General Counsel (12m FTC) in London

Location: SE1, London

Reports to: Co-CEOs and Board of Directors

Position Overview: We’re on a mission to rid the world of boring average tasting coffee, and we need a maternity cover for our General Counsel to help us with our ambitious expansion plans. We are looking for an experienced leader to run our small but mighty legal function. In this role you will contribute hands‑on to scaling the business, provide strategic legal advice to the Board, Senior Leadership Team and wider teams, help us manage compliance and take calculated risks as we continue to expand, and guide us as we work towards our business objectives. This is a great opportunity to work for a dynamic retail company, in a broad and impactful role.

Responsibilities:

• Manage and develop the legal team, a pivotal business partner and functional centre of excellence within the organisation.
• Be a trusted advisor to the board and senior management on legal risk and mitigation strategies, and legal implications of business decisions.
• Develop and execute the legal team’s strategy, dovetailing with the wider business strategic pillars, objectives and values.
• Manage and oversee all legal areas including commercial, compliance, data protection, AI, litigation, employment, IP, corporate governance and company secretarial.
• Draft, review, and negotiate contracts and agreements.
• Handle dispute resolution and regulatory compliance.
• Maintain the group’s intellectual property portfolio to ensure protection across all current and future markets.
• Maintain and enhance the full suite of corporate template agreements including franchise agreements, supplier agreements, NDAs, letters, and notices.
• Implement legal policies and procedures to safeguard the organisation.
• Monitor and assess legislative, regulatory and sectoral developments. Educate and deliver engaging training to internal teams on relevant changes.
• Manage external legal counsel relationships and budgets.
• Embrace legal technology and continue to improve legal operations, processes and systems.

Requirements:

• Qualified lawyer with a minimum of 8-10 years post‑qualification experience.
• Proven experience in a senior in‑house legal role in a medium/large UK retail or FMCG company (or similar).
• Strong understanding of broad range of legal areas, particularly in corporate, commercial, employment, and consumer protection. Experience of franchising and property law would be highly advantageous.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, influencing and leadership skills.
• Positive and collaborative approach.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to balance legal risks with business objectives.
• Energised by managing and prioritising a large number of competing demands.
• Desirable: Experience with US companies and US law is a plus.

Benefits:

• Monthly phone bills reimbursed – up to £50 per month.
• Free coffees and drinks at any of our locations, plus discounted food.
• Access to Stream, offering a variety of high‑street discounts.
• Up to 5% Interest on savings through Stream Build Pot.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) – access to confidential counselling and advice.
• Wellness App through our EAP.
• Quarterly take home coffee orders – pods, beans or ground coffee.
• Pension plan through NEST pensions – 3% employer contribution.
• Free daily breakfast, snacks and commercial coffee machine in the office.
• Monthly pub drinks, biannual staff socials and a fully stocked drinks fridge.
• Rapid career progression and development opportunities.