We are looking for a Senior Legal Counsel to join our team to provide groupwide legal support. This is a new role focused on providing legal support across the wider international group, supporting the business on a variety of legal matters and projects, taking a solution oriented and pragmatic approach to commercial and operational risks.

What you will be doing

• Provide all legal support for the group working on a variation of projects and legal work.
• There will be an expectation that this role would potentially cover a wide variety of areas including corporate, company secretarial, intellectual property, commercial contracts, insurance, risk management, external counsel management, policy drafting and implementation and advising on ad hoc legal queries.
• As part of a small legal team, you will work closely with the General Counsel and senior leadership teams. There will be potential for exposure to a wide range of activities, both strategic and operational, across all parts of the wider international business group.

What we need from you

• You will be expected to demonstrate good organisational and time management skills, managing a varied workload and working to deadlines successfully. Proven experience of managing projects would be beneficial.
• You will be expected to be agile and adaptable, with a strong desire to develop a breadth of knowledge across a number of subject areas.
• Qualification as a Solicitor in England and Wales
• Candidates with 5+ years PQE would likely have the relevant skills and experience for this role, but we would be happy to consider applications from candidates outside of this PQE range who have the relevant experience.
• Exposure to international work and cross border legal collaboration would be helpful.
• Experience working with senior stakeholders, including board level executives would be beneficial.
• Exposure to implementation and maintenance of board and governance frameworks would be advantageous.

Person Profile

• A positive attitude and the ability to work autonomously with minimal supervision.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive cross-functional collaboration.
• Good time management and ability to prioritise effectively.
• Organised and efficient with excellent communication skills.
• High level of professionalism and discretion, especially when handling confidential matters
• Ability to start imminently or at relatively short notice and to hit the ground running.
• Depending on the location and level of experience of the candidate, a hybrid working model would be considered. Likely based in London office at least 3 days a week.

Why work for Waterstones

Waterstones is the cornerstone of bookselling across the UK and Ireland. Joining Waterstones means being an active part in a success story that began in 1982, and books are as popular now as the day we started.

Trading across the UK, Ireland and Europe, we are present in over 290 shopping locations, where Waterstones continues to thrive, each year actively pursuing a programme of new bookshop openings. Online at Waterstones.com, we meanwhile mirror the essence of our bookshops, further showcasing the unique enthusiasm and knowledge of our booksellers.

If you have the relevant essential experience and you are interested, we would love to hear from you.

Seniority level

Mid-Senior level

Employment type

Full-time

Job function

Legal

Industries: Retail