Commercial Lawyer - Business

BT Group; Belfast; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Join BT Group as a Lawyer supporting the Business division in Belfast. You'll provide essential legal services, oversee contracts, and ensure compliance while working on high-value transactions. The role requires a qualified lawyer with strong experience in commercial law, ideally within Telecoms or Technology sectors. Enjoy a collaborative, innovative work environment with competitive benefits and flexible working options.

Benefits

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

10% performance bonus

Life Assurance

Pension scheme

Health benefits and discounts

Qualifications

• Qualified Lawyer (2+ years PQE) or relevant experience.
• Experience in commercial law, especially in Telecoms & Technology sectors.
• Strong analytical skills and business acumen.

Responsibilities

• Manage approximately 10 live matters including bids and contracts.
• Provide clear legal guidance to mitigate risks and maximize opportunities.
• Collaborate with stakeholders on legal and compliance issues.

Skills

Negotiation

Legal Research

Contract Management

Communication

Education

Qualified Lawyer (2+ years PQE)

Job description

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Function: Legal and Governance

Location:

Riverside Tower, Belfast (N.I), United Kingdom

Location - Belfast, Bristol or London Hybrid Working (3 days onsite per week)

12 Month FTC

We keep over 1 million business customers connected in 180 countries. We run the fixed and mobile networks that cover 99% of the UK’s non-residential premises, underpin critical national infrastructure and public services, and enable trade. We support more than three million end-users through our UK wholesale operations. Our customers range from large household names, government departments, public service organizations, to small businesses and startups.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the legal team as a Lawyer supporting Business. In this role, you are expected to provide first-class legal, commercial, and contractual services to BT’s Sales & Commercial division within Business, helping develop market-leading products and services, negotiate contracts, and address issues during the contract lifecycle to support Business in meeting its strategic goals.

You will work with product development teams to ensure Business has suitable contracts with suppliers and standard customer-facing terms that facilitate sales with minimal negotiation.

You will have an expert understanding of balancing contractual risk with potential rewards, demonstrating a clear link between commercial drivers and contractual terms.

You will be a key member of bid teams, interacting directly with customers and negotiating with their legal representatives.

You will also assist with complex issues during the lifecycle of Business’s customer contracts, including legal/regulatory updates and dispute resolution.

What you’ll be doing

You will manage approximately 10 live matters at any time, including bids, renewals, advice, and finance projects, across 1-2 large projects and 6-8 smaller ones.

The role focuses on a broad range of commercial legal work, including negotiations, disputes, and project support.

• Act as lead lawyer on complex, high-value transactions with Business’ Private Sector customers in the UK.
• Provide clear, pragmatic legal guidance to mitigate risks and maximize opportunities.
• Collaborate with Business stakeholders on legal matters, including disputes, projects, bids, and legislative changes.
• Develop and ensure compliance with BT’s legal and compliance policies, including standard contracts.
• Serve as a point of contact for relevant business units, resolving issues and escalations.
• Manage relationships with external legal providers, guiding their support.
• Build relationships with senior stakeholders, advising on legal impacts and solutions.
• Participate in strategic projects within Business and Legal & Co Sec.
• Ensure all activities follow governance and compliance policies.
• Identify and escalate regulatory, governance, and compliance issues.
• Provide briefings and escalate concerns as needed.
• Support legal work conducted by outsourced providers.
• Contribute to Legal & Co Sec strategies and initiatives.
• Ensure business activities adhere to BT’s legal restrictions, competition law, and policies.
• Promote risk management and legal awareness across Business.
• Collaborate with Legal, Regulatory, and Compliance teams.
• Maintain effective stakeholder relationships and understand their strategic goals.

Skills and Experiences

PQE: Qualified Lawyer (2+ years PQE) or relevant experience. Sector experience in construction, manufacturing, or utilities is advantageous but not essential.

• Experience as a commercial lawyer in the private sector across multiple industries.
• Proven ability to work in fast-paced environments handling various commercial contracts, especially in Telecoms & Technology sectors.
• Self-motivated, independent, enthusiastic, and team-oriented.
• Strong communication skills, capable of articulating complex issues simply and making balanced recommendations.
• Preference for candidates from in-house or consultancy backgrounds rather than law firms.
• Passionate about testing the status quo and developing innovative solutions.
• Good analytical skills and business acumen.
• Attention to detail and pragmatic, solution-focused approach.

There will be a 2-stage interview process for this role.

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
• 10% performance bonus.
• Life Assurance.
• Pension scheme (BT pays 10% if you contribute 5%).
• Optional health benefits, discounts, and other perks.

Core Values and Leadership Principles

Leading inclusively and safely: Inspire trust through honesty and integrity.
Owning outcomes: Make decisions that benefit the organization.
Delivering for the customer: Execute priorities that add value.
Being commercially savvy: Bring external perspective to decisions.
Growth mindset: Seek opportunities for personal and organizational growth.
Building for the future: Develop diverse, future-ready teams.

BT, with over 175 years of heritage, is a leading B2B brand serving 1.2 million global business customers. We are committed to diversity, inclusion, and making a positive societal impact. We value difference and foster innovation, providing opportunities to excel. We encourage flexible working and offer reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process. We welcome applications from diverse backgrounds, even if your experience doesn't match every requirement exactly.