Legal Director in West Bromwich

LHH have been exclusively retained to secure a Legal Director for our client - a global business with a HQ in the Midlands region.

The Opportunity

Our client, a global, growth-focused industrial organisation, is seeking an accomplished Legal Director to join its senior leadership team. This is a pivotal role for a commercially minded, pragmatic lawyer who combines technical excellence with strong interpersonal influence. The successful candidate will serve as a trusted advisor to the business, shaping commercial decisions through balanced, well-reasoned counsel while fostering a collaborative, solutions-oriented culture.

Role Overview

The Legal Director will be hands-on, with a business-partnering approach. This individual will engage directly with stakeholders across jurisdictions, offering clear, calm and practical guidance on complex legal matters. Rather than functioning as a barrier, the Legal Director will work to build confidence, supporting growth, managing risk proportionately, and promoting an ethical, compliant operating environment. The position requires onsite working at HQ.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic legal leadership to senior executives while remaining accessible and engaged with operational teams.
• Guide commercial decision-making through pragmatic, risk-based analysis—focusing on key issues rather than immaterial points.
• Draft, review and negotiate a broad range of commercial contracts (customer & supplier), acting as a hands‐on practitioner rather than delegating work externally unless necessary.
• Explain legal concepts clearly and diplomatically to non‐lawyers, influencing effectively across the organisation.
• Maintain legal records, corporate governance documentation and compliance registers.
• Manage corporate legal matters including NDAs, maintenance of corporate books, and preparation of board‐level summaries and reports.
• Oversee risk management and compliance activities, including sanctions, anti-bribery and corruption, and export controls.
• Lead proactive litigation strategy and manage external counsel as needed.
• Build strong cross‐functional relationships, earning trust and credibility at all levels of the organisation.
• Operate with the highest ethical standards, sound judgment and professional integrity.

Candidate Profile

• Minimum 10 years' post-qualification experience (exceptional candidates with 10 years considered).
• Training and experience from at least a medium-sized private practice firm (ideally a large international firm) with a focus on commercial work.
• Demonstrated experience working on cross-border matters; UK-US exposure highly advantageous.
• Broad in-house exposure across commercial, corporate, compliance, and risk issues (excluding employment law).
• Negotiation experience with external counterparties.

Technical Skills

• Strong commercial and corporate contracting expertise, familiar with recurring issues in industrial supply chains.
• Proven ability to draft and negotiate agreements efficiently and effectively.
• Experience with compliance frameworks, including sanctions, ABC, export controls, and related regulatory regimes.
• Familiarity with litigation strategy (proactive and reactive).
• Optional experience in M&A and IT law is beneficial.

Leadership & Personal Qualities

• Collaborative, open listener who seeks input from those with operational or industry expertise.
• Confident yet diplomatic communicator, comfortable engaging firmly and constructively across all levels.
• Pragmatic negotiator—assertive when required but personable, balanced, and non‐political.
• Able to operate at pace, manage multiple matters concurrently and take ownership for delivery.
• Detail-oriented with excellent administrative discipline.
• Respected team player who integrates seamlessly into senior leadership rather than working in isolation.
• Culturally aware, with international experience and sensitivity to varied business practices.

Package and remuneration is excellent and will be subject to experience.