Head of Legal

Head of Legal

Full-Time 80000 - 100000 € / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Motus Recruitment

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the legal function and support business growth through acquisitions and compliance.
  • Company: Dynamic private equity-backed firm in the professional services sector.
  • Benefits: Flexible hybrid working, competitive salary, and opportunity to shape legal processes.
  • Other info: Join a fast-paced environment with opportunities for professional development.
  • Why this job: Be the first lawyer in a growing company and make a real impact.
  • Qualifications: Qualified solicitor with experience in commercial contracts and stakeholder management.

The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 € per year.

Outstanding opportunity to be the first lawyer at a private equity backed business that focuses on the professional services space. This is a hands-on role for a lawyer who wants to make his/her mark at an expanding company and establish the legal function.

The role will act as the key internal legal lead, partnering closely with the executive team and operational leaders, whilst managing relationships with outsourced legal advisers who will continue to support on larger, more complex or specialist matters. This is an opportunity for someone who enjoys being close to the business, solving problems quickly, creating practical solutions and helping build scalable legal processes as the group continues to grow through acquisition and transformation.

Key Responsibilities
  • Corporate & Growth Activity
    • Support business acquisitions and integration activity, including legal due diligence coordination.
    • Assist with corporate governance and company secretarial matters where required.
    • Work closely with senior stakeholders during periods of business change and transformation.
  • Managing External Counsel
    • Act as the primary internal contact for outsourced legal partners.
    • Coordinate and manage external legal advisers on more complex or high-value matters.
    • Ensure external legal spend is effectively managed and commercially appropriate.
  • Commercial Contracts & Legal Support
    • Draft, review and negotiate a broad range of commercial agreements, including:
    • Client contracts
    • Supplier agreements
    • SaaS and technology agreements
    • Partnership and service agreements
    • Provide practical legal advice to business stakeholders on day-to-day operational matters.
    • Support the business with contract management and legal administration processes.
  • Employment & Operational Legal Matters
    • Provide legal guidance on employment-related matters alongside the People team, including:
    • Employment contracts
    • Policy reviews
    • Employee relations matters
    • Settlement agreements
    • TUPE considerations
    • Organisational change projects
    • Support on compliance and governance matters across the group.
  • Risk & Compliance
    • Identify legal and commercial risks across the business and work with stakeholders to implement practical mitigation plans.
    • Help ensure compliance with relevant laws, regulations and internal governance frameworks.
    • Support the maintenance and development of legal templates, processes and playbooks.
  • Process Improvement
    • Build scalable and efficient legal processes suitable for a growing group structure.
    • Create practical guidance and training for operational teams to improve legal awareness and reduce risk.
    • Help establish a commercially pragmatic legal function that enables the business rather than slows it down.
About You
  • Qualified solicitor in England & Wales (or equivalent jurisdiction).
  • Strong experience in commercial contracts and day-to-day business legal support.
  • Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial and evolving environment.
  • Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
  • Experience working with outsourced legal providers or external counsel desirable.
  • Exposure to employment law and M&A activity would be advantageous.
What Success Looks Like
  • Legal processes become more streamlined and scalable.
  • External counsel is used effectively and efficiently.
  • Stakeholders receive clear, pragmatic advice at pace.
  • Legal risk is managed appropriately without creating unnecessary bureaucracy.
Why Join Us

This is a rare opportunity to help shape and build an in-house legal function within a growing and ambitious group business. The role offers broad exposure across commercial, operational and strategic matters, whilst remaining highly hands-on and embedded within the day-to-day business.

Head of Legal employer: Motus Recruitment

Join a dynamic and ambitious private equity-backed business as the Head of Legal, where you will have the unique opportunity to shape the legal function from the ground up. Our flexible hybrid work culture promotes a healthy work-life balance while fostering collaboration with senior stakeholders, ensuring that your contributions are valued and impactful. With a focus on employee growth and development, we provide a platform for you to thrive in a fast-paced environment, making this an excellent place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment.

Motus Recruitment

Contact Detail:

Motus Recruitment Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Head of Legal

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to connections in the legal field, especially those who have experience in private equity or professional services. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings that aren't even advertised yet.

Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their recent acquisitions and how you can contribute to their growth. Tailor your answers to show how your skills align with their needs—this will make you stand out!

Tip Number 3

Don’t underestimate the power of follow-ups! After an interview, send a quick thank-you email to express your appreciation and reiterate your interest in the role. It keeps you fresh in their minds and shows your enthusiasm.

Tip Number 4

Apply through our website! We’ve got a streamlined process that makes it easy for you to showcase your skills. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team. Let’s get you on board!

We think you need these skills to ace Head of Legal

Legal Due Diligence Coordination
Corporate Governance
Stakeholder Management
Commercial Contracts Drafting and Negotiation
Legal Advice on Operational Matters
Employment Law Guidance
Risk Identification and Mitigation

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in commercial contracts and legal support. We want to see how your skills align with the key responsibilities outlined in the job description.

Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills:In your application, give examples of how you've tackled legal challenges in a fast-paced environment. We love candidates who can demonstrate their ability to create practical solutions and streamline processes.

Highlight Stakeholder Management Experience:Since this role involves working closely with senior stakeholders, be sure to mention any relevant experience you have in managing relationships and providing clear, pragmatic advice. We value strong communication skills!

Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website for the best chance of being noticed. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets to the right people!

How to prepare for a job interview at Motus Recruitment

Know Your Legal Stuff

Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of commercial contracts, employment law, and M&A activity. Be ready to discuss how you've handled similar situations in the past and how you can apply that experience to this role.

Understand the Business

Get familiar with the company’s operations and its position in the professional services space. This will help you demonstrate how you can provide practical legal solutions that align with their business goals during the interview.

Showcase Stakeholder Management Skills

Prepare examples of how you've effectively communicated and collaborated with senior stakeholders. Highlight your ability to provide clear, pragmatic advice quickly, as this is crucial for the role.

Be Ready for Process Improvement Discussions

Think about ways you can help streamline legal processes within the company. Be prepared to share ideas on how to build scalable legal functions and improve legal awareness among operational teams.