Job description

THE OPPORTUNITY

Our client, one of the UK's leading Insurance firms, has an exciting opportunity for a General Corporate Counsel to join their legal team, proving direct support and legal advice to the Group's General Counsel and Company Secretary and its subsidiaries.

The role would suit someone who is at the circa 5-to-7-year PQE level, with experience gained within a well ranked Corporate or Commercial practice for one of the UK's leading private practice firms (who are ranked in the Legal 500 & Chambers for Insurance), and you will have experience of client secondments. Alternatively, you will have current in-house experience as Corporate Counsel, ideally with general insurance industry experience - having acted for brokers and or insurers or the regulatory or financial services sector.

This is a fast paced, exciting role where you will have the opportunity to work on multiple projects and a manage a varied caseload, engaging and negotiating with all levels of this highly entrepreneurial business.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Advising the General Legal Counsel and other execs and managers about various legal and non-legal issues in addition to assisting and advising on all other legal matters relating to Group companies.
• Working with the General Legal Counsel on various special projects, including acquisitions, debt raises and disposals.
• Advising on corporate structuring matters, collaborating closely with the Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel to maintain and develop corporate structure in an efficient manner, regarding regulatory, tax and other relevant matters.
• Managing communications with investors, responding to shareholder queries and supporting the General Legal Counsel to uphold governance standards across the Group.
• Collaborating with key stakeholders to ensure that the group remains compliant with obligations and covenants in key agreements with lenders and shareholders.
• Drafting and negotiating agreements required to support Group's business and operational activity with third parties and on an intragroup basis.
• Assuming responsibility for Intellectual Property matters, including overseeing registration of trademarks and keeping registers up to date.
• Assist the General Legal Counsel and Deputy Company Secretary with any corporate matters, including assisting with the proper administration of the companies.
• Work with our Co-Sec, Risk and Compliance departments to review, update and improve group procedures and policies.
• Representing the group in interaction with external lawyers, counterparties, banking partners, industry bodies and other third parties.
• Preparing templates, playbooks, procedures, and self-service material and participating in the provision of relevant training and awareness programmes and sharing knowhow with less experienced members of the team.
• Reviewing, updating, drafting, and advising on general commercial contracts.
• Keeping up to date with changes in legislation that may impact the Group.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

• Must be a Qualified Solicitor of England & Wales, with at least 4+ years PQE.
• Post-qualification experience gained in a well-regarded law firm, or time spent in-house as General Corporate / Legal Counsel.
• You must be able to demonstrate strong transactional experience across M&A and general corporate and commercial matters.
• Ability to draft a diverse range of corporate/commercial agreements and documents to support the wide variety of businesses within the Group from scratch without heavy reliance on precedents.
• Demonstrate excellent stakeholder management and communication and engagement skills.
• Be responsible and result-oriented with excellent attention to detail.
• Excellent English language skills (written and oral)
• Excellent legal research skills - familiar with using legal resources.
• Dynamic and driven individual with initiative and a 'can-do' attitude
• Ability to work comfortably autonomously and as part of the wider team.
• Experience of preparing or reviewing legal due diligence and working with virtual data rooms.

Please get in touch for full information and send your CV!