In-house Commercial Solicitor 3+ || International Manufacturing Business ||
Leeds || £70,000–£85,000 + Bonus + Car Allowance
The Client
An exciting opportunity to join a substantial, privately owned international food manufacturing business with an established presence across the UK and Europe, and significant international operations. The business is continuing to invest in its European operations, with ambitious plans for further growth and expansion and the legal function is closely connected to the commercial reality of the business. Lawyers are encouraged to get involved, build relationships, understand operational challenges and help find solutions rather than simply identify risks.
The Role
With a diverse range of manufacturing, procurement, supply chain and commercial activities, this is a particularly interesting environment for an ambitious lawyer looking to develop their career within an international business.
Reporting directly to the General Counsel and Company Secretary, this is a key appointment within a small, highly engaged legal team, offering considerable autonomy, visibility and the opportunity to influence how legal support is delivered across the business.
You will work closely with senior management, finance, procurement, commercial and operational stakeholders, providing practical, commercially focused legal advice across a broad range of matters.
Whilst commercial contracts will form a significant part of your workload, this is far from a traditional contract-review role. You'll be encouraged to take ownership, get involved in business decisions and support projects from inception through to completion and general responsibilities will include;
- Drafting, reviewing and negotiating a wide range of commercial agreements, including customer, supplier, procurement, engineering, logistics, technology and professional services contracts.
- Providing pragmatic legal and commercial advice to senior stakeholders and operational teams across the business.
- Taking the lead on commercial negotiations, balancing appropriate legal protection with the practical needs and objectives of the organisation.
- Supporting strategic projects, business development initiatives and potential acquisitions, including due diligence and post-acquisition integration.
- Advising on contractual, governance, compliance and risk management matters across multiple UK and European jurisdictions.
- Supporting the resolution of commercial disputes and claims, engaging external legal advisers where specialist expertise is required.
- Working closely with colleagues across international operations, helping to develop consistent legal processes, contract frameworks and best practice.
- Contributing to continuous improvement initiatives, identifying opportunities to make the legal function more efficient, accessible and commercially effective.
- The role offers the opportunity to develop an increasingly international remit, with exposure to legal and commercial matters across the UK, Ireland, France, Germany and wider European operations.
The Person
We're looking for a commercially minded solicitor who enjoys being involved in the business, not simply advising from the sidelines.
You'll ideally have a broad commercial legal background, gained either in-house or within private practice, and be confident managing a varied workload with a degree of independence.
As someone who understands that good in-house lawyers need to be approachable, pragmatic and solutions-focused, with the confidence to engage with senior stakeholders and influence commercial decision you will bring:
- Qualification as a UK Solicitor with at least 3 years PQE with a solid, broad-based commercial contract experience.
- The confidence and judgement to take ownership of matters and provide clear, commercially sensible advice.
- Experience dealing with senior stakeholders and building effective relationships across different business functions.
- The ability to manage competing priorities in a busy, fast-moving environment.
- A proactive, hands-on approach, with the willingness to get involved in operational as well as legal matters.
The Benefits
Salary: £70,000–£85,000, depending on experience, together with:
Annual short-term incentive bonus (STIP) of approximately 10%, subject to business performance.
£6,000 car allowance.
This is an opportunity to work within an established international business with significant growth ambitions, offering direct exposure to senior management and key commercial decision-makers. You'll be offered a genuinely broad legal workload spanning commercial, operational, strategic and international matters in addition to develop experience in M&A and cross-border transactions.
Interested?
If you're a commercially astute solicitor looking for more than just another in-house contracts role, this could be a particularly interesting next move, please drop our exclusively retained consultant steve.shekespeare@saccomann.com a line or call his DL 0113467 9789 for a confidential conversation.