Legal Counsel

About the Role
 
As part of the in-house legal team, you will work on a range of legal matters, with a focus on corporate transactions and finance projects. Such matters will typically involve existing and proposed financings in the group, corporate acquisitions and disposals, and general commercial contracts. Typical tasks will include drafting and interpreting legal documents in support of the activities of our different business units, as well as providing on-going legal advice on a wide range of commercial issues and in response to queries from the different business teams. As in-house legal counsel you will also be expected to assist with real estate and construction matters, general business queries, employment issues and litigious matters. 
 
Roles and Responsibilities:
 
General:
 

• Give accurate and timely counsel to executives on a variety of legal topics
• Draft and finalise agreements, contracts and other legal documents
• Provide clarification on legal language or specifications to the relevant people within the organisation
• Specify internal governance policies and regularly monitor compliance
• Communicate and negotiate with external parties
• Maintain current knowledge of updates in legislation

 
 Specific:
 

• Monitor existing financing arrangements and deal with the reporting thereunder
• Liaise with other teams to ensure compliance with existing financing arrangements
• Lead and assist on corporate/asset acquisitions and disposals, and new financings
• Negotiate and draft a wide range of commercial and other legal agreements for the group for example procurement, construction, IT/IP and licensing agreements
• Advise on compliance matters
• Assist with the management of various corporate arrangements including establishing and managing various internal structures and arrangements.

 
Communication
 

• Liaise with your colleagues and peers in a professional manner at all times
• Report back to senior managers to ensure compliance in line with company procedures
• Maintain up-to-date and detailed knowledge of the group’s products, services and procedures
• Take responsibility for coordinating all communications relevant to your role
• Contribute to strategic projects, regional and/or group initiatives

 
In a nut-shell:
About you
 

• Be able to provide commercial and pragmatic solutions in clear and concise way
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and specifically in relation to drafting documents and agreements
• Proven ability to integrate into a business quickly as this position will require excellent knowledge of the business (locally and internationally) and a thorough understanding of the organisation's strategic objectives
• Ability to take personal responsibility for matters and gain respect and ‘buy-in’ from key business stake-holders
• A team player with good social and communication skills including personal tact and integrity
• A self-starter with a positive attitude, capable of managing a number of diverse matters simultaneously and comfortable working with few predetermined boundaries
• Proactive, initiating and sometimes even “pushy” with the right diplomatic approach
• Awareness of international and cultural differences and the impact of these differences on the way of doing business and getting things done
• Ability to handle sensitive and/or confidential items with tact and discretion
• Good managing, planning and organisational skills
• Capable of working efficiently, meeting deadlines and handling stress and pressure at the same time
• Meticulous and structured working habits and system orientated

 
Qualifications / Experience:
 

• 3 to 6 years PQE
• UK qualified solicitor
• Experience in: Corporate/Finance/Transactional work
• Trained/worked at a top UK or US firm
• Desirable: In-house experience either in-house or by way of secondment
• Desirable: Real Estate and/or Construction experience 

 
Whilst the above is a guide to general expectation of the role, we expect this position to evolve allowing you greater scope to thrive in this position.