Interim Chief Legal Counsel

Overview

Interim Legal Recruitment Expert – Fixed Term Contract (7-9 months) to support a UK&E Legal function within an outsourcing services provider. The role involves governance, compliance, corporate matters (JV, Divestment, M&A), and leading the legal strategy and operations for the UK&E Division. Hybrid working with offices in Hook, Hampshire or Victoria, London.

Responsibilities

• Take lead on complex commercial, corporate and governance matters and manage escalated legal issues across the contract lifecycle.
• Develop and enhance the UK&E Division’s ability to manage legal, ethics and governance risks through new processes, tools, systems and standards.
• Lead, develop and motivate a team of legal, ethics and governance professionals aligned with Divisional strategy.
• Implement talent management to optimise retention and provide learning and career progression opportunities.
• Ensure team objectives are achieved within budgets; lead by example to implement and maintain company processes.
• Identify emerging legal and regulatory risks and ensure ongoing compliance across the UK&E Division.
• Manage relationships with external legal service providers; source cost-effective, value-add services and monitor external legal costs.
• Generate quality management information and report material legal matters to the UK&E General Counsel, ELT and Group/PLC Board as appropriate.
• Foster collaboration with senior colleagues to enable an effective Legal function that protects and enables the business.
• Lead on legal aspects of acquisitions, divestments, JV setup and other special projects for the UK&E Division as directed.
• Remain aware of internal and external developments affecting the UK&E Division and their impact on the Legal team.
• Deputise for the UK&E General Counsel as required.

Experience required

• Minimum of 12/13 years PQE.
• Experience mentoring and line-managing teams.
• Experience at Head of Legal, General Counsel or CLO level is essential.
• Pragmatic, commercial and solutions-driven approach.
• Enthusiastic about developing team members and collaborating with ELT, GC and junior staff.
• Ability to build strong relationships and facilitate strategic goals.
• Approachable with gravitas to provide leadership.
• Experience with public procurement or local government matters is desirable but not essential.
• Proven ability to simplify complex challenges and provide concise advice to stakeholders.
• Experience in Corporate M&A/JV, governance, compliance, ethics, ESG and legal operations; broad commercial experience is required.

Additional details

• Reporting lines: Report to the UK&E General Counsel
• Team size: Line managing 7/8 legal professionals
• Working arrangements: Hybrid – Offices in Hook (Hampshire) or Victoria (London); travel to both offices as needed; hybrid week-by-week.
• Salary: Competitive and dependent on experience; banding is a guide.
• Start date: Mid to late September 2025; 3 months notice not workable; maximum 1 month notice preferred.

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