Senior Legal Counsel - Brand Protection & IP

Your new role: Global is looking for a lawyer that is a subject matter expert to take day-to-day ownership of Global’s IP portfolio and provide high-quality, strategic and commercial legal support across its brands, products, content, events and partnerships. In particular, you’ll be the go‑to expert for brand protection in the business – advising with confidence and clarity and working closely with senior stakeholders (including the Legal Director, Audio & Commercial and Chief Strategy Officer) to enable Global’s brand strategy.

As Senior Legal Counsel, Brand Protection & IP at Global, you will:

• Be Global’s IP specialist – lead on technical matters, partnering with stakeholders to manage risk and enable their creative ambition, whilst keeping our approach to brand protection practical, consistent and cost-effective. You will support strategic decision‑making led by the Legal Director, Audio & Commercial, providing expert input, options and recommendations.

Key Responsibilities

• Enforcement & disputes (40%): Lead day-to-day management of enforcement and contentious matters (including oppositions, cancellations, infringement, online takedowns and settlements). Instruct and collaborate closely with external counsel, provide clear views on merits and strategy and keep stakeholders informed of options, risk, progress and cost.
• Clearance and pragmatic advice (25%): Be the technical lead on clearance and registrability, supporting product launches and campaigns with solutions‑led advice on naming, branding and risk. Provide clear recommendations and next steps that help teams move quickly and confidently.
• Brand Strategy & portfolio management (25%): Own the operational management of Global’s trademark portfolio in partnership with external counsel, including filing strategy, prosecution, renewals, watching services and portfolio optimisation. Ensure the portfolio reflects business priorities and delivers value, with strong governance and reporting.
• Governance and ways of working (10%): Develop and maintain templates, guidance and training to improve consistency, efficiency and risk management. Embrace and support the use of legal technology and AI tools to improve efficiency, consistency and quality of output, whilst applying appropriate judgement and governance.

What You’ll Love About This Role

• Think Big: Help shape the international brand protection strategy for household‑name entertainment brands, such as Capital, Heart, Radio X, LBC and The News Agents with real influence on commercial decisions.
• Own it: Be the IP specialist the business relies on – setting direction, improving ways of working, and making the portfolio work harder.
• Keep it Simple: Translate complex trademark law into clear, practical advice that empowers stakeholders to make decisions at speed.
• Better Together: Work closely with teams across the business, building trusted relationships and solving problems collaboratively – including with external advisors.

What Success Looks Like

• In your first few months, you’ll have built a clear picture of the portfolio, priorities and key risk areas, with a straightforward plan to address them.
• Delivered practical templates, guidance and process that improve the quality, efficiency and consistency of day‑to‑day trademark advice.
• Built strong relationships with internal teams, communicating clearly and confidently to become the go‑to trademark expert.
• Established an efficient, consistent and transparent way of working with external counsel with clear scope, cadence and budget visibility.

What You’ll Need

• Qualified lawyer with relevant experience: 5 years’ PQE+ (flexible depending on experience) with IP experience gained in private practice.
• Trademark, Design and Copyright matter expertise: Deep knowledge of UK trademark law and practice (and confidence working internationally), alongside experience of advising on designs and copyright, with the ability to advise on brand‑led clearance, prosecution, enforcement and disputes end to end. You will be open to working with patents, but specific filing and enforcement experience is not required.
• Good drafting skills: Great drafting and letter writing skills, including the ability to draft and negotiate licences, coexistence/settlement agreements, IP assignments, cease and desist letters, letters before action, settlement offers and sponsorship agreements.
• Organisation and attention to detail: Strong matter management, record‑keeping and follow‑through across a varied workload.
• Budget discipline: Comfortable managing spend – agreeing estimates, tracking costs, prioritising work and finding cost‑effective solutions.
• External counsel management: Skilled at instructing advisors, setting scope, reviewing advice critically and driving timely delivery in accordance with budgets.
• Stakeholder influence: Able to partner with creative and commercial teams, explain risk clearly and steer decisions without blocking progress.