Legal Counsel

at  The Biodiversity Consultancy

SALARY: £70,000 FTE

We are looking for an experienced senior commercial lawyer with strong experience in negotiating and drafting commercial contracts either from private practice or equivalent in-house. You’ll have solid commercial acumen and able to manage negotiations on behalf of suppliers and engage senior stakeholders. You will provide legal advice and support across our core operations, as well as managing procurement contracts, providing general advice and support for HR, IT, communications and finance.
You’ll have a track record in distilling complex legal issues and risks for commercial stakeholders. You’ll be a creative, curious and pragmatic thinker with the ability to provide customer-focused solutions.
You’ll work collaboratively and have strong interpersonal skills. You’ll have experience in managing competing priorities and communicating with multiple internal and external stakeholders. You’ll have the ability to independently monitor and meet client deadlines.

You’re key roles and responsibilities:

• Act legal counsel for the business you will provide legal advice to senior management team and others critical to the business.
• Manage the contracting with The Biodiversity Consultancy’s clients. You’ll have knowledge of copyright and other intellectual property rights as they apply to these agreements.
• Manage contracting with The Biodiversity Consultancy’s sub-contractors including where The Biodiversity Consultancy is supplying services under a sub-contract.
• Advise in relation to ancillary agreements including NDAs and amendment agreements.
• Support business in establishing and updating IP governance-related policies and developing tools and processes for optimising commercial exploitation of IP while minimising risk.
• Manage and keep updated The Biodiversity Consultancy’s template contracts.
• Manage procurement contracts and advise support functions in communications, IT and finance.
• Advise senior management and HR in relation to employment matters and employment contracts.
• Keep up to date with relevant changes to commercial and other relevant law and practice.

SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES

Essential

• Law degree with 5 years + post qualified experience
• Experience in overseeing commercial activities, including contract reviews and management, employment law, corporate governance and intellectual property
• Self-sufficient with demonstrated skills in Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Excellent communication skills, particularly in explaining complex legal issues to a non-technical audience
• Flexible approach and a team player
• Pro-active, solution-focused approach

Desirable

• Ability to work in French
• Understanding of employment of commercial law in France or another European country
• Understanding of GDPR
• Experience and understanding of UK employment law

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Adhere to stated Company policies and procedures (including health and safety) as provided by senior management.
• Engage in Continuous Professional Development (CPD) by participating in educational opportunities; reading/writing professional publications; maintaining personal networks; participating in professional organisations, delivering presentations at seminars and conferences.
• You may also be required to undertake any additional task as required by senior management which are in line the level of your job and requirements of the business.

You’re key roles and responsibilities:

• Act legal counsel for the business you will provide legal advice to senior management team and others critical to the business.
• Manage the contracting with The Biodiversity Consultancy’s clients. You’ll have knowledge of copyright and other intellectual property rights as they apply to these agreements.
• Manage contracting with The Biodiversity Consultancy’s sub-contractors including where The Biodiversity Consultancy is supplying services under a sub-contract.
• Advise in relation to ancillary agreements including NDAs and amendment agreements.
• Support business in establishing and updating IP governance-related policies and developing tools and processes for optimising commercial exploitation of IP while minimising risk.
• Manage and keep updated The Biodiversity Consultancy’s template contracts.
• Manage procurement contracts and advise support functions in communications, IT and finance.
• Advise senior management and HR in relation to employment matters and employment contracts.
• Keep up to date with relevant changes to commercial and other relevant law and practice