Senor Legal Counsel
Position Title: Senior Legal Counsel
Principal Work Location: Chippenham/Birmingham
Department: Legal
Reports to (Title): Region General Counsel Europe
ABOUT THE JOB
A global automotive leader that serves both commercial and consumer clients for over 100 years. Headquartered in the US, is one of the largest family-owned automotive service organizations in North America with more than 10.000 employees across North America, the UK, and Germany.
Company delivers a unique range of automotive-centric services including industry-leading fleet management and vehicle funding solutions (such as e.g. hire purchase and leasing).
From its UK offices in Chippenham and Birmingham, Company is serving its customers across the entire UK.
What will you do?
· Responsible for all legal aspects of the UK business.
- Partner with the UK business leader and the wider leadership team to help support the growth and success of the UK business, and to draft and negotiate a wide range of transactional and business agreements, including contracts with customers, vendors, suppliers and other business partners.
· Actively support the UK management teams relative to their legal needs, including avoidance or reduction of legal risk, including proactive advice and preventative measures.
- Advise and resolve both routine issues and complex legal questions, independently, with colleagues, and with outside counsel.
- Contribute to, and support the implementation of, the UK business plan.
- Identify and mitigate material risk and support enterprise risk management activities.
· Actively support creation, implementation and maintenance of corporate legal compliance programs applicable to the UK.
- Cooperate and build good relations with internal stakeholders and external partners.
- Establish and develop relationships with outside counsel.
- Develop competence, provide training and raise awareness to relevant stakeholders, such as in the area of laws and regulations.
- Supervising and developing a UK based contracts paralegal.
- Assists the Region General Counsel Europe on other matters, when requested
What are we looking for?
· University degree
· 7 – 10 years+ PQE as a solicitor
· Prior work experience in financial services, automotive / fleet management and/or with (complex) commercial contracts, preferably in both an in-house environment as well as at a law firm.
· Work experience should include contracts and commercial matters, drafting / negotiating client services contracts, contract compliance activities, in-house transactional (e.g. M&A, cooperation arrangements), counseling and compliance matters and handling a variety of business and transactional matters
· Data Privacy and information security experience is plus. IP and software / other licensing a plus.
· Experience of delegation of authority management, supervising contract management as well as developing the technology landscape for the legal function (including use of AI) is a plus as well.
· Excellent analytical, communication, legal research, and writing skills
· Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office products
· Will interact with outside counsel, including managing resources/projects/priorities/budgets
· Ability to advise pragmatically and taking into account commercial considerations
· Strong critical thinking skills, a high level of emotional intelligence, and integrity
· Committed to self-development and to helping others
· Business acumen and strategic agility, including being able to provide strategic advice to senior management
· Disciplined and flawless execution
· Strong client / customer focus (internal and external)
· Ability to persuasively influence others’ opinions verbally and in writing
· Ability to influence without formal authority
· Strong at listening, communicating and collaborating
Character: Trustworthy, loyal, friendly, helpful, relational, while retaining gravitas. Displays courage, conviction and integrity.
Please note our advertisements use PQE/salary levels purely as a guide. However we are happy to consider applications from all candidates who are able to demonstrate the skills necessary to fulfil the role.
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