Commercial Legal Counsel in London

Contract: Full Time, Permanent

Salary: £70,000 per annum

Hours: 40 per week

Our head offices are based in the beautiful village of Hook Norton near Banbury. Here you will find our teams of finance, HR, purchasing, marketing & creative that support all of our locations across the Thomas Franks family. There is ample parking space available when visiting.

We are seeking an experienced Commercial Legal Counsel to join our growing business. As a newly created position, this is an excellent opportunity to work alongside the Company’s sole in-house lawyer and help develop a high-performing legal function that supports the continued growth and success of an ambitious business.

You will provide commercially focused legal advice across a broad range of matters, with particular emphasis on agreements with clients and suppliers. You will also help establish legal frameworks, strengthen processes and enable colleagues to manage risk effectively.

Working closely with sales, operations and procurement, you will deliver pragmatic, risk-based legal solutions that support business objectives while protecting the Company’s interests.

Key responsibilities:

• Draft, review, negotiate and advise on a broad range of commercial agreements, with a focus on catering and facilities management services, including outsourcing, service and supplier arrangements.
• Advise on contractual risk allocation, liability and indemnity provisions, service levels, dispute resolution and governance arrangements.
• Support the renewal, variation, exit and termination of commercial agreements.
• Provide practical and proportionate legal support in relation to commercial disputes and pre-litigation matters.
• Coordinate with overseas legal counsel to support compliance with relevant local legal and regulatory requirements.
• Provide legal advice on privacy and data protection matters.
• Manage and support the Company’s trade mark portfolio across UK and international business initiatives.
• Develop and maintain contract templates, negotiation playbooks, approval processes and standard terms to improve efficiency, consistency and legal risk management.
• Build effective relationships with stakeholders across the business and provide clear, accessible guidance and training where appropriate.
• Lead the development of a proactive contract management framework across the Group, ensuring that customer, supplier and strategic contracts are systematically monitored for renewals, notice periods, price review opportunities, contractual obligations, extensions, change control opportunities and key business risks.

What we are looking for:

• Qualified solicitor in England and Wales, with substantial post-qualification experience in commercial law. As a guide, the level of the role is likely to suit someone with approximately 7 to 10 years’ PQE, although applications will be considered from candidates who can demonstrate the required capability.
• Strong training and commercial contracts experience gained in a well-regarded legal practice or equivalent environment.
• In-house experience is desirable; experience in catering, hospitality, facilities management, outsourcing or a related sector would be helpful but is not essential.
• Significant experience of negotiating and advising on a broad range of commercial agreements.
• Strong knowledge of commercial law, with the ability to advise on data protection and intellectual property matters.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, drafting and negotiation skills.
• Commercially astute, pragmatic and solutions-focused, with sound judgement and the confidence to explain risk clearly.
• Ability to operate independently in a fast-paced environment while collaborating effectively with colleagues and external advisers.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deliver consistently high-quality outcomes.

Working arrangements:

The role is home-based, with occasional travel to the office and other business locations as required. We anticipate that the position will be full-time, but we are open to discussing flexible working arrangements, including a four-day week.

Our approach:

We welcome applications from candidates with different backgrounds and career paths. Appointment decisions will be based on the skills, experience and capability required for the role.

Wider wallet scheme: discounts at major retailers, restaurants, gyms etc.

Free meals on duty

Volunteers leave - up to one day per year.

Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoptive leave.

Cycle to work scheme.

Recommend a friend bonus.

Unrivalled individual training and development.

Well established apprenticeship programme.

Team & company social events.

Employee assistance programme.

Excellent career progression within a leading independent contract caterer.

About us:

Thomas Franks is a founder led, fresh food catering business with a focus on excellence and service delivered with individuality, passion and style. We are unique in every approach and our clients, and our people are paramount to our daily success.

Disclaimer:

All applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have the Right to Work in the UK to be considered for this role. An enhanced DBS, Identity & reference checks (covering the last five years) will form part of the selection process. As an organisation using the Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) Disclosure service to assess applicants' suitability for positions of trust, Thomas Franks Ltd complies fully with the DBS Code of Practice and undertakes to treat all applicants for positions fairly. We are committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and undertake not to discriminate unfairly against any subject of a Disclosure based on conviction or other information revealed. However, for any post in a school please be aware that any application is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such any criminal conviction, caution or bind-over must be declared.

Diversity and Inclusion at Thomas Franks: We actively encourage applications from candidates from diverse backgrounds and continue to develop a culture of growth and inclusion and would like to invite applications from groups who are currently under-represented, because we believe greater diversity leads to exceptional results and provides a better working life.