Senior Legal Counsel in Horsham

• Overview
• AJW Group, a global leader in aviation support, is looking for a meticulous

Senior Legal Counsel to join our dynamic Legal team.

You will provide strategic legal advice and leadership, ensuring the company’s business operations, contracts, and transactions are legally sound and commercially advantageous.

Acting as a trusted partner for the wider business and mentor to junior members of the legal team, the role focuses on managing legal risks, supporting cross-functional teams, leading complex commercial contract negotiations, and ensuring compliance with local and international regulations.

Responsibilities

• Lead the drafting, review, and negotiation of complex commercial contracts, including cost-per-flight-hour agreements, repair management agreements, supplier agreements, distribution agreements, letters of intent, confidentiality agreements, sale and purchase agreements, consignment agreements, IT software agreements, engine leases and loan agreements.
• Supervise and mentor junior members of the legal team, review and amend documents drafted by juniors, provide constructive feedback, and ensure high-quality drafting of legal documents.
• Act as a key business partner across departments, providing strategic legal advice to support decision-making and business objectives.
• Coordinate and advise on the incorporation and ongoing oversight of overseas offices/entities as required by the company.
• Work closely with commercial teams to establish key transactional terms, ensure cross-department alignment, and manage post-transaction details.
• Coordinate with Finance on debt recovery matters and oversee the debt recovery process via legal means, including drafting and negotiating payment agreements, letters of demand, settlement agreements, and coordinating with external counsel as necessary.
• Provide proactive legal support across the organisation, including advice to other AJW Group entities such as AJW Middle East and AJW Technique.
• Liaise with the insurance broker on cross-border and multi-party transactions, including renewal of policies and completing renewal questionnaires.
• Create and develop in-house precedents and design/deliver in-house legal and compliance training programs.
• Develop and maintain an in-house database of overseas counsel contacts and legal know-how.
• Promote a constructive, supportive, and collaborative working relationship with clients and colleagues at all levels.
• Draft new company policies and review/update existing policies.

About you

• English law qualified solicitor with significant experience in commercial law, aviation law, or corporate law, preferably gained in both private practice and in-house.
• Extensive experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating complex commercial contracts (including sale and purchase, cost-per-flight-hour, asset leases, software, licence, loan, supplier and distribution, and confidentiality agreements).
• Proven experience advising on cross-border transactions and overseeing governance of overseas entities.
• Commercial mindset with ability to communicate effectively with senior management and business partners.
• Familiarity with the aviation or transport industry is advantageous, especially related to aviation contracts.
• Strong background in corporate governance, regulatory and company compliance (including KYC, AML, and export compliance).
• Experience mentoring junior legal staff with a focus on quality and professional development.
• Proven track record as a business partner providing commercially sound legal advice that supports business objectives.
• Ability to provide high-level strategic advice, align legal solutions with business goals, mitigate risks, and ensure compliance.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with internal departments, external parties, senior management, and external counsel.
• Self-starter who can take initiative, lead projects, and drive matters to resolution with limited supervision.

What's in it for you?

• Monthly team budget for events and opportunities to support charitable causes.
• Company-sponsored events, modern HQ with onsite gym, bike-to-work scheme, in-house dining, discretionary bonus, healthcare, and Perkbox benefits.
• Relocation support packages for candidates not local to the HQ area.
• Inclusive recruitment process with reasonable adjustments available upon request.
• Diversity and equal opportunities across the organization.

DBS background check may be required for successful candidates.

AJW Group is an equal opportunities employer to provide a diverse and inclusive environment.

We encourage suitably qualified applications regardless of race, disability, age, sex, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy and maternity, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, and religion or belief.

We are a culture that celebrates success on merit.

To recruitment agencies: AJW Group will not accept unsolicited or speculative agency CVs and will not be responsible for any fees related to unsolicited CVs.

• Note
• Job location: Slinfold, ENG, GB
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