Job Title: Sole Legal Counsel
Department: Legal
Reports To: Senior Legal Leadership
Location: Remotely and Gravesend, Kent
Purpose of the Role: Legal Counsel to assist in handling group legal matters.
About the Organisation:
The organisation is a major global conglomerate operating in the energy, infrastructure, and logistics sectors. It specialises in lubricants and fuel distribution, sugar production, ethanol and electricity, natural gas distribution, rail transportation, port lifting, and warehousing. The holding company is publicly listed and meets the highest corporate governance standards.
The organisation operates internationally, with significant presence in the European market, and has been expanding its operations globally. The company’s product offerings include a range of high-quality brands and services, with a robust manufacturing capacity and distribution network in various regions.
The organisation has a diverse, fast-paced, and dynamic work environment, with a focus on continuous innovation and growth.
Main Responsibilities of the Role:
You will be responsible for:
• Serving as the legal lead for European operations, providing strategic legal services and advice to mitigate risk and ensure compliance with legal requirements.
• Drafting, amending, negotiating, and reviewing a wide variety of commercial contracts, corporate and employment documents, including but not limited to: terms and conditions, sales and supply agreements, rebate agreements, service agreements, consultancy agreements, distributor agreements, NDAs, software licensing and SaaS agreements, IP licensing agreements, employment contracts, settlement agreements.
• Providing general legal advice on issues such as corporate governance, UK corporate and commercial law, insurance, HR practices, and employment relations.
• Advising and supporting business units in submitting bids and responding to invitations to tender.
• Preparing risk matrices for stakeholders and working with external counsel to manage disputes and litigation.
• Providing contract management support to enforce contract rights and ensure compliance with contractual obligations.
• Applying effective risk management techniques and offering proactive advice on potential legal issues.
• Supporting the business in following legal, compliance, and governance procedures to ensure effective contracting, procurement, and negotiation.
• Advising business units to ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations that apply to the business, helping mitigate potential risks.
• Developing and maintaining standard template documentation for use by business units.
• Managing and maintaining good relationships with external parties such as lawyers, registrars, and internal stakeholders.
• Supporting the Legal Department’s initiatives regarding compliance education and training.
• Maintaining awareness of best practices and continual improvement in relation to the scope of work.
• Advising on regulatory frameworks and supporting effective engagement with regulators when necessary.
• Providing legal advice on litigation and dispute management, including sourcing legal counsel for court claims in various jurisdictions.
• Managing relationships with outside legal counsel and overseeing legal budget management for European operations.
The Candidate Will Have the Following Knowledge, Skills, and Experience:
Essential:
• Qualified solicitor with 7-10 years PQE, trained in a reputable firm or in-house legal function.
• Experience in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating a variety of commercial contracts and corporate documents in a fast-moving and entrepreneurial environment.
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of corporate and commercial law.
• Knowledge of Brazilian culture and business etiquette (desirable).
Ideal:
• Previous experience with going public (IPOs).
• Experience advising on governance requirements of publicly listed companies.
• Experience in areas such as employment, data protection, competition, property, litigation, and IP.
• Experience within a multicultural business environment.
• Fluency in other languages (preferably Portuguese, French, and/or Spanish).
• Experience within the energy sector or related industries.
Person Specification:
• Self-motivated and proactive.
• Experience working directly with internal and external clients, including C-suite executives.
• Ambition to grow and learn new areas of the law.
• Enthusiastic, curious, pragmatic, and solution-driven.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Reliable and trusted partner to business stakeholders.
• Capable of managing a diverse workload, working autonomously, and establishing priorities.
• Accountable for delivering high-quality results in a timely manner.
• Trustworthy team player with a high degree of professional ethics and integrity.
• Ability to work closely with non-lawyers across all parts of the business.
Key Performance Indicators:
• Satisfaction levels of business units, becoming a trusted adviser to the business.
• Managed and targeted use of external advisers with strict control over outsourced legal spending.
• Volume of contract reviews and matters handled.
• Delivery of Legal Department structural projects.
What is on Offer:
• Competitive salary.
• Target discretionary bonus.
• Hybrid work environment.
• Pension scheme.
• Private medical insurance.
• 4x salary life assurance.
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays.
• Subsidized office cafeteria.
• Exciting and unique deal flow.
• Collegiate working environment to help you perform at your best.