Contracts Lawyer – 12M FTC in Newcastle upon Tyne

Job Description

The Client Terms and Contracts Solutions Team is part of the firm’s General Counsel function and provides essential in‑house legal support globally. The Contracts Lawyer reviews, negotiates, and finalises contracts the firm enters into with clients and suppliers, ensuring they align with the firm’s risk policy and standards.

Responsibilities

• Review and negotiate commercial contracts, client bids, RfPs, panel arrangements, and specific matters.
• Advise the firm on contractual issues related to events, business development, secondment arrangements, and NDAs.
• Analyse and provide input on contracts with material suppliers (IT and non‑IT).
• Update terms for client use of legal technology tools and platforms.
• Support ad‑hoc firm projects and update the firm’s standard Terms of Business, templates, and internal policies.
• Supervise Contracts Executives when required.
• Improve the team’s knowledge‑management and processes, leveraging technology where appropriate.
• Review Framework Agreements, Outside Counsel Agreements, Policies, Codes, engagement letters, and amendments to the firm’s standard Terms of Business.
• Liaise on specialist topics such as IT security, data privacy, and conflicts.
• Coordinate with the Pricing Team on commercial issues.
• Incorporate provisions the firm wants added to Client Terms.
• Prepare responses and mark‑ups to Client Terms, negotiating amendments internally and externally.
• Handle requests from clients to amend the firm’s Terms of Business.
• Update client terms and internal guidance documents to ensure adherence.
• Contribute to updates of the Terms of Use for legal technology solutions.
• Assist the Procurement Team in developing, updating, and implementing template contracts.
• Review and draft amendments to the Procurement Team’s standard contracts and supplier offers.
• Prepare risk summaries for consideration prior to entering contracts.
• Support procurement negotiations and provide training to the Procurement Team.
• Keep up to date with legal developments and advise on necessary amendments to the firm’s Terms of Business.
• Review draft policies and procedures from other teams and provide feedback.
• Contribute to internal projects involving new technology relevant to the Client Terms Team.

Qualifications

• Detailed focus with strong drafting, influencing, and negotiation skills.
• Flexible and able to work under pressure and independently.
• Excellent planning and organisational abilities to meet priorities.
• Adaptable to new processes and technology.
• Strong commercial awareness and problem‑solving capability.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills and ability to build relationships across the firm.
• Commercial mindset with analytical, organisational, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work both unsupervised and as part of a team.

• Prior experience as a practising lawyer.
• Experience reviewing and negotiating commercial contracts.
• Experience gathering and analysing information to solve problems methodically.
• Experience working with a Risk or Compliance function in a professional‑services firm is beneficial but not essential.

• A Law degree.

Hybrid Working

Hybrid working is supported, with an expectation to work from the office for a minimum of 50% of the time, subject to business needs.

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive benefits package supporting personal and professional development, financial, well‑being, lifestyle and family‑friendly benefits. For detailed information, please refer to our benefits page.

Equal opportunities

We are committed to treating all employees and applicants fairly and equally, irrespective of gender, gender identity, expression, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour, national or ethnic origin, social or economic background, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation or age. This applies to all aspects of employment and our recruitment and selection processes. All applicants and employees are encouraged to join diverse networks that foster an inclusive culture.