General Counsel - London, United Kingdom (London)

Location: London, United Kingdom

Department: Side Corporate

Reports to: Chief Corporate Development Officer

Job Type: Full-Time

Side is incredibly excited to create a new senior-level role based in London at our global headquarters – General Counsel. Historically speaking, Side’s legal team has been predominantly US-based, so this new hire marks a significant change for the company in both structure and strategy.

The General Counsel will be a key member of the Global Leadership Team, responsible for overseeing all legal and most compliance matters across the business. The right candidate will initially act as a senior independent contributor, providing strategic input and guidance on contracts, IP issues, data protection, employment, risk management, and corporate governance. Side expects the role holder to be comfortable taking a hands-on approach, not simply outsourcing issues to our country-specific external counsels. The business needs someone with a proactive attitude, who is willing to roll up their sleeves and get the job done. This is a highly visible and impactful role at a pivotal stage of the company’s growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the principal legal advisor to the CEO, C-Suite, and senior operational leaders across the business.
• Draft, negotiate, and review complex client, vendor, and licensing agreements.
• Ensure risk-balanced contracting across all business units and territories.
• Oversee intellectual property strategy, protection, and licensing.
• Manage legal risk related to content ownership, co-development, and client IP.
• Ensure global compliance with data privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA).
• Oversee ethics, whistleblowing, anti-bribery, and, with the CFO, corporate governance policies.
• With the CFO consider appropriate developments in the group corporate structure and legal compliance.
• Support Regional Vice Presidents and Regional HR Directors on global employment issues, contractor frameworks, and policy implementation.
• Navigate complex employment environments across multiple jurisdictions.
• Work with the Chief Corporate Development Officer advising on international expansion, entity structuring, and cross-border transactions.
• Support the Chief Corporate Development Officer with M&A activity, joint ventures, and strategic partnerships.
• Support the Chief Communications Officer with legal guidance on external-facing messaging, such as press releases and investor relations materials.
• In time, the expectation is that this position will build and manage a lean, scalable legal function, taking advantage of external counsel relationships where needed or required.
• Work as part of the core team managing the proposed IPO.

Who You Are

• Strategic thinker with the ability to operate at both high-level and detailed execution.
• Excellent communicator, comfortable influencing senior stakeholders.
• Flexible working hours required. As a global company, occasional early morning or late evening meetings may be necessary to collaborate with international teams and clients across time zones.
• Proactive and pragmatic, with strong problem-solving skills.
• Comfortable in a dynamic, international, and entrepreneurial environment.
• A sharp intellect with a curiosity to understand the business and its commercial drivers.
• Strong management and leadership skills, willing to both roll up your sleeves and be a thoughtful, company-wide partner.
• Desire to be an integral part of building something world-class.

Requirements

• UK-qualified solicitor with 10+ years PQE; in-house experience essential (preferably in media, tech, or gaming).
• Strong experience in commercial contracts, IP, data protection, and corporate law.
• Confident working with leadership teams and external stakeholders.
• A pragmatic, business-enabling lawyer who balances legal risk with commercial reality.
• Experience with high-growth and public companies is a plus.
• Experience with a UK IPO process on AIM is a plus.

Benefits

• This role offers a competitive package commensurate with experience.
• The right candidate will be in an excellent position for professional development and growth within the organisation, with clear pathways toward increased responsibilities and leadership roles over time.
• The opportunity to shape the legal function of a multi-national gaming company from the ground up.
• Be part of a fast-growing, innovative company with a strong mission and clear direction.
• Collaborative and flexible work culture. The postholder is expected to work onsite at the London studio for a minimum of 3 days per week.

About Side: Side is a global video game development and services provider, offering technical and creative solutions to many of the largest developers and studios around the world. Founded in 2009, Side has grown from their Japanese roots to become a global force in the video games industry, with 20 studios in 14 countries across North America, Europe, South America, and Asia. Their industry-leading services include art production, game development, audio production, quality assurance, localisation, localisation QA, player support, community management, and datasets.