Legal Counsel (Commercial Contracts)
22.5 hours per week, with flexible options to work across 3, 4 or 5 days
Exeter (on site)
About the company
Our client is a leader in its field, being a highly successful and established national company which is known for providing its customers with choice, underpinned by excellent standards of service. With strong roots in the South West, the company has continue to expand its customer offering and its workforce, with over 1000 people now employed across the UK.
The company is proud of its informal yet professional culture, where people can enjoy working together on site, which they feel enhances opportunities to collaborate and support one another. Their Exeter base is well provisioned, with free parking and an on-site gym being part of their offering.
This part-time role is fully office-based, and the company are keen to consider a range of options, from 3 full days per week through to school-hours work spread across 4 or 5 days each week.
About the role
Reporting to the Finance Director, you will be responsible for providing provide pragmatic and commercially relevant advice which informs business decisions and safeguards the organisation’s interests. With a primary focus on the drafting and negotiation of commercial contracts, you will be working with managers, business clients and third parties to ensure that the commercial agreements are appropriate, proportionate and timely.
Working closely with the Finance Director, your advice will be considered by senior leaders who are responsible for ensuring the company’s operations align with all relevant laws and regulations. This role does not have Board level responsibilities, but is represented at Board level by the Finance Director.
In this role, you might also be handling some straightforward litigation, general employee relations or providing advice on other commercial matters, with support from external counsel as needed.
Key responsibilities include:
- Providing support to business stakeholders to review, draft and negotiate contracts and agreements with suppliers, customers and other third parties.
- Maintaining and updating the contracts database to ensure accuracy and accessibility of contract information.
- Managing litigation and coordinating with external legal counsel as needed.
- Providing representation on behalf of the company on debt collection and other legal matters.
- Conducting legal research and staying updated on changes in laws that may affect the company.
- Providing some initial advice regarding potential mergers, acquisitions, and other corporate transactions, as needed.
- Working with the Compliance Manager to ensure full compliance with GDPR regulations, supporting the implementing and maintaining of company data protection policies and procedures.
- Undertaking some Intellectual Property related work as required, which may include trademark protection work with support from external counsel. These matters could include filing applications for protection and enforcing IP rights against infringement.
- Monitoring regulatory developments relevant to the organisation's industry and advising on regulatory compliance. This may involve interacting with regulatory agencies and providing advice to the Board accordingly regarding regulatory requirements.
- You may also be required to engage with:
- Drafting, negotiating and advising on commercial leases and property related documentation
- Providing initial advice relating to employment law matters
- Providing ‘light touch’ legal training and education to stakeholders within the business to raise awareness of legal risks and compliance obligations.
- About you
Our client is seeking a confident, commercially-minded lawyer who can work independently and flexibly, advising on a variety of matters when needed. In a fast-paced environment, it will be essential to prioritise and navigate legal issues with a high degree of professionalism.
You will be a fully qualified Commercial or Contracts Lawyer with proven UK-based experience of how to partner with your client in order to provide relevant, risk-appropriate advice for their needs. The risk appetite of this client will vary depending on the circumstances, and your considered advice will be listened to, but not always acted upon at the discretion of the Directors. As such, you will be pragmatic, resilient and commercially aware, appreciating that practical commercial decisions and legal best practice may not always align.
You will possess a good understanding of commercial law, and in addition may have some knowledge or experience of regulatory compliance, contract negotiation, property law, litigation, basic employment legislation and risk management.
You might be moving from a similar in-house role where you have been accustomed to responding to changing business needs, or perhaps are seeking to move from a private practice role in order to focus on one client’s commercial needs.
You’ll have:
- At least 5 years’ post qualification experience in the UK.
- Strong background in commercial law, contract law, and compliance.
- Exceptional negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to analyse legal issues and provide sound legal advice.
- Proficiency in legal research tools and software.
- Experience of working in a customer-focussed environment.
Benefits include
- 22 days annual leave + bank holidays
- Free on-site parking
- Company car
- On-site gym
- Contributory company pension scheme
- Flexible start times by agreement, with standard hours being 8am - 5pm
- The company also supports their workforce with:
- Learning & Development opportunities
- Long Service awards
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Access to an employee retail portal for discounted shopping
- Discounted Health Cash Plan
- Discounted gym membership
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee referral scheme
- Subsidised social events
- Free tea and coffee facilities
Find Out More…
If you would like to find out more information in confidence and without commitment, please contact Charlotte Ferguson, Recruitment Manager on 01392 712003 or 07342 840879 or via email at cferguson@cathedralappointments.co.uk