Senior Legal Counsel

Description:

Simmons & Hanbury, a specialist executive search firm, is exclusively partnering with a prestigious global retailer and leisure business to recruit a highly skilled Senior Legal Counsel. This pivotal in-house position will directly support the Group General Counsel, offering a dynamic blend of business partnering and legal advisory work on high-value corporate and commercial matters.

The successful candidate will act as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders, providing expert counsel on a broad range of corporate transactions including share and asset acquisitions, joint ventures, and corporate restructurings. You will play an integral role in supporting capital structure strategies, corporate financing initiatives, and ensuring adherence to corporate governance, compliance, and company secretarial requirements. The position also offers opportunities to engage in diverse commercial contract negotiations, allowing the successful candidate to broaden their professional scope beyond core corporate matters.

In this highly visible role, you will collaborate with multiple business units, applying sound legal judgment to support strategic objectives while safeguarding the company’s legal and commercial interests. This position demands a proactive, business-minded lawyer with exceptional interpersonal skills, a strong academic record, and the ability to navigate complex corporate legal challenges in a fast-paced, multinational environment.

Core Responsibilities:

• Partner closely with the General Counsel and senior leadership to advise on corporate legal matters.

• Oversee and advise on share and asset acquisitions, joint ventures, and corporate restructurings.

• Provide guidance on corporate financing strategies and capital structuring.

• Ensure compliance with corporate governance, regulatory requirements, and company secretarial functions.

• Negotiate and review a range of commercial contracts, supporting broader business initiatives.

• Deliver business-oriented legal solutions while managing legal risk effectively.

Requirements:

• Law firm training with a strong track record in corporate law.

• Minimum 5 years PQE (guide only) with relevant in-house experience, preferably in the retail or leisure sector.

• Strong academic credentials and proven ability to work in a fast-moving commercial environment.

• Excellent interpersonal skills with a collaborative, solutions-driven approach.