General Counsel UK&I

UK & Ireland General Counsel

You will be working for a Global FTSE 250 business, the organisation has been operating very successfully for a significant period, with a substantial workforce worldwide. You will be responsible for the legal function for the UK & Ireland and be a key decision maker for a Global organisation, as well as being within a fast-paced and a dynamic working environment.

Reporting to the Group General Counsel & Company Secretary, as well as a dotted line to the CEO, UK & Ireland, you will be an Executive member of the UKI Leadership Board and a key stakeholder. You will contribute legally, commercially and strategically beyond the traditional Legal remit and be an advisor for significant business decisions.

The role

Within this position you will be the chief advisor on any legal, data protection and compliance matters, to support the business. You will manage a team of 7 lawyers and be accountable for both their development and success, as well as being responsible for legal risk management for the UK&I. You will provide first class support across a broad range of issues including commercial contracting, employment, technology, corporate, regulatory, compliance and data privacy. Some examples below.

Compliance

• Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and industry standards.
• Develop and implement robust legal compliance programs and policies.
• Assess and mitigate legal risks, providing proactive solutions to potential legal issues.
• Monitor changes in laws and regulations and update internal policies and procedures accordingly.

Corporate

• Providing legal support to other corporate services (e.g. co-sec, finance, tax, treasury, comms, HR and IT) to support the organisation’s back-office activities.
• Advising on a variety of corporate governance matters typical to a listed organisation
• Supporting on corporate development activities (M&A, joint ventures and corporate reorganisations)
• Driving contracting excellence and growth

Commercial

• Key focus of the role is to oversee contract management, including negotiation, drafting, and review of complex commercial agreements.
• Identify ways to optimise commercial contracts in terms of both profitability and risk management.
• Understanding and meeting legal obligations through proactively using existing or establishing more efficient and agile practices and systems.
• Engage thoughtfully and proactively with key internal stakeholders, including Finance, People & Culture, Tax, Audit, Senior Business Leaders, Marketing, Technology.
• Ensuring the Legal Department continues to build and maintain a good working relationship with their internal stakeholders, learning of their business needs and engaging with them on how the Legal Department can best help them within their business areas.
• Be an active member of the UK&I Executive Leadership Team. Apply a common-sense and pragmatic approach in adding value far beyond the legal remit.

Data Privacy

• Provide legal advice on a broad range of privacy and data protection issues.
• Implementing required data privacy and information protection changes in creative and business-centric ways that address risk and allow our business flexibility.
• Staying updated on the latest legal developments in the data privacy and information protection landscape and advising on the impact of these laws and regulations including in the context of AI.

Employment

• Contracts and terms of employment, conditions, and obligations of both parties, as well as specific terms and conditions of employment in contracts, for example temporary workers and contracts for services.
• Restrictive covenants and internal employment matters.
• Litigation and Employment Tribunals (although not extensive)
• Irish commercial and employment legislation (although not a pre-requisite for this role)

Management

• Lead a high-performing legal team.
• Provide guidance, mentorship, and professional development opportunities to team members.
• Manage external legal counsel relationships and budgets effectively.

Qualifications / experience:

• An England & Wales or Commonwealth qualified lawyer, 10+ PQE by way of a guideline only.
• Experience within a senior legal position, as well as dealing with senior stakeholders.
• Strong people leadership experience, with proven ability to build, lead and develop high performing teams.
• Broad legal experience across a range of issues typically encountered by an in-house legal function, with particular focus on commercial contracting, employment, technology and data privacy.
• Corporate background, or corporate experience in private practice previously would be ideal, although not necessary
• Highly organised, delivery-focussed and solutions-driven with the ability to propose imaginative and appropriate solutions and implement innovative business improvements.
• FTSE, recruitment industry and/or extensive employment law experience, however this is not a pre-requisite.
• Experience in streamlining processes and implementing new processes
• A growth mindset, good commercial acumen and a pragmatic individual who is confident exercising judgment in a complex business environment
• Passionate about leading a Legal team who are true enablers to delivering on the business’ strategic objectives in a sustainable and responsible way
• Open to delivering and receiving constructive challenge and fostering an environment of openness
• Committed to personally demonstrating and upholding the highest standards of integrity

This role will offer a competitive salary and package and will give you the chance to make a significant difference in a FTSE organisation. If of interest please click "apply now". Please do allow a longer response time due to the high number of applications, I will revert as soon as I can and appreciate your patience.