Legal Counsel - Commercial Lawyer - Manager

EY is a global network of professional services firms engaged in consulting, transaction, assurance and tax services with member firms in over 170 countries worldwide. The UK firm of Ernst & Young LLP has over 900 partners and 20,000 employees. The UK Legal team is well established and highly regarded. Led by our General Counsel, Lisa Cameron, we are a team of 30+ lawyers supported by 4 paralegals. The UK Legal team also forms part of a Global legal function.

The opportunity

We have a vacancy for a Legal Counsel – Commercial Contract Lawyer within our high-performing and ambitious in-house legal team. We respond to business transformation and innovation, enjoying a varied and challenging workload, and support the new EY All in Strategy by showing curiosity, intelligence and energy to deliver prompt, pragmatic, adaptable and commercial legal advice to all levels within our business.

Your key responsibilities

• Advising on, drafting and negotiating contracts, such as Master Services Agreements and Global Framework Agreements with our clients, as well as other complex contractual arrangements pursuant to which we provide an ever more diverse range of services.
• These include:

• Subcontracts, where EY is either the prime contractor or subcontractor;
• Collaboration agreements;
• Managed services and outsourcing agreements;
• Software and Licensing agreements (including SaaS);
• Government and public sector agreements;
• Advising on tenders and RFP responses;
• Secondment agreements;
• Working on large, complex commercial contracts;
• Advising on, drafting and negotiating contracts with suppliers.

Skills and attributes for success

• Strong team player with excellent negotiation and communication skills.
• Demonstrable commitment to the attributes of our highest performing teams – focus on results, accepting of accountability, committed, embraces healthy conflict, builds trust.
• Keeps calm and copes well with conflicting and ever-changing deadlines.
• Ability to lead, provide a view, take responsibility and ownership of issues, including an ability to take difficult decisions and provide substantiated arguments.
• Commercial awareness of the business issues facing us as we evolve, coupled with an active desire to get alongside our business, scanning the horizon for new service offerings to provide legal insight and support.

To qualify for the role, you must have:

• 5+ years of post-qualification experience.
• Significant experience gained either in a reputable City law firm (or equivalent) and/or in-house.
• Ability to provide practical legal advice and support with a high degree of professionalism in a fast-paced environment and to establish a high degree of credibility, respect and trust at all levels.

Ideally, you’ll also have:

• Proven ability to establish a high degree of credibility, respect and trust at all levels, including with senior members of the firm, some of whom have a considerable understanding of the law.

What we look for

• A self-starter, adept at responding promptly/juggling deadlines, who actively looks to build relationships based on trust and confidence.

What working at EY offers

• We offer a competitive remuneration package where you’ll be rewarded for your individual and team performance.
• Our comprehensive Total Rewards package includes support for flexible working and career development, and with FlexEY, you can select benefits that suit your needs, covering holidays, health and well-being, insurance, savings and a wide range of discounts, offers and promotions.
• Support, coaching and feedback from some of the most engaging colleagues around.
• Opportunities to develop new skills and progress your career.
• The freedom and flexibility to handle your role in a way that’s right for you.

EY is committed to being an inclusive employer, and we are happy to consider flexible working arrangements. We strive to achieve the right balance for our people, enabling us to deliver excellent client service whilst allowing you to build your career without sacrificing your personal priorities. While our client-facing professionals can be required to travel regularly and, at times, be based at client sites, our flexible working arrangements can help you to achieve a lifestyle balance.

About EY

As a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services, we’re using the finance products, expertise and systems we’ve developed to build a better working world. That starts with a culture that believes in giving you the training, opportunities and creative freedom to make things better. Whenever you join, however long you stay, the exceptional EY experience lasts a lifetime. And with a commitment to hiring and developing the most passionate people, we’ll make our ambition to be the best employer a reality.

If you can confidently demonstrate that you meet the criteria above, please contact us as soon as possible. Join us in building a better working world.