Legal Manager in Leeds

We’re looking for a Legal Manager, Commercial to join our Managed Legal Services (MLS) team at an exciting stage of growth. This is an opportunity to join a well‑established team with a strong growth trajectory and play a key role in shaping how commercial legal services are delivered to our clients.

Being a Legal Manager in MLS is about more than managing client engagements. You’ll work closely with clients to understand their business, risk appetite and operating environment, using your legal expertise, industry experience and delivery insight to provide practical, solution‑focused outcomes. Through our global network of legal experts, deep sector knowledge and access to legal technology and AI, we help clients drive efficiencies, improve matter and contract management, manage legal spend and strengthen their overall approach to risk.

What You’ll Do

• Lead and develop a team of lawyers delivering Commercial Managed Legal Services (MLS), fostering a flexible, adaptable and solution‑focused culture.
• Take end‑to‑end ownership of commercial MLS engagements, ensuring delivery is on time, within scope and budget, and meets agreed quality standards.
• Build a positive, inclusive and collaborative team environment through regular 1:1s, team meetings and open communication.
• Lead recruitment and onboarding activity, ensuring new joiners are effectively integrated and embedded into MLS ways of working.
• Contribute to the design and development of new MLS solutions, supporting scoping, pricing, resourcing strategies, proposals and pitch activity.
• Work closely with Vario business lines and sector teams to deliver integrated client solutions, including supporting contract optimisation workshops.
• Play an active role in strategic planning, including shaping global resourcing models, delivery frameworks and scaling team capability.
• Ensure financial sustainability through utilisation oversight, cost control and the development of commercially viable delivery models.
• Build and maintain strong, long‑term client relationships, acting as a trusted advisor who understands client operations, risks and strategic objectives.
• Champion process optimisation and continuous improvement, leveraging legal technology and AI‑enabled tools to improve efficiency and service delivery.
• Identify and implement innovative approaches to deliver bespoke and meaningful contract solutions for clients.
• Embed robust quality assurance processes aligned to client expectations and regulatory standards, ensuring consistency and continuous feedback.
• Manage or support key client accounts, overseeing matter triage, allocation and consistency of review approach.
• Build strong internal relationships to raise MLS visibility, encourage collaboration and generate work referrals.
• Represent MLS in internal initiatives including marketing activity, thought leadership, panel meetings and innovation forums.
• Partner with the Solutions team to develop accurate and compelling client‑facing materials on MLS services.
• Identify organic growth opportunities within existing client accounts by spotting unmet needs and service improvement opportunities.

About You

• England & Wales qualified senior Commercial Lawyer with a minimum of 8 years’ PQE, gained in a busy private practice or in‑house legal environment.
• A flexible, adaptable and proactive approach, with a strong solutions‑focused mindset.
• Proven technical expertise in drafting, reviewing, negotiating and advising on a broad range of commercial contracts.
• Experience supporting contract repapering or harmonisation projects (desirable).
• Highly responsive, with strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
• Confident using technology to support document drafting, review and matter management.
• Comfortable working within a regulated environment, with an understanding of firm processes and client requirements.
• Open‑minded and able to recognise and adapt to different approaches to delivering legal advice.

What We Offer

• Agile working options, including home working.
• Carers’ leave of up to five paid days.
• 25 days’ annual leave, with the option to buy or carry over up to five additional days.
• Contributory pension (up to 5%).
• Private healthcare and death‑in‑service cover (4x salary).
• Access to benefits including an electric car scheme, cycle‑to‑work scheme, and interest‑free loans for season tickets, gym membership, or rental deposits.

Next Steps

Once you apply, our Recruitment team will review your application and keep you updated by email. The interview process typically consists of two stages.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

We’re proud to be a Disability Confident employer, a top Stonewall employer, and a signatory to multiple inclusion charters. We value diverse perspectives and encourage everyone to bring their authentic selves to work.

If you’d like an informal conversation about the role, an alternative format of this advert, or to discuss reasonable adjustments, please contact Victoria.