Buchanan
Financial Regulation Associate
Get notified of more jobs like this · No spam, ever
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
A US-headquartered international firm is building a non-contentious Financial Services Regulatory practice in London
A highly experienced partner has just joined to lead it, and the team is now recruiting its first two associates. This is a new build around a practice that is already winning work, not a replacement for anyone who has left.
The firm is looking across NQ to 6PQE. The most likely outcome is one junior hire and one more experienced hire, not two associates at the same level.
WHY NOW
The practice sits within a London finance platform that has grown quickly, with substantial lateral partner investment over the past year across structured finance, fund finance and related areas. The regulatory team has been created to work alongside those practices, as well as the firm's long-standing fintech and venture capital strength.
For the associates who join now, that means something unusual: no established hierarchy to work through, direct access to a senior partner, and a real chance to shape how the team develops.
THE PRACTICE
This is a broad financial regulatory practice, not a niche one. Clients include investment banks, asset and wealth managers, retail banks, private equity and fund sponsors, and fintech businesses. The partner's practice spans UK, EU and Asian regulatory regimes, so the work has a strong international dimension.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Matters cover the full regulatory lifecycle, including:
- FCA licensing and authorisations
- MiFID II and AIFMD
- Conduct of business, Consumer Duty and SMCR
- Governance and regulatory change programmes
- Payments, digital assets and crypto
- AML and market misconduct
There is also a significant transactional element. The team advises on the regulatory side of M&A, private equity, corporate finance and banking transactions. This includes change-of-control approvals, GP stakes deals and AIFMD anti-asset stripping issues in PE structures. Product categorisation and cross-border financial products work add further variety.
Although the firm's fintech credentials are a real draw, this is not purely a fintech role. The breadth of the practice is one of its main attractions.
AT THE JUNIOR END
Candidates must already be qualified. A solid grounding in financial regulation from a high-quality regulatory team matters more than years of experience. This is an opportunity to learn directly from a senior partner while the practice takes shape, with a level of exposure that is hard to find in a larger, established team.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
AT THE MORE SENIOR END
The firm is looking for someone with substantive standalone FS regulatory experience who can take real ownership of matters and help the partner deliver work as the practice grows. Broad advisory experience will translate well, given the range of the practice.
WHAT MATTERS ACROSS THE RANGE
Genuine financial services regulatory experience and a strong technical command of UK financial regulation are essential. This should ideally have been gained at a Magic Circle, City or US firm. Funds, asset management and PE regulatory backgrounds will be particularly relevant, as will experience combining regulatory advice with transactional work. Candidates also need to be comfortable in a lean, growing team where responsibility comes early.
E&W qualification is not a strict requirement. US-qualified lawyers with credible London regulatory experience will be considered.
THE PRACTICALITIES
- Highly competitive US-firm salary
- 1,800-hour billing target
- Interview process: an initial meeting with the lead partner and a colleague, then a second stage with the wider partnership, with an associate meeting if needed
- Strong progression potential as the team scales around its first hires
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Location