General Counsel in City of London

We are seeking a General Counsel (People) with strong immigration experience and preferably employment experience, to join Transforming PLC on a fixed-term basis. You will be a trusted adviser to HR, Operations and senior stakeholders, ensuring robust sponsorship and right-to-work compliance across multiple Group licences and providing pragmatic employment law support in a multi-site, regulated environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead immigration compliance across multiple sponsorship licences, maintaining audit-ready systems, records and reporting.
• Advise on Skilled Worker and related routes, including eligibility, Certificates of Sponsorship, visa conditions and changes of circumstance.
• Oversee right-to-work processes, repeat checks and expiry monitoring across the employee lifecycle.
• Plan and deliver internal immigration audits; prepare for Home Office enquiries, renewals and compliance visits.
• Provide day-to-day UK employment law advice to HR and managers (disciplinary, grievance, capability, absence, performance, redundancy/restructures).
• Advise on discrimination, whistleblowing, family leave, flexible working, working time and holiday pay.
• Draft/review employment contracts, policies, procedures, templates and workforce documentation.
• Support high risk investigations, exits, protected conversations and settlement discussions with clear, defensible documentation.
• Manage ET pre-claim work, ACAS Early Conciliation and Tribunal claims (including instructing external counsel where appropriate).
• Monitor legal developments and translate them into practical guidance and training for HR and managers.

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor (England & Wales or another UK jurisdiction) or equivalent lawyer/counsel.
• Strong post-qualification experience in UK employment law and business immigration.
• Hands-on expertise in sponsor licence duties, Skilled Worker route and right-to-work compliance.
• Proven ability to provide clear, pragmatic advice to HR teams and operational managers.
• Excellent drafting skills across contracts, policies, guidance and template documentation.
• Strong stakeholder management and the judgement to handle confidential, high-risk matters.
• Organised, detail-focused and comfortable managing compliance trackers and competing priorities.
• Willingness to travel to Head Office and operational sites as required.

Desirable

• Commercial contract drafting; consultancy agreements; Employment Tribunal experience; Experience in social care/supported living/healthcare or another regulated, multi-site environment.

Role details

• Contract: Fixed-term
• Location: UK - Hybrid (Head Office and operational sites as required).
• Reporting to: Group Managing Director / Board.
• Salary: Competitive + benefits.
• Start date: ASAP / to be agreed.

What we offer

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Opportunities for professional development and specialist training.
• Supportive, inclusive working environment with senior stakeholder exposure.
• Varied work across immigration compliance, employment advice and workforce documentation, supporting delivery across the Group.

How to apply

Please click “apply” and submit your CV. You will then receive an email with a link to log in to our system and complete your application. As part of the process, please include a short covering note outlining your relevant experience in immigration sponsorship and employment law. Interviews will be held on a rolling basis, so early applications are encouraged.

This role may also be of interest to candidates searching for General Counsel (Employment & Immigration), Employment Law Solicitor, Immigration Lawyer (UK Sponsorship), HR Legal Counsel, Employment & Immigration Legal Advisor, In-House Employment Counsel, Senior Employment Solicitor, Business Immigration Specialist, Legal Counsel (HR & People), or Employment Law & Compliance Manager roles.

Transforming PLC is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants.