Legal Counsel

At Valeo Foods UK we bring together a family of much-loved UK food brands supported by the scale and ambition of a global investment partner. From Kettle’s bold crunch to Rowse’s natural sweetness, through to Matthew Walker and Barratt Sweets, our portfolio blends heritage, craft and category-leading innovation. Alongside our branded portfolio, we are also one of the UK’s largest suppliers of private label products, partnering with major retailers to deliver quality and category expertise that meets the needs of millions of households every week. As a business, we’re on a journey of transformation. We’re strengthening our operations, driving quality and investing in our people. It’s an exciting, fast-moving environment where heritage meets new thinking, and where every colleague contributes to shaping the future of food across the UK.

Valeo Foods is seeking a proactive and commercially minded Legal Counsel to join our Legal Team. This is a hybrid role. We’re looking for candidates who are based in or near Leeds, Norwich or Wallingford. There’ll be occasional travel to our other UK sites.

You’ll play a key role in supporting the business by delivering clear, practical legal and compliance advice, helping teams navigate risk, and enabling the organisation to achieve its strategic objectives.

• Draft, review and negotiate a wide range of commercial, procurement, technology and licensing agreements.
• Provide clear, pragmatic advice on legal and commercial risks.
• Support the Marketing Team with advertising compliance, NPD and brand protection.
• Work with external trade mark agents to manage and maintain the company’s trade mark portfolio.
• Advise on IP issues and assist with the resolution of commercial disputes.
• Manage employer’s liability claims, liaising with H&S, HR, insurers and external solicitors.
• Support the Consumer Services Team in responding to consumer communications.
• Contribute to the development and improvement of legal templates, guidance notes and self‑serve tools.
• Monitor and interpret changes in relevant legislation, regulations and industry codes, ensuring the business remains compliant.
• Engage with external counsel where required and manage associated costs effectively.

We’re seeking a confident and commercially minded legal professional who can operate with autonomy, clarity and impact across a fast‑moving organisation. The ideal candidate will bring strong technical expertise alongside the mindset and behaviours needed to thrive in a dynamic, collaborative environment.

• Qualified Solicitor in England & Wales.
• 5–10 years’ PQE, ideally gained in a commercial in‑house or private practice environment.

• Strong analytical thinking and the ability to translate complexity into clear, practical advice.
• Exceptional attention to detail with a commitment to high‑quality output.
• Excellent organisation skills, able to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• A proactive, forward‑looking approach with the capacity to create and embrace change.
• Strong collaboration skills, building effective relationships across all levels of the organisation.
• A “Personal Best” mindset, consistently seeking continuous improvement.
• High adaptability, comfortable operating with senior stakeholders as well as hands‑on teams.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication, including confident presentation skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment while maintaining sound judgement.

What we offer you in return: Working Monday to Friday, matched pension scheme up to 10%, death in service, cycle to work scheme and plenty more!