At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a legal team and provide strategic advice during a transition period.
- Company: Join a leading global consumer and hospitality business with a dynamic culture.
- Benefits: Hybrid working, competitive salary, and potential for contract extension.
- Other info: Opportunity to mentor and lead within an evolving legal environment.
- Why this job: Shape the future of legal operations in a recognised global brand.
- Qualifications: Senior legal experience with strong business partnering skills required.
Location: Chiswick, London
Working Pattern: Hybrid – 2–3 days onsite per week
Start Date: September 2026
Contract: Initial term through December 2026, with potential extension into January/February 2027
Elevate Legal Talent is supporting a leading global consumer and hospitality business with the appointment of an experienced Interim Legal Director / Senior Legal Lead to help lead its legal function through an important transition period. This is a particularly interesting opportunity for a senior in-house lawyer who enjoys being close to the business, building trusted stakeholder relationships and creating structure within an evolving legal environment.
The business is looking for someone who can step in as the senior legal point of contact, lead an interim legal team and provide pragmatic, commercially focused advice to senior business stakeholders across the UK and wider EMEA business.
The Role
- Provide senior legal leadership while working alongside two Corporate Counsel and a Legal Operations professional to establish a cohesive interim legal function.
- Act as the senior legal point of contact for the business during the transition.
- Build trusted relationships with senior leaders and key business stakeholders.
- Provide pragmatic, commercially focused legal advice across a broad range of business matters.
- Support licensing and franchise arrangements, commercial and supply chain matters, sourcing activities, buy/sell agreements and general operational matters.
- Work with the business to understand and prioritise its legal support requirements.
- Provide oversight and direction to the wider interim legal team.
- Establish effective ways of working across the team.
- Help identify opportunities to improve legal processes, workflows and the overall legal operating model.
- Support the transition from existing legal support arrangements to a more structured legal function.
What We're Looking For:
- We are seeking a senior lawyer who is comfortable operating as a business-facing legal leader, rather than solely as a technical legal specialist.
- You will ideally have significant post-qualification experience gained in-house and/or within a leading commercial law firm.
- Strong commercial, corporate or generalist legal experience.
- Experience acting as a senior legal adviser or legal lead within a complex organisation.
- Strong business partnering and stakeholder management skills.
- Experience advising senior executives and business leaders.
- A pragmatic, solutions-oriented approach to legal advice.
- Experience working across multiple jurisdictions or within an international/EMEA environment.
- The ability to quickly understand a business and establish credibility.
- Experience leading, mentoring or coordinating lawyers is highly desirable.
- Exposure to licensing, franchising, supply chain, procurement or consumer-facing businesses would be advantageous.
The Opportunity
This is not simply a traditional interim legal assignment. You will have the opportunity to lead a legal team, establish trusted relationships with the business and help shape the foundations of an effective legal operating model within a highly recognised global consumer business.
If you are a senior in-house lawyer who enjoys combining legal expertise with leadership, business partnering and transformation, we'd be keen to hear from you. You can apply now or contact Elevate Legal Talent for more information.
Interim Legal Director / Senior Legal Lead in City of London employer: Elevate Legal Talent
Elevate is an exceptional employer that champions flexibility and inclusivity, making it an ideal choice for experienced Patent Counsel seeking project-based work. With a strong commitment to employee growth and a diverse work culture, Elevate empowers its team members to thrive in a supportive environment while contributing to innovative legal solutions globally.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Interim Legal Director / Senior Legal Lead in City of London
✨Get Involved in Legal Networking Events
Jump into local or virtual legal networking events to meet industry pros and get your foot in the door! Use platforms like Eventbrite or Meetup to find gatherings, as these are great for making connections and hearing about temporary roles at firms like Elevate Legal Talent.
✨Showcase Your Skills Online
Create a simple online portfolio to showcase your legal work, whether that's case briefs, research papers, or even blog posts on legal topics. This public display can really set you apart when looking for temp roles in law, especially if you can make it relevant to the work that Elevate Legal Talent does!
✨Tap into Law School Resources
If you're near a law school, hit up their career services. They often have leads on temporary positions and can help connect you with alumni working at firms. Plus, they might host workshops or job fairs specific to the legal sector—great for scoring that temp position!
✨Stay Updated with Legal Job Boards
Regularly check specialised legal job boards like LawCareers.Net or TotallyLegal for temporary listings. Many firms post their openings directly there, and applying quickly can give you an edge over the competition when looking to join a prestigious firm like Elevate Legal Talent.
We think you need these skills to ace Interim Legal Director / Senior Legal Lead in City of London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Legal Know-How:In the legal services world, it's all about demonstrating your understanding of relevant laws and regulations. Make sure your CV highlights your legal training, internships, or any relevant projects you've worked on. If you've done any mooting or legal research, include those too - they can really set you apart!
Tailor Your Application for the Temp Role:Since this is a temporary position, your application should stress your adaptability and readiness to jump in right away. Highlight any previous temp roles where you quickly got up to speed, or any diverse experiences that show you can handle a variety of cases or tasks with ease.
Keep it Specific with Your Documents:Make sure your application includes essential legal documents, such as any relevant certifications or memberships in legal bodies. These can add credibility to your CV and show that you're serious about the profession – especially useful in a competitive field like law!
Express Your Enthusiasm in the Cover Letter:Your cover letter is a golden opportunity to express your enthusiasm for the role and the organisation. Let them know why you’re excited about this temporary position with Elevate Legal Talent and how you're motivated to contribute to their success during your limited time with them!
How to prepare for a job interview at Elevate Legal Talent
✨Show Off Your Legal Know-How
Prepare to discuss your understanding of legal terminology and concepts that might come up during the interview for the Interim Legal Director / Senior Legal Lead role at Elevate Legal Talent. Brush up on relevant laws or recent cases that could be pertinent to the temporary position, as they'll likely appreciate candidates who can think on their feet and adapt to the fast-paced legal environment.
✨Talk About Your Flexibility
Since this is a temporary role, employers want to know you can hit the ground running. Be ready to highlight past experiences where you've had to quickly adapt to new tasks or work cultures. Flexibility is key in a short-term position like this, so share specific examples that demonstrate your ability to manage changing priorities efficiently.
✨Prepare for the Casework Challenge
You might face hypothetical scenarios where you'd have to advise on a legal issue or case. Practice articulating your thought process clearly, as interviewers in the legal sector often expect candidates to walk them through their reasoning step-by-step. This will not only showcase your legal acumen but also demonstrate your communication skills, which are crucial in law.
✨Pitch Your Legal Portfolio
If you have any relevant work samples, such as briefs, contracts, or legal research, this is your chance to shine! Be ready to discuss what you did, what challenges you faced, and the outcomes. This speaks volumes more than just listing your skills; it shows you're proactive and results-oriented, which is essential for a temporary role at Elevate Legal Talent.
