to deliver high quality legal work in line with deadlines
  • curious about all parts of the business and the challenges they face
  • You are humble:
  • no ego, we’re in it together
  • you proactively reflect on individual and team performance on a task.
  • understand where gaps exist in legal skills and knowledge and engage external counsel where appropriate.
  • It would be also nice if you:
  • have some knowledge and understanding of lending businesses, and the regulation applying to business lending in Germany
  • have some experience with employment law issues
  • have some experience of working with Luxembourg fund structures
  • appreciate the importance of quantifying legal risk to inform decision-making
  • are willing to work some of the time in one of our offices
  • are interested in growing with our dynamic German business and, in the future, other countries in which we may operate

Responsibilities

  • Support and advise teams across the German business, including lending propositions (product development), customer acquisition, customer success, marketing and people ops (HR).
  • Draft, review and negotiate partnership, customer and supplier contracts by providing pragmatic and commercial support
  • identify and implement process improvements to make legal work more efficient, including building out and maintaining templates, playbooks and decision frameworks for our partnership and customer acquisition agreements
  • Improve and maintain the business’ policies and procedures relating to GDPR for our key stakeholders - customers, employees and partners
  • Instruct and manage external legal counsel, and manage legal budget with the guidance of the Head of Legal and GM of Germany
  • Support any regulatory matters relating to licensing to lend to and collect from customers in Germany, and ensure our product complies with all elements of German law.
  • Support corporate housekeeping, management of constitutional documents and statutory books, and ongoing filing requirements across our German entities
  • There will be opportunities for you to:
  • Advise and educate other members of the legal team on areas of your competence through formal and informal training
  • Manage and mentor a German-speaking paralegal through tasks assigned to you
  • Get involved more broadly with the Legal function, including in the UK and Luxembourg and any other jurisdiction in which we may operate

FAQs

What is the main responsibility of the German Legal Counsel position at iwoca?

The main responsibility of the German Legal Counsel is to support and advise teams across the German business, including areas such as product development, customer acquisition, marketing, and HR, while drafting, reviewing, and negotiating various contracts and ensuring compliance with German law and GDPR regulations.

What qualifications are required for the German Legal Counsel role?

Candidates must be experienced lawyers qualified in Germany, fluent in both German and English, and possess experience in commercial contracts, GDPR and data protection laws, and ideally have experience working in-house within a fintech or finance business.

What type of work environment does iwoca promote?

iwoca promotes a collaborative work environment that values inclusivity and diversity, encouraging employees to confidently be themselves while ensuring that everyone feels welcome and supported.

Will this role involve managing external legal counsel?

Yes, the German Legal Counsel will instruct and manage external legal counsel while also managing the legal budget with guidance from the Head of Legal and GM of Germany.

Is this position full-time or part-time?

The German Legal Counsel position is part-time.

What are some of the benefits offered to iwoca employees?

Benefits include a motivated international team, access to gym memberships, ski chalet access in winter, 26 days of vacation plus a day off for your birthday, a fully paid sabbatical after four years, share options, volunteer day, and fully stocked fridges in the office.

Are there opportunities for professional development in this role?

Yes, there are opportunities to advise and educate other members of the legal team and to manage a German-speaking paralegal, as well as involvement with the Legal function across other jurisdictions.

What is the culture like at iwoca?

The culture at iwoca is characterized by rapid expansion, a growth mindset, and a focus on learning and leading projects. Employees are encouraged to share ideas that impact small businesses positively.

How does iwoca support regulatory compliance within its lending business?

The German Legal Counsel will support regulatory matters related to licensing, ensuring that iwoca's products comply with all aspects of German law, including data protection and employment law.

Is there an expectation to work in one of iwoca's offices?

Yes, candidates should be willing to work some of the time in one of iwoca’s offices.

iwoca

Technology
Industry
201-500
Employees
2011
Founded Year

Mission & Purpose

iwoca is a fintech company that specializes in providing flexible and accessible small business loans. They offer quick and convenient funding solutions to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the United Kingdom and Europe. iwoca's ultimate mission is to empower entrepreneurs and small business owners by providing them with the financial support they need to grow and succeed. Their purpose is to fill the funding gap that traditional banks often overlook, offering accessible and transparent lending options that cater to the specific needs of SMEs. By leveraging technology and data-driven assessments, iwoca aims to simplify the loan application process, make funding more accessible, and support the growth of small businesses, ultimately driving economic prosperity and fostering entrepreneurial success.

Culture & Values

  • Motivated

    Going to work shouldn't feel like a slog, so we want everyone in the team to personally care about what they're working on. We stay motivated by celebrating our wins, learning from our mistakes, and always looking for new gaps to step into.

  • Smart

    At iwoca being smart isn't about what you know, it's about how you think. Smart thinking means looking at each problem by asking ‘why’ first, then figuring out ‘how’.

  • Humble

    We know all ideas are flawed, all code has bugs, and everyone makes mistakes: it’s how we learn. For us, being humble means you question yourself first, rather than your team.

  • Growth Mindset

    We think there's always a better way to solve a problem. So we never let ourselves get comfortable with being good enough.

Benefits

  • Work where you work best

    Twice a year we rent houses in places like Sicily and the French Alps where each team can work together for a week poolside. We champion flexible working in all our teams.

  • Invest in iwoca

    We want people to be invested in iwoca's success so after six months you'll be awarded share options.

  • Keep yourself healthy

    We offer comprehensive health insurance and cash plans. You'll also get gym discounts and we host yoga classes in the office every week.

  • Start (and end) your day right

    Each floor of iwoca HQ has a fully stocked fridge for breakfast and every Friday we unwind with beers and wine.

  • Life-work balance

    We know your life outside of work comes first. We offer enhanced maternity and paternity leave for new parents plus a nursery benefit. We also have unlimited unpaid leave.

  • Learning and development

    Whether you want to learn to code, experiment with motion design, or beat cognitive biases you'll have time and budget to invest in your professional development.