Location: UK (hybrid; travel to AAB offices across the UK & Ireland as required)
Reports to: Chief Financial Officer
Contract: Permanent, full-time or part-time
About AAB
AAB is a fast-growing professional services group operating across the UK and Ireland. With a strong acquisitive strategy and ambitious growth plans, we are strengthening our internal capabilities to support scale, integration, and long-term value creation. As part of this evolution, we are creating AAB’s first inhouse legal function.
Purpose of the Role
The Head of Legal will establish and lead the Group’s inhouse legal function, acting as the primary point of contact for all legal matters across the business. The role may be structured on a full-time or part-time basis, depending on the successful candidate and organisational needs.
While legal work will continue to be delivered predominantly through external law firms, the Head of Legal will provide the oversight, coordination, and commercial judgement needed to ensure legal advice is consistent, proportionate, and aligned with the Group’s objectives. The role will own the Group’s target corporate structure, support M&A activity, advise on contracts and wider commercial matters, and work closely with the Risk & Compliance team to identify and manage legal risk.
Key Responsibilities
Establishing the In-House Legal Function
- Serve as AAB’s first inhouse legal lead and primary contact for all legal matters.
- Define how external legal advisers are engaged, including scope, quality, pace, and cost management.
- Develop proportionate legal processes, templates, and playbooks suited to a lean internal model.
Corporate Structure & Governance
- Own and maintain the Group’s target corporate and legal structure.
- Advise on corporate governance matters, supporting the CFO and senior leadership.
- Oversee company secretarial requirements through external advisers where appropriate.
Mergers & Acquisitions
- Provide legal leadership across all stages of the M&A lifecycle.
- Coordinate and manage external legal advisers throughout transactions.
- Support postacquisition integration from a legal and structural perspective.
Contracts & Commercial Support
- Advise on commercial and contractual matters, working closely with:
- Head of Procurement on supplier and thirdparty contracts
- Head of Real Estate & Facilities on property and lease agreements
- Business unit leaders on client, operational, and partnership contracts
- Review and oversee key contracts, escalating to external specialists where required.
- Maintain and develop standard contract templates and guidance.
Risk, Compliance & Legal Advisory
- Work with Risk & Compliance to identify and manage legal risks.
- Provide legal input into policies, frameworks, and control mechanisms.
- Manage disputes and contentious matters through external counsel.
Operational & Financial Management
- Oversee external legal spend and adviser relationships.
- Provide clear, pragmatic legal advice aligned with AAB’s commercial objectives and risk appetite.
- Support legal budgeting, forecasting, and reporting.
Person Specification
Skills & Experience
- Qualified solicitor with substantial post-qualification experience.
- Strong background in corporate law and M&A.
- Experience in a senior advisory capacity (inhouse or private practice).
- Proven ability to manage external law firms.
- Broad commercial legal experience, including drafting and negotiation.
Personal Attributes
- Commercial, pragmatic, and solutions focused.
- Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, acquisitive environment.
- Confident in engaging and influencing senior stakeholders.
- Strong prioritisation and multitasking skills.
Additional Information
This will remain a strategically focused and lean legal function, with delivery largely supported by external advisers. The remit of the role will evolve as AAB continues to grow and integrate newly acquired businesses. The position may be appointed on a full-time or part-time basis.
This search is being led by our in-house Executive Search team. We are not partnering with external agencies for this appointment and respectfully request that unsolicited CVs are not submitted.