Legal Counsel (Corporate & Commercial) - 10 month FTC

If you are a commercial/ corporate solicitor keen to develop your in-house legal experience further and work with an excellent legal team and business, then this role could be the perfect match for you!

The role:

We’re looking for a skilled and commercially minded legal professional to join our client as a Company Solicitor on a 9-10 month fixed-term contract. Operating at the heart of the Corporate Centre, this pivotal role provides expert corporate and commercial legal advice, alongside company secretarial support, to the Executive Committee, Group Boards, and Shareholder.

You’ll play a key role in managing legal and contractual risks across the business, ensuring governance is upheld and decisions are informed by sound legal and commercial guidance.

The Client:

Our client was founded in the Northeast of the UK in 1938 and have had an inspiring growth journey to where they are now, a leading global transport business. They are a leading provider of passenger transport across Europe, employing around 35,000 people and delivering approximately 1.6 billion passenger journeys. With buses, trains, coaches, trams, waterbuses, bike-sharing systems, on-demand transport solutions and a leasing company, our client proudly connects people and communities safely, reliably and sustainably across 11 countries, delivering these services in a better way, every day.

They have a small but well-established legal function in the North East of the UK in their Corporate HQ who support legal matters at group level. However, they also have a number of lawyers within service delivery centres in London.

Key responsibilities:

• Providing corporate and commercial legal advice to the Corporate Centre, Executive Committee, Boards, and UK specialist functions
• Supporting strategic legal projects, including entity reorganisations, group restructurings, and tax planning
• Delivering company secretarial and governance support to key legal entities, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory obligations
• Advising on shareholder matters, including delegation frameworks and internal governance requirements
• Supporting the implementation of legislative changes (e.g. Companies Act, ECCTA) and ensuring corporate documentation aligns with requirements
• Advising on treasury and tax matters, including facility agreements, intra-group funding, and related collateral arrangements
• Managing contractual risk, advising on commercial matters, and escalating issues appropriately
• Representing the Corporate Centre in senior legal discussions and supporting key stakeholder relationships
• Leading on the protection and strategy for the group's intellectual property assets
• Overseeing legal and governance policies owned by the General Counsel
• Supporting the Company Secretariat team with legal advice, constitutional documentation, and statutory filings

What we're looking for:

We’re looking for a qualified solicitor (in UK or other jurisdiction) with a strong grounding in corporate law and commercial contracts. You’ll bring sound judgement, a commercial mindset, and the confidence to advise senior stakeholders on complex legal matters.

You may already have extensive experience in company commercial and corporate matters, or you may be looking for a development opportunity. Our client is open to level of the hire and open to level of experience, however, corporate and/or commercial experience in either a private practice or in-house setting must be present in order to be successful.

Key skills and experience include:

• A track record of delivering practical, business-focused legal advice while balancing legal risk with commercial outcomes
• Working knowledge of key regulatory frameworks, including UK GDPR, Competition Law, and Anti-Bribery legislation
• An understanding of good corporate governance and its role in effective decision-making
• Ability to work cross-functionally and build strong relationships across jurisdictions and at senior levels
• Experience working within complex, matrixed environments and managing competing priorities
• Excellent communication, analytical, and influencing skills, with the ability to convey complex legal information clearly
• A collaborative and proactive approach, with a willingness to support wider team projects and develop a strong understanding of the business and public transport sector
• Confidence managing external legal advisers and acting as a key interface with internal commercial teams

Working arrangements: Hybrid – 3 days a week in the office ideal but client will be happy to consider other arrangements as long as some office presence is achievable on a weekly basis.

Location: The role can be based in the Sunderland office OR London, operating on a full-time basis Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week with one hour lunch per day. Sunderland office is where all key stakeholders will be based so that is the preferred location.

Salary: Highly dependent on PQE level and experience. We can give you a clear idea on salary banding for this role upon application, but the quoted salary banding is a guide.

Start date: ASAP. Please note, you must be available at short notice (maximum of 1 month notice period) in order to progress in your application.