Legal Counsel

Job Introduction

A fantastic opportunity has arisen within our legal team for a talented Legal Counsel with experience in advising on a wide range of commercial agreements and supply chain contracts.

In this role, you will be responsible for reviewing, negotiating and drafting a diverse range of supplier contracts and will be confident in advising on complex legal issues and regulatory requirements as they arise.  The ability to build strong relationships across different business segments engage and work closely and confidently with stakeholders at all levels throughout the organisation will be pivotal to your success.

You will be a highly credible, capable and solutions-oriented lawyer with strong commercial acumen, comfortable working within an entrepreneurial and driven environment and enjoy the diversity and breadth of challenge this role will bring.

You will also have strong communication skills, be proactive, enthusiastic, enjoy working autonomously and being challenged.

 This is an exciting opportunity for a commercial lawyer to challenge themselves professionally within an organisation that values its employees and offers a collegiate and friendly working environment.

Role Responsibility

• Providing effective legal and commercial advice and assistance
• Reviewing, drafting, negotiating and responding to queries on a range of commercial contracts, including procurement, distribution, franchise, IT (SaaS, licence, services) contracts, as well as confidentiality agreements
• Assisting Sodexo UK & Ireland and its Group Companies with the assessment and management of legal and commercial risk
• Training the business on legal, commercial and regulatory issues
• Helping to ensure that business is conducted in compliance with relevant legislation and Sodexo’s internal governance processes
• Instructing and managing external lawyers
• Supporting the business with commercial, corporate, compliance and process improvement projects
• Providing preliminary advice on disputes and litigation
• Advising on regulatory compliance
• Attending and presenting at senior leadership meetings

The Ideal Candidate

• Educated to degree level or equivalent with strong academics
• Qualified solicitor or barrister in the UK or equivalent jurisdiction
• Qualification gained in top tier law firm and in-house legal experience in relevant industry desirable
• Demonstrated experience in reviewing, drafting and negotiating contracts for goods, services and technology/IST, practice of commercial law
• Experienced in advising on legal and commercial options
• Good knowledge of commercial law, data protection law, competition law, civil litigation and TUPE
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Excellent technical contract drafting and negotiation skills
• Problem solving – experienced in identifying and analysing key information to make balanced and appropriate decisions
• Ability to manage relationships successfully with Sodexo representatives
• Proven ability to balance and prioritise a large workload in a fast-pace environment
• Effective and trusted business partner to the business

About the Company

About Sodexo

In the UK and Ireland, Sodexo employs some 36,000 employees to deliver integrated facilities management services to clients at over 2,000 locations in the energy, corporate, healthcare, education, leisure, defence and justice sectors. With an annual turnover of over £1bn, we provide everything from catering, cleaning and reception to security, laboratory and grounds maintenance services, enabling our clients to focus on their core business.

At Sodexo we are committed to a leading role in promoting equality opportunities and valuing diversity and inclusion. We seek to create a work environment based on mutual respect for all individuals, building a culture that appreciates and values the experiences and skills brought by each person to benefit our organisation and work hard to ensure that all people, whatever their race, colour, sex, gender identity  disability, nationality, national or ethnic origin, religion or belief, marital/partnership or family status, sexual orientation, age, social class, educational background, employment status, working pattern, are welcome to and included within our organisation.

We’re a Disability Confident Leader employer. We’re committed to changing attitudes towards disability, and making sure disabled people have the chance to fulfil their aspirations.

We are building on our support to the Armed Forces community through the development of specific pathways within our recruitment process to  support ex-forces personnel and reservists, those applying for jobs with us who meet the ideal candidate criteria for the role advertised are guaranteed to progress to the selection process.