Group Legal Counsel

Job Description We are looking for a proactive, commercially minded and collaborative legal professional to join our in-house legal team. Reporting to the Group Head of Legal (Commercial), you’ll work closely with stakeholders across the business and lead on a wide range of commercial projects, transactions and advisory work, particularly in our B2B and mortgage services divisions, technology and data teams and also encompassing property sector B2C aspects. This job can be either London or Milton Keynes based.Key Responsibilities:

• Act as business partner to members of the Group, building strong internal relationships and coordinating interaction with other business functions to advise on cross-team collaboration, opportunities, issues and risks (from strategic and projects to day to day).
• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial contracts with customers and suppliers, including service agreements, IT technology including SaaS, outsourcing and tenders.
• Prepare and advise on ancillary documents such as NDAs, contract variations, data sharing agreements, novation deeds, duty of care letters and settlement agreements.
• Advise on B2C documentation including terms of business, website content, marketing promotions and competition terms.
• Create, maintain and update contract checklists and standard templates (T&Cs, service agreements, NDAs).
• Provide TUPE advice in respect of contracts/supplier relationships.
• Support contract interpretation and dispute resolution.
• Advise on compliance matters and policies, including consumer law, data protection, competition law and financial services regulation (including FCA requirements relating to mortgage and insurance distribution) and FCA related contracts with lenders, insurers and supply chain.
• Advise and support the Financial Crime Prevention team including in relation to AML and Sanctions (OFSI).
• Assist with corporate transactions including M&A acquisitions and disposals, JVs and investments, and intra group reorganisations.
• Advise on IP including licences, brand protection and infringement such as passing off or trade mark infringement.
• Support the management of the Group’s trade mark portfolio and new trade mark registrations.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Professional qualifications: Solicitor/Barrister, 2-3 PQE as a guide, although candidates outside this bracket with the appropriate level of experience will also be considered.
• Strong commercial legal experience (private practice or in-house experience).
• Strong drafting and negotiation skills, with a track record of handling complex commercial contracts independently.
• Self-motivated, adaptable, and team-oriented, with proactive can-do approach and ability to work as part of a team across the business.
• Excellent communication skills, with ability to adapt style for different audiences, and to summarise and simplify issues and drive a commercial outcome.

Connells Group UK is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, transgender status, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of colour are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Connells Group we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace. So, if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t fit perfectly with every aspect of the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other opportunities.CF00668