In-House Counsel

In-House Counsel

Head Office - Solihull

£70,000 - £75,000

Who are Brayleys, an Athenea company?

We’re a trusted dealer group, proudly representing 21 brands across the UK.

At the heart of Brayleys, an Athenea company are our people. Our teams bring pride, passion and expertise to everything they do, creating a culture where everyone can feel valued, supported and proud to be part of the group.

Built on 25 years of connection and shared values, Athenea brings together Johnsons and Brayley’s, combining their unique stories and experience with a shared ambition for the future.

The Role

Legal Advisory

• Provide practical, commercially focused legal advice on a wide range of operational and business matters.
• Support stakeholders across the organisation in making informed decisions while effectively managing legal risk.
• Assist senior members of the Legal team on more complex or strategic projects and matters.
• Interpret and communicate legal concepts clearly to non-legal audiences.

Commercial Contracts

• Draft, review and negotiate a variety of commercial agreements, including supplier agreements, service contracts, customer contracts and confidentiality agreements.
• Support the management and maintenance of contract templates and related legal documentation.
• Ensure contractual arrangements remain aligned with legal, regulatory and business requirements.
• Help streamline and improve contract management processes across the Group.

Regulatory & Compliance Support

• Provide legal support across regulatory and compliance matters, including FCA requirements, Consumer Duty and data protection legislation.
• Work closely with Compliance and Risk teams to ensure legal and regulatory obligations are effectively managed.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments and advise stakeholders on relevant changes.
• Support the business in maintaining strong governance and risk management practices.

Disputes & Risk Management

• Assist with the management of legal disputes, customer complaints and pre-litigation matters.
• Liaise with external legal advisers where appropriate.
• Support the identification and mitigation of legal risks across the business.
• Help develop practical solutions that balance legal protection with commercial objectives.

Corporate Activities & Strategic Projects

• Support acquisitions, disposals, restructures and wider strategic initiatives.
• Assist with legal due diligence, transaction documentation and project delivery.
• Ensure legal considerations are embedded within business decisions from an early stage.
• Contribute to cross-functional projects that support the Group's continued growth.

Governance, Policies & Training

• Support the development and maintenance of legal policies, procedures and governance frameworks.
• Assist in creating guidance materials and legal resources for the wider business.
• Deliver or support legal awareness training for colleagues and managers.
• Promote best practice and increased legal understanding across the organisation.

What skills are we looking for:

Essential

• Qualified Solicitor (England & Wales) or equivalent.
• Proven experience of PQE, or equivalent relevant legal experience.
• Strong grounding in commercial law and contract drafting.
• Experience reviewing and negotiating commercial agreements.
• Ability to communicate legal advice clearly and pragmatically to non-legal stakeholders.
• Commercially minded, with the ability to balance risk and business objectives.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Confident working independently while collaborating effectively with colleagues and stakeholders.

Desirable

• Previous experience within an in-house legal team.
• Exposure to corporate transactions, acquisitions or restructuring activity.
• Knowledge of FCA regulation, Consumer Duty or other regulated environments.
• Experience working within automotive retail, financial services or similar commercial sectors.
• Exposure to governance, compliance and risk management frameworks.
• Experience partnering with senior business stakeholders across multiple functions.

Why us? - Our benefits

• Competitive basic salary
• 31 days holiday, rising to 33 with service
• Birthday off – an extra paid day to celebrate
• Company pension scheme
• Staff discounts on vehicles, servicing, parts & labour
• Retail & lifestyle discounts via our benefits platform
• Dentist on Demand access
• Optional healthcare cash plans
• Industry-leading training + clear career progression opportunities
• Career development opportunities and career progression
• Enhanced maternity leave after a qualifying period
• £500 colleague referral bonus

What next-

Feel like your skills match? We would love to hear from you- just click apply now and fill in your details and we will update you soon.

Want to know more about the company?

OUR PURPOSE

To help our customers move through life with trusted automotive solutions and great experiences.

OUR VISION

To be the automotive retailer of choice - where passion fuels exceptional experiences and an unwavering commitment earns the trust of our customers and colleagues.

OUR MISSION

We take pride, ownership and accountability in every action, every decision, every day.

OUR VALUES

Respect – Inspiring- Integrity - team spirit

For more information you can visit our main website here: https://brayleys.co.uk/