Legal Counsel — Commercial & Corporate
London (Hybrid) | £70,000 – £90,000 + bonus
Our client is a fast-growing, private equity-backed energy infrastructure business operating in the UK's Ofgem-regulated electricity network sector. Backed by a major global infrastructure investor, the business has secured significant funding to expand its network connections capability, supporting the surge in demand driven by EV charging, battery storage, renewables and data centre growth as the UK moves toward net zero. It's a business in genuine scale-up mode, with the growth trajectory and investment to match.
This is a newly-created opportunity to join as Legal Counsel, acting as the number two to the Head of Legal. You'll take ownership of a broad in-house caseload, deputise for the Head of Legal where needed, and line-manage a senior paralegal.
Your role
You'll be a trusted point of contact for teams across the business, providing clear, commercial legal advice while also helping shape how the legal function operates as it scales. Core responsibilities include:
- Providing day-to-day legal advice across commercial, corporate, regulatory and operational matters, and supporting the Head of Legal in implementing legal policies, procedures and risk controls
- Drafting, reviewing and negotiating a wide range of commercial contracts — supplier and customer agreements, NDAs, SLAs and project documentation — and supporting the commercial team through negotiations
- Supporting corporate transactions including acquisitions, investments, restructurings and share transactions, and preparing associated board and transaction documentation
- Company secretarial administration, including board packs, minutes, statutory registers and Companies House filings
- Supporting compliance with the Companies Act 2006, Ofgem requirements, UK GDPR, the Bribery Act 2010, the Equality Act 2010 and Money Laundering Regulations
- Supporting the Head of Legal/DPO on UK GDPR matters, including DPIAs, data subject requests, breach response and privacy training
- Managing KYC/AML onboarding checks, triaging complaints, and liaising with external counsel on specific matters
- Line-managing and mentoring a senior paralegal, including day-to-day supervision and development
- Contributing to legal templates, precedents, playbooks and process improvements as the legal function matures
Your profile
- Qualified solicitor (England & Wales) with between 3-8 years' PQE
- You have experience working as an in-house legal counsel
- Prior exposure to the utilities sector or another highly-regulated environment (e.g. financial services, energy) is preferred
- Confident operating with a degree of autonomy and comfortable being the "go-to" person in the Head of Legal's absence
- Some prior line management or mentoring experience is a plus, though full support will be given to someone ready to take this on
- Genuinely interested in working within a high-growth, investor-backed business, with an appetite for the pace and variety that comes with it
What's on Offer
- £70,000 - £90,000 plus bonus
- Hybrid working, based in The City of London
- A genuine number two role with direct exposure to the Head of Legal and senior stakeholders, plus line management responsibility
- Broad, high-quality experience across commercial, corporate, governance and data protection work in a business investing heavily in its growth
- Real scope for progression as the legal function and the business scale
Legal Counsel employer: JMC Legal Recruitment
Join a Legal 500-ranked regional firm in Cambridge that prioritises your professional growth and offers a vibrant, inclusive culture. With a focus on mentorship from experienced litigators and a commitment to meaningful work, you'll handle a diverse caseload while enjoying enhanced benefits like private healthcare and gym membership. This is an exceptional opportunity to develop your career in property litigation within a supportive and close-knit team environment.
