Legal Counsel

at  Bakkavor

WHAT WE DO.

We’re the biggest name you’ve never heard of. You’ve probably eaten our food - you just didn’t realise it. We make innovative fresh products, with around 18,500 colleagues working across the UK, US and China. We’re the market leader in the UK fresh prepared food industry supplying meals, salads, desserts, pizza and bread to leading grocery retailers (including Tesco, M&S, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose). We’re ambitious. We’re full of ideas. And we’re ready for more people who share our values and passion for quality to join us.

SKILLS

• Ability to understand key stakeholders and build own internal networks.
• Ability to learn and maintain general knowledge of all businesses within the Group.
• Attention to detail is essential.
• Highly organised, thorough, demonstrating excellent diligence and a proactive, flexible approach.
• Personable, discreet, confident, articulate and able to establish strong relationships with individuals at all levels of seniority.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (e.g. Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook)
• Strong communication skills
• Strong legal research and writing skills

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Legal Counsel will join a growing legal team in London. You will support the Senior Legal Counsel and General Counsel and be expected to take ownership of and responsibility for managing day to day commercial legal issues whilst partnering with colleagues in HR, Commercial, Operations, Corporate (Communications, Tax and Treasury), Finance, Procurement and Property/Insurance as required.
You will also be expected to provide specialist advice in relation to the key legal issues affecting the Group, as detailed in the Job Description. While the focus of the role is supporting the UK business, you will also provide legal support to the Group’s international operations.

DUTIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Draft and negotiate a range of commercial contracts including those entered into with retailers and suppliers, NDAs, variations, SAAS agreements, promotion agreements, licensing agreements etc.
• Provide general commercial advice as required, including in relation to confidentiality, competition law, intellectual property, sanctions, and GSCOP.
• Support General Counsel and Senior Legal Counsel on M&A and other corporate transactions.
• Supporting the business with data protection compliance and the implementation of best practice, including by maintaining company privacy notices and data protection policies.
• Help to maintain and protect Bakkavor’s intellectual property portfolio and register new rights, including by screening new product names and packaging in conjunction with development and marketing teams.
• Monitoring legal developments and translating them into clear, actionable plans for the business.
• Create and maintain UK legal precedents (purchasing terms, NDAs, agency labour agreements, consultancy agreements, haulier agreements and supply agreements).
• Provide training on key legal topics and facilitate external training as required.
• Act as a conduit with external law firms and internal stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of instructions and dissemination of advice including in relation to construction work at sites, employment law and H&S and regulatory matters.
• Assist with other legal and compliance projects as directed.