Senior Legal Counsel

Job Title: Senior Legal Counsel
Location: Luton
Salary: up to £100,000, plus car allowance and bonus
Role: Permanent – Full time
 
An established international business is seeking an experienced Senior Legal Counsel to take ownership of legal matters across the UK and Ireland region.
 
This is a highly visible and influential role where you will serve as the lead legal advisor to the business, providing pragmatic commercial guidance while helping to shape business strategy and manage risk. Working closely with senior leadership, you will play a key role in supporting commercial growth, ensuring compliance, and protecting the organisation's interests across a diverse range of legal and regulatory matters.
 
This opportunity is ideally suited to a commercially minded legal professional who enjoys operating autonomously, influencing stakeholders at all levels, and working within a fast-paced international environment.
 
Key Responsibilities:

Acting as the primary legal advisor for UK and Ireland operations, providing commercially focused legal guidance across multiple business functions
Advising on a broad range of commercial agreements including distribution, supply, procurement, logistics, customer service, dealership and marketing contracts
Supporting business leaders with legal risk assessment and the development of practical risk mitigation strategies
Leading compliance initiatives across areas such as anti-bribery, anti-corruption and competition law
Delivering legal and compliance training to managers and stakeholders across the business
Managing litigation and disputes, working closely with external legal partners where required
Building strong relationships with senior stakeholders and acting as a trusted business partner
Collaborating with international legal teams and supporting cross-border legal matters
Contributing to strategic decision-making as part of the wider commercial leadership team
Ensuring the business remains compliant with relevant legal and regulatory requirements 
What We're Looking For:

Qualified legal professional with an English law degree and significant post-qualification experience
Strong background gained within a reputable law firm, multinational organisation, or a combination of both
Proven experience advising on commercial, legal, governance and compliance matters
Excellent knowledge of contract law and commercial legal frameworks
Strong commercial awareness with the ability to balance legal risk against business objectives
Experience managing disputes, litigation and external legal counsel
Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills
Ability to translate complex legal concepts into clear, practical business advice
Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making capabilities
Comfortable operating independently while collaborating effectively across international teams 
The Ideal Candidate Will Be:

Commercially minded and solutions focused
Confident influencing senior stakeholders and business leaders
Pragmatic, adaptable and comfortable working within a changing environment
Capable of balancing multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail
A credible and trusted adviser with strong professional integrity
Collaborative in approach while remaining confident making autonomous decisions
Proactive in identifying risks and opportunities for the wider business
Passionate about driving best practice and continuous improvement 
Commutable Locations: Luton, St Albans, Milton Keynes, Hemel Hempstead, Stevenage, Bedford, Watford, Hitchin
 
If you're an experienced Legal Counsel, Commercial Solicitor, Corporate Counsel or Senior In-House Lawyer seeking an opportunity to take on a broad and commercially influential position within an international organisation, this could be the ideal next step in your career.
 
This role is handled by McCarthy Recruitment, an award‑winning multi‑sector recruiter. We believe that you matter and care about unlocking your full potential.
Work with us to find your perfect role and start your journey today.
 
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The Legal Bit:
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age. By applying for this role, you are explicitly consenting for McCarthy Recruitment to hold and process your data in compliance with GDPR