Legal Counsel

This is an interesting and varied role at the heart of a busy and successful Group Legal function, reporting to the Legal Director, Commercial. It is a role dedicated to supporting the commercial aspects of the Group level business, including the Marketing and Innovation Team, Group Procurement, Group IT and the Global Accounts Team, which supports negotiations with our largest global customers.

The successful candidate will work closely with other members of the legal team in the UK and internationally, key functions and management across the business to help create growth as well as ensuring that the Group’s businesses are compliant and that risk is effectively managed. They will be part of a small legal and company secretarial team based at the corporate center in Crawley on a flexible/hybrid working model, with an option to attend our central London office

Major Responsibilities

Managing and providing timely and competent legal advice to Group Marketing & Innovation and Global Accounts Team by

• reviewing and actively negotiating commercial customer contracts for the Global Accounts Team, working on high-value, multi-jurisdiction agreements with our largest global customers in UK and internationally, ensuring compliance with the Group contracting policy and acting as the point of contact for the Global Accounts team
• reviewing and negotiating third party agreements, NDAs, material transfers, regulatory applications, responses to regulators and investigations
• providing legal support throughout the new product development process and maintaining knowledge of new, existing and legacy brands, products and services
• providing marketing claims advice in accordance with advertising and product laws and regulations; and supporting the development of own brand products and associated IP

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Supporting Group IT function through

• provision of legal advice on AI regulation/ governance
• maintaining and developing GenAI &AI Policy
• advising on AI use and AI related contracting
• supporting on the Internet of Things (IoT) programme product developments; a
• ndsharing knowledge with legal colleagues and drafting advisory notes/playbook

Support for the Group Procurement function through

• reviewing and negotiating general supplier/service provider terms and conditions for Group
• advising on, implementing and updating the Group Procurement Policy and Procurement Contracts Minimum Standards
• advice on supplier on-boarding process; and advice on ancillary matters such as data protection/privacy Management of Group and Local IP Portfolio including overseeing the management of the global acquisition, renewal and protection of intellectual property for the RI Group, including the Group Registered Trademark portfolio
• responsibility for advice on the IP Strategy alongside external counsel overseeing the provision of IP advice to the Group Legal team and business colleagues
• Horizon scanning for new legislation / regulation / case law impacting the function and providing appropriate advice
• Provision and management of new queries/legal help desk and Group Legal’s intake process and providing legal support as required
• Managing external legal counsel and external legal services provider(s) as required
• Advising and taking responsibility for the conduct of certain commercial disputes
• Opportunities to support Group Corporate matters including M&A transactions and Corporate Finance matters
• Providing support for compliance initiatives and training, leading compliance projects where necessary, managing updates of Customer/Supplier Contracting policies, providing associated playbooks and training materials, approving national template agreements and the recording of risks in the Group Legal Risk Register

What you'll need to ap ply

• Legal expertise: significant experience of dealing with complex legal issues including large value commercial contracts
• Delivery of straightforward, pragmatic and action-oriented advice
• Ability to think strategically and creatively, to identify and resolve legal issues, comfortable working with less-than-perfect information and recommending courses of action
• Interest in understanding the business in depth, and operating within a dynamic, international context
• Willingness to work in areas of law that are new to the candidate with appropriate support and training

Certifications / Education

• You will be a lawyer qualified in England & Wales (solicitor or barrister), likely to have a minimum of 5+ years PQE

Professional Experience

• Degree or equivalent from accredited institution; qualified and licensed to practice law in England and Wales
• Trained at a well-known firm or in a major corporation’s in-house legal department
• Experience of reviewing, revising, drafting and negotiating general commercial contracts (including high-value and cross-border contracts) required
• A background in technology and/or product development would be advantageous as would experience working in other legal areas (e.g. M&A, litigation, competition)
• Experience advising on intellectual property matters (such as managing intellectual property assets, including applications, registration, renewals & defence), data protection/privacy and AI a definite advantage
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills across international markets and at all levels of seniority
• In-house experience would be an advantage but not a requirement, as would international experience