Manager , Legal Counsel – M&A in London

The role requires a high degree of independence, sound commercial judgment and the ability to engage effectively with senior stakeholders across the business. It combines hands-on deal leadership with responsibility for driving execution, managing risk and ensuring alignment with broader commercial objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Take ownership of the legal execution of M&A transactions, including acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures and strategic investments across multiple jurisdictions.
• Shape transaction structuring, risk allocation and execution approach in close collaboration with the M&A team and senior stakeholders.
• Act as the primary legal lead on transactions, driving timelines, coordinating stakeholders and ensuring delivery in line with commercial objectives.
• Draft, review and negotiate key transaction documentation, including NDAs, term sheets, SPAs, shareholder agreements and ancillary agreements.
• Direct and oversee external counsel across jurisdictions, setting strategy, managing delivery, and ensuring alignment with transaction objectives.
• Take accountability for external legal spend on transactions, including budget setting, cost control and optimisation of panel firm usage in line with business expectations.
• Identify, assess and clearly articulate legal and execution risks, providing pragmatic, commercially focused recommendations to support decision-making.
• Oversee due diligence processes and translate findings into clear, actionable advice for internal stakeholders.
• Manage signing and closing processes, including conditions precedent, regulatory considerations and post-completion matters.
• Contribute to the development and refinement of internal M&A frameworks, templates and best practices to support consistent execution.
• Provide guidance on complex legal and commercial issues arising in the context of transactions.

Stakeholder Interaction

• Work closely with senior members of the M&A team on transaction strategy and execution.
• Engage directly with senior business stakeholders across regions on transaction-critical decisions.
• Manage relationships with external law firms and advisers, including panel firms.
• Collaborate with internal functions including finance, tax, treasury and compliance.

Experience & Skills

• 10+ years’ experience (or equivalent) in M&A, with a strong track record of leading complex cross-border transactions.
• Experience gained in a leading law firm and/or in-house environment, with exposure to sophisticated deal execution.
• Demonstrated ability to manage transactions end-to-end, from structuring through to completion.
• Strong drafting and negotiation skills across a broad range of transaction documents.
• Commercially minded, with the ability to balance legal risk and business objectives.
• Comfortable operating autonomously and taking ownership of key matters.
• Ability to manage multiple transactions simultaneously in a dynamic, international environment.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at different levels.

Personal Attributes

• Sound judgment and decision-making capability in complex and time-sensitive situations.
• Pragmatic and solution-oriented approach.
• High level of ownership and accountability.
• Resilient and adaptable in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong organisational and prioritisation skills.

Role Context

The role operates within a lean team structure and requires a proactive, hands-on approach, with responsibility for managing multiple transactions concurrently and providing clear direction in complex, time-sensitive situations. The successful candidate will be expected to take ownership of outcomes, operate with minimal supervision and contribute meaningfully to the effectiveness of the Group M&A function.