In this video, Ben White, Founder of Crafty Counsel, sits down with Marian Bloodworth, Employment Partner at Fox Williams, to explore the key employment considerations for in-house legal teams at fast-growing fintechs and scale-ups.
Marian offers clear, practical guidance tailored to General Counsel and legal teams navigating the realities of rapid growth. Her deep expertise and genuine passion for supporting scaling businesses is reflected in her insights, as she highlights three areas that demand close attention from legal: understanding contractual arrangements, creating a healthy workplace culture, and managing flexibility in a sustainable, risk-aware way.
Understand who’s in your business, and on what terms
Many fast-growing companies begin with a core team of founders, consultants, and contractors – but these arrangements evolve over time. Marian explains why understanding the legal basis for each person in your business is key. From notice periods and termination clauses to IP ownership, confidentiality, and post-termination restrictions, contractual clarity is essential for managing legal risk and protecting the business.
When culture creates legal risk
A poor working environment can quickly escalate into legal issues, from grievances and discrimination claims to stress-related complaints. Marian discusses how in-house lawyers can support a healthy, inclusive culture by aligning with business values, helping set the tone from the top, and ensuring the right employment policies and processes are in place, including those now required under new harassment prevention duties.
Flexibility must be legally sound
Post-pandemic expectations around flexible and remote work remain high, and for fast-growing teams, flexible arrangements are often a practical necessity. But Marian outlines the legal, tax, and regulatory implications of allowing employees to work remotely, especially from overseas. She explains how unclear arrangements can create accidental liabilities, including triggering permanent establishment risks in jurisdictions where the business isn’t formally set up.
This is a must-watch for in-house counsel in scale-ups and tech businesses, especially those new in post, offering a grounded and experience-led roadmap to tackling some of the most pressing employment challenges in growth environments.
About Crafty Counsel
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About Fox Williams
Fox Williams is a law firm with a strong focus on supporting growth businesses across financial services, technology, fintech, and payments. To find out more, visit Fox Williams.