Legal Counsel

Overview

Hours per week: 22.5 (this could be worked over 3, 4 or 5 days to suit your circumstances). Location: Manchester city centre - hybrid working available. Check out our Manchester office - Fourways Manchester (fourwaysmcr.co.uk).

We're a growing, forward thinking organisation operating in a fast moving retail environment. Our teams work collaboratively, make decisions quickly, and value clear, practical advice. As we continue to expand, we're looking for an experienced Commercial Lawyer to join us as our in house Legal Counsel and play a key role in shaping how we operate. Reporting directly to our CEO, you'll be a trusted advisor to the business, responsible for providing strategic and commercially focused legal support with a focus on commercial contracts, advising on risks and ensuring compliance. Your work will be varied, hands on, and influential.

What you'll do:

• Draft, review and negotiate a broad range of commercial contracts and agreements
• Proactively engage and negotiate with our partners and prospective partners
• Provide timely, practical, and commercially focussed legal advice and solutions to internal stakeholders across our Buying, Supply Chain, Partnerships, E commerce, Retail Operations and Marketing teams
• Help internal stakeholders navigate risk without being a roadblock
• Support the business to navigate new products, partnerships, and commercial opportunities
• Manage legal queries from the business relating to consumer rights, trading regulations, promotions, pricing and advertising standards
• Advise on legal risks and ensure appropriate legal safeguards are in place across business operations
• Manage external counsel where specialist advice is required
• Contribute to the development of internal policies and legal templates
• Monitor changes in legislation and retail regulations and help ensure internal policies are kept up to date
• Provide guidance and training to non legal colleagues
• Provide clear, sensible advice on intellectual property, licensing and data privacy

Who you are:

• Qualified solicitor in England & Wales with 3+ years' PQE in commercial law
• Previous in house experience in the retail sector is desirable but not essential
• Demonstrated expertise in drafting and negotiating a diverse range of commercial contracts
• Good commercial awareness and a pragmatic, business friendly approach to legal advice
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships at all levels
• The ability to manage competing priorities in a fast paced environment
• Ambitious self starter with a proactive mindset and the confidence to engage with diverse legal challenges in a dynamic business setting
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Exceptional organisational skills and attention to detail
• A team player, supporting and collaborating with other team members

Why Levy Merchandising?

Levy Merchandising is the merchandising arm of Levy UK & Ireland. Levy UK & Ireland are a market leader in the world of sports and entertainment experiences, boasting some of the biggest and best stadiums and leisure locations in Europe as its venue partners. These include Ajax's Johan Cruyff Arena, the All England Lawn Tennis Club, The O2 Arena, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the National Theatre to name just a few. Levy is part of FTSE 100 company and global leader in food services, Compass Group PLC.

At Levy Merchandising, we design and manufacture a wide range of product direct from source. From technical products, fit for the highest level of performance, through to non technical fanwear, we produce apparel at all levels of the product pyramid. We also source a comprehensive range of non clothing products to complete the full range of categories available across the sales channels.

We're proud to do things differently. We have an innovative commercial model which puts our partners first and makes decision making a joint responsibility. Building long lasting, sustainable relationships is central to our ethos and we want our partners to feel like they retain independence and control on key strategic direction whilst being able to leverage the benefit, scale, and expertise of our central teams across Buying, Licensing, E Commerce, and Retail Operations. Our partners include Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club, Team GB, ATP, Aston Martin and McLaren F1.

We're also committed to supporting the local communities where our factories are based. We work with charities and local outreach programmes to have a positive impact in the cities and towns where we do business.

SUDU is our UK sportswear brand headquartered in Manchester. With aspirations to be a leading brand that not only equips individuals with the tools they need to excel in physical pursuits but also to empower mindsets with every motion. Our 'Run' collection features 17 products across footwear and apparel.

You'll also get a package that includes:

• 31 days holiday including bank holidays (pro rata, rising with service)
• colleague health cash plan
• life assurance cover of 4 x annual salary
• employee assistance programme - 24/7 confidential access to expert services including counselling, wellbeing, and independent legal and financial advice
• discounts on SUDU and other Levy Merchandising products and services
• enhanced family leave and pay
• supportive team culture and opportunities to develop as our business grows
• a dynamic environment where no two days are the same

Building an inclusive work environment

We're actively building diverse teams, and we welcome applications from everyone. We take pride in fostering a workplace culture that celebrates diversity and promotes inclusion. We believe that our differences are our greatest strength, and we're committed to creating an environment where every individual is valued, respected, and empowered.

We'll ask if you need any reasonable adjustments to enable you to participate in the recruitment process.

Location

Manchester, Manchester, M12EJ, United Kingdom

Job Reference: compass/TP 210693