General Counsel in London

Work where work matters. We are a global technology group built for what's next, offering high calibre professionals the platform for high stakes work, the kind of work that defines an entire career. When you join us, you're not just taking on projects, you're solving problems that don't even have answers yet.

You will join an exclusive roster of talent that global leaders, including Google, Snap, Diageo, PayPal, and Jaguar Land Rover call when deadlines seem impossible, when others have already tried and failed, and when the solution absolutely has to work. Forget routine consultancy. You will operate where technology, design, and human behaviour meet to deliver tangible outcomes, fast. This is work that leaves a mark, work you'll be proud to tell your friends about.

We are looking for a strategic and commercially-minded General Counsel to lead our legal function during a pivotal period of growth and organisational refinement. You will serve as a key member of the leadership team, providing expert legal counsel on everything from international employment law to complex M&A transactions. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced environment and possesses the unique ability to balance rigorous legal compliance with the pragmatic needs of a scaling business. You will be responsible for ensuring our corporate house is in order, protecting our intellectual property, and navigating the legal complexities of international operations.

We look for people who embody:

• Innovation to solve the hardest problems.
• Accountability for every result.
• Integrity always.

Requirements

• Corporate Transactions & M&A Strategy
  • Lead post-completion due diligence for M&A transactions across all Group entities.
  • Establish and maintain a Virtual Data Room (VDR) to ensure Qodea is permanently "exit-ready" for legal and regulatory audits.
  • Ensure all corporate records and public disclosures are accurate, consistent, and complete.
  • Lead the legal entity rationalisation program.
• Financing, Reorganisation & Exits
  • Partner with external solicitors to negotiate and execute refinancing agreements.
  • Provide end-to-end legal support for Group reorganisations, coordinating closely with tax advisors and external counsel to ensure seamless execution.
  • Prepare the business for potential exits or structural refining through meticulous legal hygiene.
• International Governance & Compliance
  • Oversee global corporate compliance, coordinating with overseas legal counsel to ensure adherence to local laws in all operating jurisdictions.
  • Manage share transfers and the associated corporate governance documentation.
  • Act as the primary liaison for outsourced company secretarial providers, overseeing statutory registers, cap tables, and minute books.
• Risk, Compliance & Governance
  • Own enterprise-wide risk and compliance oversight, ensuring alignment with Qodea's strategy and Board expectations.
  • Establish and maintain a pragmatic ERM framework, including risk appetite, tolerance, and executive-level reporting.
  • Provide clear, actionable risk and compliance insights to the Executive Committee and Board.
  • Sponsor and govern ISO and assurance programmes (including ISO 27001 and ISO 9001), ensuring continuous audit readiness.
  • Act as senior interface for audits, regulators, and certification bodies, overseeing remediation of findings.
  • Partner with business leaders to ensure compliance with applicable domestic and international regulations.
  • Monitor emerging regulatory and operational risks and advise leadership on mitigation and exposure.
• Commercial Contracts & Employment Law
  • Standardise and refine key operational contracts across the Group to ensure consistency and risk mitigation. This includes: License, distribution, program agreements as appropriate, International Employment contracts and labor law compliance, Loan agreements, NDAs, and Letters of Engagement (LOE).
  • Provide high-level support for complex commercial negotiations.
• Stakeholder Management & Reporting
  • Act as a trusted advisor to Finance, Operations, and Senior Management.
  • Manage relationships with external law firms, ensuring high-quality output and cost-effective legal spend.
  • Deliver regular updates to the Group on legal risks, legislative changes, and transaction progress.
  • Risk Escalation: Proactively identify and flag significant legal, compliance, or transactional risks to the Board immediately.

As a Qodea leader, you are expected to embody our leadership ethos. This involves supportive people management, shaping team direction, driving strategic team decisions, and actively championing our culture of innovation, accountability, and integrity to enhance the employee experience and ensure team success.

Essential Experience:

• Qualified Solicitor: Legally qualified to practice in the UK, with significant post-qualification experience (PQE) within corporate law and UK regulatory compliance.
• International Expertise: Proven experience navigating international employment legislation and cross-border corporate structures.
• M&A Veteran: Extensive experience in corporate transactions, due diligence, and managing VDRs.
• Commercial Acumen: Ability to provide "legal-plus" advice—understanding that legal solutions must support business objectives.
• Communication: Exceptional ability to translate complex legal jargon into actionable advice for non-legal stakeholders.

Built for what's next: This role is aligned with Qodea's career framework at the Level 6: Director Legal level. Review the official Legal career framework for performance expectations. It details essential skills and behaviours for this level. Exceptional performance can lead to advancement opportunities within our career framework or internal opportunities with other departments, aligned with your career aspirations and business needs.

Benefits

We believe in supporting our team members both professionally and personally. Here's how we invest in you:

• Compensation and Financial Wellbeing: Competitive base salary, Matching pension scheme (up to 5%) from day one, Discretionary company bonus scheme, 4 x annual salary Death in Service coverage from day one, Employee referral scheme, Tech Scheme.
• Health and Wellness: Private medical insurance from day one, Optical and dental cash back scheme, access to remote GPs, second opinions, mental health support, and physiotherapy, EAP service, Cycle to Work scheme.
• Work-Life Balance and Growth: 36 days annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays), An extra paid day off for your birthday, Ten paid learning days per year, Flexible working hours, Market-leading parental leave, Sabbatical leave (after five years), Work from anywhere (up to 3 weeks per year), Industry-recognised training and certifications, Bonusly employee recognition and rewards platform, Clear opportunities for career development, Length of Service Awards, Regular company events.