Legal Counsel

Department: Finance

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: London

Description

Key Responsibilities

• Advise on and negotiate retail leases, lease renewals, agreements for lease, licences to occupy and associated property documents.
• Support store openings, relocations and closures, including assignments, underlettings, surrenders and licences for alterations.
• Advise on day-to-day landlord and tenant matters, including repairing obligations, service charges, rent reviews, break rights and dilapidations.
• Review property documentation, identify material risks and explain their commercial implications to internal stakeholders.
• Instruct and manage external property solicitors, monitoring progress, costs and key deadlines.
• Help maintain accurate property records and systems for monitoring lease obligations and critical dates.

• Draft, review and negotiate a range of commercial agreements, including supplier, services, logistics, consultancy, IT, marketing and confidentiality agreements.
• Advise on contractual risk, including liability, indemnities, termination rights, payment terms and dispute resolution.
• Support the procurement and operational teams throughout contract negotiations.
• Assist with contractual disputes and work with the business and external advisers to achieve practical resolutions.
• Develop and maintain contract templates, guidance and approval processes.

• Provide timely, accessible advice to colleagues across the business.
• Support retail matters involving consumer law, advertising, intellectual property and data protection, with guidance from the Head of Legal or specialist advisers where required.
• Identify matters requiring escalation and keep the Head of Legal informed of significant risks and developments.
• Deliver practical training and guidance to help colleagues understand key legal obligations.
• Support other legal projects as the needs of the business develop.

We would like to meet someone who is

• Qualified solicitor in England and Wales with approximately 3-5 years’ post-qualification experience.
• Strong experience in commercial property, particularly landlord and tenant work.
• Experience drafting, reviewing and negotiating commercial contracts.
• Sound legal drafting skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to translate legal issues into clear, proportionate commercial advice.
• Confidence managing a varied workload, prioritising competing deadlines and taking ownership of matters, with appropriate supervision.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to build effective relationships with colleagues and external advisers.

• Experience advising retailers or businesses with substantial leasehold property portfolios.
• Previous in-house experience or a client secondment.
• Familiarity with consumer law, advertising, intellectual property or data protection issues arising in a retail environment.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and benefits package
• Hybrid working, 3 days in London based office & 2 working from home
• Holiday allowance
• 50% staff discount & 25% for family and friends
• Pension scheme