Legal Counsel, Simon & Schuster UK

Simon & Schuster, a global leader in general interest publishing, is dedicated to providing the best in fiction and non-fiction for readers of all ages, and in all printed, digital and audio formats. Its distinguished roster of authors includes many of the world’s most popular and widely recognized writers, and winners of the most prestigious literary honors and awards.

The Job Profile

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer or Chief Executive Officer, Simon & Schuster UK and International, with a dotted line to EVP & General Counsel in New York, this role will support our international publishing businesses across the UK, Australia, India, and other global markets. This role will partner closely with commercial, operations, technology, HR and creative teams to provide practical, business‑focused legal advice across transactional, IP, compliance, and operational matters.

The Job Role

The role encompasses drafting, negotiating, and advising on a broad range of commercial agreements, including distribution, licensing, e‑commerce, production, logistics, and real‑estate arrangements. The successful candidate will ensure the effective localisation and application of global contract templates, advise on non‑standard publishing and product terms, and support international marketing initiatives in compliance with local advertising and data privacy laws. The Legal Counsel will support warehouse, logistics, and operational transitions across key territories, advising on vendor performance, service levels, insurance provisions, and dispute resolution. They will also negotiate and manage leases and facilities agreements across multiple jurisdictions.

In the intellectual property space, the role will provide guidance on copyright and related rights across print, digital, and audio formats; manage infringement and enforcement matters; advise on music, font, and brand protection issues; and contribute to anti‑piracy and AI‑related risk mitigation efforts, including author‑facing guidance. The position includes responsibility for advising on regulatory compliance matters such as GDPR, accessibility, product safety, export controls, and emerging regulations, while working closely with IT and information security teams on data protection, technology, and AI initiatives. The Legal Counsel will review and negotiate data security and audit provisions in technology and AI‑related agreements and assess legal risk in innovation pilots and digital projects.

Additionally, the role will manage relationships with external counsel, oversee legal spend, support legal operations and contract management processes, and act as a trusted adviser to business stakeholders, balancing legal risk with commercial objectives in a fast‑paced, global publishing environment.

The Candidate Profile

We are seeking a qualified lawyer with strong commercial instincts and significant experience in commercial transactions and international contract negotiation. They will bring excellent drafting and negotiation skills across complex, multi‑year agreements, with the confidence to navigate cross‑border arrangements and balance legal risk with business priorities. The post holder will have a solid understanding of copyright and intellectual property issues within publishing, media, or other content‑driven industries, alongside practical knowledge of data privacy and regulatory compliance. They will be comfortable working cross‑functionally, collaborating effectively with business, operations, technology, and creative teams, taking a pragmatic approach to emerging issues such as AI and digital rights.

Please apply by attaching your CV and cover letter with details of your current salary and expectations. Simon & Schuster UK is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, colour, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, creed, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship status, marital status, disability, gender identity and gender expression. At Simon & Schuster UK, the spirit of inclusion feeds into everything that we do, we believe that opportunity, access, resources and rewards should be available to and for the benefit of all.