European Legal Counsel in Dunfermline

As sole legal counsel to Baxters’ European business, the role holder is responsible for the management of legal risk and provision of pragmatic, commercially focused legal advice to the European Leadership Team and wider European business functions, including our Polish subsidiary. This position combines strategic oversight with hands-on legal delivery, leading on legal risk, corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and advising across a wide range of complex commercial matters. A key element of the role is the provision of operational legal support to review, draft and negotiate a broad range of contracts being entered into by the European Business Unit.

Role Profile:

• Legal Management and Advice: Provide pragmatic and commercially focused advice across a range of complex commercial matters; outsourcing to external legal advisers where appropriate, managing the relationship with the chosen service providers and their costs.
• Compliance and Risk Management: Provide legal support to enable effective compliance, corporate governance and risk management of the European Business Unit within Baxters Food Group’s overall legal and regulatory framework, ensuring alignment with Group policies, standards and risk appetite.
• Contracts: Ensure consistency and efficiency of contracting processes and standards across the European Business Unit. Assess and manage the legal risk in contractual arrangements both in new business and existing commercial relationships through the effective review and negotiation of a wide variety and high volume of commercial contracts being entered into by the European Business Unit.
• Projects/Transactions: Support transactional and special project work (including Banking transactions and Mergers and Acquisitions) relating to the European Business Unit; outsourcing to external legal advisers where appropriate, managing the relationship with the chosen service providers and their costs.
• Brand Protection & IP: Monitor, protect and manage Baxters Food Group’s intellectual property portfolio, including trade marks, designs and related rights, ensuring appropriate registration, renewal and enforcement strategies are in place across all relevant jurisdictions. Oversee the appointment and performance of external trade mark and design attorneys, ensuring high-quality advice and effective cost control, while proactively identifying and mitigating IP risks and supporting the business in the development and protection of new products and brands.
• Litigation/Disputes: Management of litigation and legal disputes relating to the European Business Unit of Baxters Food Group; outsourcing to external legal advisers where appropriate, managing the relationship with the chosen service providers and their costs.
• Insurance: Provide support to the administration and renewal of the Baxters Food Group’s insurance programme in conjunction with our Group Legal Director & Company Secretary and nominated insurance broker. Ensure the effective notification and management of any insurance claims made on the policies relating to the European Business Unit.
• Property: Provide administration and legal services to maintain the European property portfolio of the Baxters Food Group including the negotiation of leases/purchases, rating and rent reviews, dilapidation settlements; outsourcing to external legal advisers where appropriate, managing the relationship with the chosen service providers and their costs.
• Other Duties: Minute-taking at European Board Meetings. Develop and maintain relationships with our key external legal providers, ensuring they remain business-focused and value-driven. Collaborate with Legal colleagues across the Baxters Group to help to define the future strategy, shape and continuous improvement of the Legal function, including the adoption of AI and legal technology tools to improve efficiency, scalability, and business partnership.

Candidate Requirements:

• Scottish or English qualified lawyer with relevant commercial experience.
• Ideally you will have in-house experience (retail, FMCG would be ideal) however candidates with relevant experience in private practice are invited to apply.
• Experience of managing external advisers.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to solve complex business problems through effective cross-functional collaboration.
• Highly motivated and energetic self-starter; a 'hands-on' practical person who will work at every level to get the job done.
• Resilient and copes with conflicting priorities and can thrive in a fluid and changeable environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to present complex information clearly and succinctly and to provide advice at the most senior level in a way that is authoritative and inspires confidence and trust.
• Comfortable working at Board level when needed, including drafting reports in a style and format appropriate for presentation.
• An understanding of the food manufacturing or other directly relevant sector would be desirable but not essential.
• Experience advising/managing legal support to a multi-jurisdictional business.

On Offer: On offer is a highly competitive salary and benefits package.

To Apply: For a confidential discussion about this position, to request the full job description or to apply, please contact: David Thomson - Director.