At a Glance
- Tasks: Advise on legal, risk, and compliance issues, focusing on real estate matters globally.
- Company: Join the iconic Manolo Blahnik team, known for creativity and craftsmanship.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, hybrid working, and exclusive discounts on luxury shoes.
- Other info: Embrace a diverse culture that values creativity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Be a key player in a dynamic legal team while making a real impact.
- Qualifications: 4-8 years PQE with real estate experience; UK qualified or right to practice.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
Department: Legal
Reports to: General Counsel
Direct Reports: None
Location: Central London
Hybrid working: 3 days in office, 2 days from home
12-14 month fixed term contract, starting late October / November 2026
Purpose: Advising and safeguarding the Manolo Blahnik group on legal, risk and compliance issues with a key focus on real estate matters across our store and office locations globally. Acting as a commercial and strategic advisor to all divisions in the global business. Proactively managing capacity, workload and matters to meet deadlines. Working independently and supporting all members of the Legal department on a variety of projects and tasks to deliver department and company objectives.
Responsibilities:
- Real Estate: Supporting global expansion strategy across all new store and office openings. Managing end to end complex UK and offshore transactions and supporting internal stakeholders across all levels of the business. Review and negotiation of acquisition and lease agreements and associated professional appointments including architects and general contractors together with ancillaries. Engaging, managing and coordinating external counsel dealing with invoices and approvals and tracking department spend and budget. Managing existing real estate portfolio including all renewals, assignments, variations and terminations. Dealing with real estate queries, training, advice, planning and compliance for the global business as required from time to time.
- Wider Business: Commercial – supporting international franchise expansion, maintaining template distribution terms and agreements, advising on consumer rights and retail queries and competition issues. Corporate – assisting with company incorporations, group restructuring and general commercial work. Company Secretarial – supporting global company secretarial workstreams including board meetings and approvals. Digital, Systems and IT – reviewing and negotiating service provider and SaaS terms, assisting with data protection and information security advice. Internal Control – reviewing and revising policies and procedures and supporting on compliance issues. Finance – reviewing and advising on banking and tax documents and filings. Dispute Resolution - general contentious and dispute resolution support. Supervision – support supervision and development of junior members of the team.
Skills and Experience Required: 4-8 years PQE in-house or private practice with substantial secondment experience. Real Estate experience essential with a strong desire to cover commercial and corporate work. International real estate experience and/or construction experience highly desirable but not essential. UK Qualified or right to practice in England and Wales. Strong analytical skills along with accuracy and attention to detail. Commercial and pragmatic problem solving and solution focused. Ability to prioritise and ensure delivery of results to meet specific deadlines. Communication of legal advice to non-lawyers within the business. Proactively managing matters and deadlines, contributing to precedents and management of departmental workflow, preparation of contract summaries, correspondence and filings and general administration support.
Our Benefits: 4 pairs of Ambassador Shoes per year. 50% Friends and Family Discount. 25 days holiday with an additional day off for your birthday, plus bank holidays. Option to buy an additional 5 days holiday. Hybrid working model (core hours 10-4pm). Pension Contribution. Private Medical Insurance. 2 Executive Coaching Sessions per year. Enhanced Family Friendly Policy. Workplace Nursery – salary sacrifice based childcare scheme. Cycle to work scheme. Employment Engagement Calendar.
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion: Manolo Blahnik is an equal opportunity employer and are committed to preserving a caring, diverse and inclusive culture with people who feel a real sense of belonging. We recruit and reward based on capability and performance. Our diverse and multicultural teams ignite our creativity and we celebrate the differences that we collectively bring. We are committed to equal employment and progression opportunities and the elimination of any form of discrimination. We all hold a responsibility to recognise and respect our diversity and to support this in our words and actions. If you need reasonable adjustments at any point in the application or interview process, please let us know.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Legal Counsel (Mat Cover FTC) in 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 Manolo Blahnik.
✨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 Manolo Blahnik 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 Manolo Blahnik.
We think you need these skills to ace Legal Counsel (Mat Cover FTC) in 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 Manolo Blahnik and how you're motivated to contribute to their success during your limited time with them!
How to prepare for a job interview at Manolo Blahnik
✨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 Legal Counsel (Mat Cover FTC) role at Manolo Blahnik. 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 Manolo Blahnik.
