Legal Counsel in Manchester

Legal Counsel

At ANS, we're helping organisations unlock the power of cloud, data, AI and digital transformation. As we continue to grow, we're looking for a commercially minded Legal Counsel to join our Legal & Compliance team and play a key role in supporting the business as we deliver our ambitious growth plans.

This is an opportunity for a lawyer who wants more than just legal drafting and contract reviews. You'll work closely with senior stakeholders across sales, technology, product, customer success and leadership, helping to shape commercial decisions while balancing risk and opportunity.

Whether you're currently in private practice and looking to make your first move in-house, or already building your career within an internal legal team, this role offers genuine variety, responsibility and the chance to develop alongside a fast-paced technology business.

What you'll be doing

As Legal Counsel, you'll support ANS across a broad range of commercial, corporate and compliance matters, including:

• Managing your own pipeline of commercial legal work from instruction through to completion.
• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating customer contracts, supplier agreements, partner agreements and data protection documentation.
• Supporting our sales teams with contract negotiations and customer legal enquiries.
• Advising on the legal aspects of new products and services, working closely with our Product and Marketing teams.
• Supporting corporate transactions, including acquisitions, investments and shareholder matters.
• Managing commercial disputes and debt recovery matters.
• Helping to improve and automate legal processes, including the adoption of AI and technology within legal workflows.
• Developing legal templates, guidance notes and best practice materials.
• Reviewing and updating internal policies and governance documentation.
• Supporting compliance activity, including ISO audits and wider regulatory requirements.

What we're looking for

We're looking for someone who combines strong legal expertise with commercial awareness and a pragmatic approach.

You'll likely:

• Be a qualified solicitor with a current practising certificate.
• Have around 2-5 years' post-qualification experience, including returners.
• Have experience gained in a law firm and/or an in-house legal team.
• Possess strong drafting and negotiation skills with the confidence to manage discussions independently.
• Be comfortable building relationships with stakeholders across a business and explaining legal concepts in plain English.
• Enjoy balancing commercial objectives with appropriate risk management.
• Have a keen interest in technology and the evolving impact of cloud, data and AI on businesses and legal practice.
• Be highly organised with excellent attention to detail and strong prioritisation skills.
• Experience in commercial, corporate or technology law would be particularly valuable, but we're equally interested in candidates with transferable experience and the right mindset.

Why join the ANS Legal team?

At ANS, you'll be joining a collaborative and approachable Legal & Compliance team that is highly visible across the business and involved in some of the company's most important commercial initiatives.

You’ll report directly to our General Counsel, an ex-Magic Circle lawyer with 15 years’ experience across technology and commercial law. This gives you a fantastic opportunity to take real ownership of your work while benefiting from hands-on coaching, support and development from an experienced legal leader.

You'll have the opportunity to:

• Work on varied and high-impact legal matters.
• Gain hands-on exposure to technology, cloud and AI-led solutions.
• Partner directly with commercial and senior business stakeholders.
• Be part of a business that values innovation and continuous improvement.
• Develop your career within a growing and market-leading technology organisation.
• Contribute to the evolution of legal operations through technology and automation.

You'll thrive in this role if you...

• Enjoy taking ownership of your own workload and managing matters independently.
• Like working closely with commercial teams and helping drive business outcomes.
• Are pragmatic, solutions-focused and commercially aware.
• Enjoy variety and are comfortable switching between different types of legal work.
• Want to develop your understanding of emerging technologies, AI and digital transformation.

At ANS, we’ve created a place where everyone can be themselves, and we empower our people to get the job done. Openness, ambition, honesty, and passion are what drive us every day. We are bold, courageous, and innovative – and we do it like no other. We invest in our people. In training, development, health and more – we give you the benefits and flexibility to maintain a happy work-life balance.

We’re proud of the inclusive, fun, dynamic environment we’ve created. It’s a safe space that works for all. You don’t have to be a techie to work in tech. Bring your authentic self and find your dream role here. Find out more at LinkedIn pages.

What’s in it for you?
With fantastic benefits, an inclusive culture, and a cool office space, we’re your kind of workplace.

Company benefits

• As standard: 25 days’ holiday, plus you can buy up to 5 more days
• A little extra: we’ll give you your birthday off, and an extra celebration day for whatever you want! Tying the knot? You get 5 days’ additional holiday in the year you get married. Oh, and 5 volunteer days!
• Private health insurance
• Pension contribution match and 4 x life assurance
• Flexible working and work from anywhere for up to 30 days per year (some exceptions)
• Maternity: 16 weeks’ full pay, Paternity: 3 weeks’ full pay, Adoption: 16 weeks’ full pay
• Company social events – get ready for a jam-packed calendar
• Electric car scheme
• 12 days of personal growth development time

ANS are an equal opportunities employer. We encourage diversity and anyone applying for a role at our organisation can be assured that their application will be treated fairly, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, gender expression, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and sex or sexual orientation. We sometimes ask for information relating to individuals for equal opportunities monitoring purposes only.