Legal Counsel

This is a hands-on role within a mission-driven international organisation. As Legal Counsel in Climate Group’s Legal team, you will directly enable our mission to drive climate action, fast. You will be a trusted adviser, helping our colleagues across the business move quickly and confidently by managing risk in a pragmatic, solutions-focused way. This is the ideal role for a lawyer who thrives on high-impact work and enjoys being close to the heart of the business. You’ll have a sharp instinct for when to resolve issues independently and take full ownership of a matter, and when to pull in the Head of Legal for a strategic steer.

About the role

Join a lean, “business-first” Legal team at Climate Group, an award-winning international non-profit driving the global climate agenda. Reporting to the Head of Legal, this role is designed for a mid-level commercial lawyer who thrives on the autonomy to run their own matters, while operating in a collaborative, fast-paced environment. You’ll be the “go-to” lawyer on day-to-day commercial contracting for partnerships, sponsorships, and events. As a trusted partner to the wider business you’ll provide incisive, commercial advice to keep our mission moving.

Key responsibilities

• Contract lead – You’ll take primary responsibility for drafting and negotiating agreements that power our programmes and high-profile events. You’ll balance pace with proportionate risk management across events, sponsorships, partnerships.
• Operational autonomy – You’ll own the lifecycle of your matters. You’ll identify risks early and present clear, viable options to the Head of Legal when high-level escalation is needed.
• Empowering the business – You’ll look for ways to streamline how we work, ensuring the legal team provides maximum value while empowering the wider business to handle day-to-day matters confidently.
• Business partnering – You’ll be a strategic adviser to programme, events and marketing colleagues to shape deal terms, demystify complex legal issues, and keep projects moving.
• Brand and IP protection – You’ll act as the frontline guardian for our brand in marketing and partner arrangements, ensuring our intellectual property is both protected and put to work.
• Sharing knowledge – Designing and delivering legal training and guidance to set up teams for success.

About you

Experience and knowledge

• Proven commercial expertise – You are comfortable running matters end-to-end. While we are open to different backgrounds, this role is likely to suit a mid-level lawyer who has broad hands-on experience in commercial negotiations.
• IP & brand management – You have proven experience advising on intellectual property matters including drafting and negotiating IP licensing and protection clauses.
• Sector familiarity – You are comfortable advising on contracts related to partnerships, sponsorships, events, and IP as well as standard commercial agreements such as MSAs and consultancy arrangements.
• Translator skill – You can translate complex legal issues into plain, actionable English for non-lawyers.
• Stakeholder management – You have a track record of building influence and trusted relationships across diverse teams and acting as their go-to legal partner.
• Mission-led ways of working – You understand how to apply proportionate risk management in a purpose-driven organisation, balancing legal risk with impact and delivery.
• Data savvy – You have a good working knowledge of GDPR/PECR and the ability to apply it to real-world marketing, data sharing arrangements including with international partners and event scenarios.
• Pragmatic and calm – You guide teams through trade-offs with a solutions-focused mindset, staying cool when things move fast.
• Sound judgement – You know when to be flexible to get a deal done and when to hold the line to protect the organisation.
• Delivery-minded – You are organised and able to prioritise a busy inbox without losing sight of the big picture mission.
• Attention to detail – You spot issues early and take care to ensure contracts and supporting documents are accurate, consistent, and fit for purpose.
• Clear communicator – You can cut through complexity and give crisp, practical advice that helps colleagues in the business take action.
• Collaborative and approachable – You build trust quickly and enjoy partnering with colleagues to reach a workable solution.
• Ownership – You take responsibility for moving matters forward, keeping stakeholders aligned and closing the loop.

Qualifications

• UK qualified Solicitor – You hold a current practising certificate and have the right to work in the UK.
• Commercial expertise – You have considerable experience in end-to-end drafting and negotiation of commercial contracts that include DP and IP provisions. You should be comfortable leading negotiations and making risk-based decisions autonomously.
• Legal enablement – You have a knack for building ‘smart’ tools like standard templates, self-service guidance and playbooks that empower others to move fast while ensuring we stay within our risk appetite.
• In-house perspective – You’ve likely worked in-house before (or completed a substantial secondment) and enjoy the pace of a mission-driven environment where you have direct responsibility for your own workload.
• Mission alignment – You demonstrate an interest in climate and energy initiatives, or experience in the purpose-led/non-profit sector.
• International exposure – As an international organisation, we value experience dealing with cross-border agreements or multi-jurisdictional projects.

About Climate Group

Climate Group drives climate action. Fast. Our goal is a world of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, with greater prosperity for all. We focus on systems with the highest emissions and where our networks have the greatest opportunity to drive change. We do this by building large and influential networks and holding organisations accountable, turning their commitments into action. We share what we achieve together to show more organisations what they could do. We are an international non-profit organisation, founded in 2004, with offices in London, Amsterdam, Beijing, New Delhi and New York. Climate Group is an international organisation, and we want to reflect that in our staff. People who work for us, and people who apply, need to feel heard, safe, and included. That is why we are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion throughout our application process and in our offices. We encourage applications from people of all ages, gender identities, sexual orientations, abilities and ethnicities, as we value a wide range of experiences and perspectives.

Where you’ll work

Based in our London office, near the iconic Tower Bridge, you’ll enjoy a flexible hybrid working arrangement of five days in the office over a 9-day fortnight. Our office is designed to support both collaborative work and focused individual time. It includes accessible facilities, a well-equipped gym, secure bike storage, and showers. Plus we’re easy to reach by bike and public transport.

What we offer

At Climate Group, our people are at the heart of what we do. You’ll join a global community of bold, ambitious doers committed to driving climate action fast. This is a permanent position. The salary offered is £49,000 to £55,000 per annum, based on experience. Many of our people work flexibly in different ways, including part-time. We’ll discuss your preferred ways of working and accommodate if possible. We offer a 9-day fortnight working model, generous benefits and the opportunity to grow within a purpose-driven organisation.

• Generous holiday allowance: 25 days annually, plus public holidays and 3 extra days for our Christmas to New Year closure.
• 10% employer pension contribution: Non-contributory scheme available after three months’ service.
• Long-service reward: An additional day’s holiday after three and six years.
• Flexible and hybrid working support.
• Comprehensive health benefits: Cash plan and private medical insurance after completing probation.
• Family-first policies: Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave, plus support for fertility treatments.
• Well-being perks: Monthly wellbeing allowance and Headspace membership.
• Additional leave options: Paid leave for volunteering, moving house, and getting married.
• Peace of mind: Life assurance from your first day.
• Cycling support: E-bike and bike loan scheme up to £1,000.
• Travel ease: Season ticket and e-bike membership loan scheme.
• Investing in you: Learning and development opportunities to help you thrive in a global, purpose-driven organisation.