Legal Counsel – Corporate / M&A in England

Remote-first | UK-based | Monthly office attendance. Head Office Location: Burnham (Required to attend the Head Office once a month).

The Opportunity: This is a rare opportunity to join a fast-growing, well capitalised care group at a genuinely pivotal moment in its journey. The organisation is a family‑owned operator with a substantial national footprint across the UK and a strong pipeline of further acquisitions and developments. Backed by an experienced Board, a highly regarded Chairman, and supportive long‑term investors, the business is investing heavily in both its existing portfolio and future growth. This momentum has created a sustained volume of high value corporate, property and funding activity, making this role business critical. You will be embedded at the heart of strategic decision‑making, supporting complex transactions that directly shape the future of the group.

The Role: We are appointing a full‑time, permanent Legal Counsel to support corporate, M&A and investment activity across the group. Reporting directly into the General Counsel, you will work closely with senior commercial leaders, directors and external partners. This is a hands‑on, transaction‑led role suited to a lawyer who enjoys ownership, pace and autonomy, and who is comfortable operating as a trusted adviser to senior stakeholders. While the role is remote‑first, there is an expectation to attend head office approximately one day per month. Candidates based within reasonable travelling distance are preferred, though this is not essential.

Key Responsibilities:

• Project‑managing corporate and M&A transactions, including: Share acquisitions, business and asset acquisitions, property acquisition and acquisition, development and refinancing facilities.
• Advising on transaction structure from the outset, including drafting and inputting into heads of terms.
• Coordinating and managing external advisers, lenders, investors and professional partners.
• Overseeing and supervising due diligence and disclosure processes.
• Reviewing, negotiating and drafting transaction documentation.
• Translating complex legal risk into clear, commercially focused advice for the Board and senior leadership.
• Managing and supervising all post‑completion actions.
• Supporting and overseeing company secretarial matters across the group.
• Advising the wider business on legal issues arising from due diligence and post‑completion integration.
• Supporting the in‑house legal function and wider business on broader corporate matters.

The Skillset & Experience We’re Looking For: This role requires a high‑calibre corporate lawyer with strong transactional depth. The benchmark for this appointment is the level of an individual who has already proven successful in this environment. You will ideally bring:

• UK‑qualified solicitor (or equivalent) with a current practising certificate.
• Approximately 4–6+ years’ PQE.
• Training and development within a top‑tier or highly regarded corporate law firm.
• Strong private M&A and private equity experience, including exposure to £100m+ transactions.
• Proven experience running transactions end‑to‑end, including: Due diligence, disclosure exercises, SPAs & Completions and post‑completion matters.
• Confidence coordinating multiple stakeholders, including: External law firms, lenders and funders, Investors, joint venture partners & cross‑border advisers where required.
• Strong drafting, negotiation and commercial judgement.
• A pragmatic, hands‑on approach with the ability to operate with minimal supervision.
• Excellent communication skills and the confidence to advise senior leadership.
• Exceptional attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple live matters simultaneously.
• Experience in real estate or construction matters is advantageous, though not essential.

Working Pattern & Location: Remote‑first role. Attendance at head office approximately once per month (Barnham). Monday to Friday, 9:00am – 5:30pm.

Reward: Salary up to £110,000 per annum. Discretionary bonus up to 10%. Opportunity to work at the centre of a high‑growth, acquisitive organisation. Significant autonomy, visibility and influence.

Why This Role Stands Out: This is not a back‑office legal position. You will be deeply embedded in the commercial engine of the business, shaping transactions that directly impact growth, investment and long‑term strategy. For the right lawyer, this offers exposure, responsibility and progression that is rarely available outside private practice.