Interim Commercial Counsel
Major, Lindsey & Africa is supporting a global technology leader—one of the world’s most innovative cloud computing providers, known for its hyperscale infrastructure, AI research excellence, and deep engineering culture. Their EMEA legal team is looking to hire an an experienced interim Senior Counsel (10 PQE+) to support major public sector cloud engagements.
This role sits within a high‐performing legal function that advises on some of the most complex, high‐value cloud deals in the region. You’ll act as a trusted partner to senior business stakeholders and play a visible role in shaping strategy across landmark opportunities.
The Opportunity
You will operate as an autonomous deal lead for significant public sector tenders across EMEA, supporting a rapidly growing pipeline of Cloud opportunities—many developed in collaboration with the organisation’s advanced AI research division.
Key reasons for the hire:
- Coverage for an upcoming parental leave in the UK legal team
- Ongoing need due to increased volume and complexity of government cloud engagements
- Expiry of an existing secondee arrangement
What You’ll Be Doing
1. Lead High‐Value Cloud Transactions
- Act as primary legal counsel for complex public sector RFPs, ITTs, framework agreements, and high‐stakes negotiations.
2. Strategic Risk & Procurement Analysis
- Conducting/overseeing line by line gap analyses of EMEA public sector procurement terms, conditions and requirements as compared against the clients standard positions and fallbacks. Preparing executive-friendly summaries of the key risks.
3. Creative Problem Solving
- Provide pragmatic provide practical legal guidance and creative solutions to undefined Cloud business challenges in the EMEA public sector, balancing legal risk with commercial goals.
4. Cross‐Functional Collaboration
- Collaborate closely with Sales, Data Privacy, Public Policy, Pricing, Product, and Security teams to unblock deal issues and drive alignment.
What We’re Looking For
- England & Wales qualified Lawyer / Senior Counsel (10 PQE+)
- Deep experience in Commercial Cloud Computing contracts: Demonstrated experience acting for a supplier in the drafting, negotiation, and amendment of complex enterprise cloud computing agreements (IaaS, PaaS, and/or SaaS). Must possess a deep understanding of data privacy, security, and intellectual property issues inherent to hyperscale cloud contracting.
- Public Procurement fluency: Deep knowledge of public sector procurement laws and processes across EMEA (including Competitive Dialogue, negotiated procedures, Framework Agreements, RFPs, ITTs, and direct awards). Proven ability to advise on bid strategy and risk mitigation within strict regulatory constraints.
- Communication: Exceptional ability to distil undefined and complex analyses into clear, actionable advice for executive stakeholders and non-legal audiences.
- Ability to triage workload of increased scale and complexity and prioritize effectively under pressure.
If this role is of interest, apply for more information. The anticipated start date is at the start of April.