Legal Counsel – Leeds City Centre
Leeds | Hybrid | 2–4 PQE
If you’re a commercially minded lawyer looking for your next in-house move, this is an opportunity worth exploring — particularly if you’re keen to join an established, international business while remaining genuinely close to the action.
Rarely do in-house legal roles come up with such a central Leeds location, offering the opportunity to work from a city-centre office while enjoying a hybrid working arrangement. This is a broad, commercially focused Legal Counsel role within a growing professional services business, working closely with stakeholders across the UK and internationally.
About the business
This is a leading global consultancy operating within the financial services sector, with a long-established presence and an international client base spanning asset and wealth management, alternatives and insurance.
The business has grown significantly over the past 20 years and now operates internationally across North America, the UK, Europe, the Middle East and APAC. It is an ambitious organisation with a strong focus on growth, innovation and supporting complex transformation programmes for its clients.
The legal function sits within a wider Legal, Compliance & Risk team, acting as a trusted adviser to the business and supporting its continued organic and acquisitive growth.
About the opportunity
This is a varied commercial Legal Counsel position, giving you the opportunity to work directly with the business on a broad range of contractual and technology-related matters.
You’ll be involved in:
- Drafting, reviewing and negotiating client contracts, including MSAs, terms and conditions, SOWs, NDAs and sub-contract arrangements.
- Reviewing and negotiating supplier and technology contracts.
- Drafting and negotiating SaaS, cloud hosting, software licensing and other IT agreements.
- Advising on partnership, reseller and referral arrangements.
- Supporting on data protection matters, including DPAs, international data transfers and contractual privacy provisions.
- Advising on information security and IT requirements.
- Developing and maintaining template contractual documentation.
- Working closely with stakeholders across the business, with particular exposure to the UK, MENA and APAC.
- Providing support on a range of other legal matters as they arise.
The role offers genuine exposure to the commercial side of the business and the opportunity to work closely with senior stakeholders across an international organisation.
About you
You’ll be a qualified solicitor in England & Wales (or equivalent common law qualification) with around 2–4 years’ PQE, gained either in private practice or in-house.
You’ll ideally have:
- Strong commercial contracting experience (technology and/or professional services experience would be beneficial)
- Exposure to UK and EU data protection law, including UK GDPR, EU GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.
- The confidence to work directly with business teams and provide clear, practical and commercially focused advice.
- Strong drafting, negotiation and communication skills.
- Excellent attention to detail and the ability to manage competing priorities.
Interested?
If you’re a commercial lawyer considering an in-house move and would like to find out more about this Leeds city-centre opportunity, I’d be very happy to have a confidential conversation.
Contact Sophie Linley at Sacco Mann on 0113 236 6711 to discuss the role in more detail.