Company Counsel

Elsevier; Greater London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Elsevier is seeking a Company Counsel to report to the General Counsel, Content, and partner with content acquisition teams on publishing ethics, contracts and compliance matters. You will deliver practical legal guidance across risk and business objectives, shaping policies and templates with the Legal Department.

You will work with cross-functional teams to provide timely, clear advice, balance risk with commercial needs and help Elsevier navigate evolving legal and ethical challenges in a

Qualifications

• Qualified lawyer in UK or another recognised common or civil law jurisdiction.
• Previous experience in a law firm or an in-house legal department.
• Prior publishing or intellectual property experience preferred.
• Sound legal and commercial judgement, with the ability to assess issues, make recommendations and escape with context and proposed solutions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to calmly and independently prioritize and execute tasks and demonstrate flexibility in a fast-paced environment.
• Team player/ willingness to develop new skills.
• Interest in and openness to developing AI fluency and leveraging technology to enhance legal service delivery.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Requires business-level English.

Responsibilities

• Advising on publishing ethics and research integrity issues, defamation, infringements, contract and other disputes, and related compliance matters.
• Developing and negotiating contracts with rightsholders, including identifying key risks, approval requirements and practical ways forward.
• Supporting content acquisition teams by assessing legal and reputational risks clearly and early, and balancing those risks with commercial needs.
• Developing and maintaining templates, training, processes and policies.
• Communicating advice clearly and professionally, with practical recommendations and realistic timescales.
• Identifying recurring issues and opportunities to improve guidance, standardisation and ways of working.
• Working with Legal Department colleagues and cooperating across cross-functional corporate business units and departments to timely achieve optimal results while minimising risk.

Skills

Legal judgement

Communication

Stakeholder management

AI fluency

Prioritisation

Team player

English (business-level)

Education

Qualified Lawyer in UK or recognised jurisdiction

Job description

Company Counsel

Are you passionate about helping advance high-quality research and publishing practices while providing practical legal guidance in a dynamic global environment?

Do you enjoy partnering with stakeholders to solve complex legal and ethical challenges, balancing risk with commercial objectives to achieve positive outcomes?

About the Role

As Company Counsel, you will report directly to the General Counsel, Content, and support Elsevier’s content acquisition teams. You will provide legal and transactional support across publishing ethics and research integrity, contracting, rights clearance, disputes, and compliance matters, helping teams navigate risk while enabling business objectives.

You will work closely with colleagues across the Legal Department and cross-functional business teams, delivering clear, practical advice and contributing to effective and consistent legal processes across the organization.

Responsibilities

• Advising on publishing ethics and research integrity issues, defamation, infringements, contract and other disputes, and related compliance matters.
• Developing and negotiating contracts with rightsholders, including identifying key risks, approval requirements and practical ways forward.
• Supporting content acquisition teams by assessing legal and reputational risks clearly and early, and balancing those risks with commercial needs.
• Developing and maintaining templates, training, processes and policies.
• Communicating advice clearly and professionally, with practical recommendations and realistic timescales.
• Identifying recurring issues and opportunities to improve guidance, standardisation and ways of working.
• Working with Legal Department colleagues and cooperating across cross-functional corporate business units and departments to timely achieve optimal results while minimising risk.

Requirements

• Qualified lawyer in UK or another recognised common or civil law jurisdiction.
• Previous experience in a law firm or an in-house legal department.
• Prior publishing or intellectual property experience preferred.
• Sound legal and commercial judgement, with the ability to assess issues, make recommendations and escape with context and proposed solutions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to calmly and independently prioritize and execute tasks and demonstrate flexibility in a fast-paced environment.
• Team player/ willingness to develop new skills.
• Interest in and openness to developing AI fluency and leveraging technology to enhance legal service delivery.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Requires business-level English.

Work in a Way That Works for You

We promote a healthy work/life balance across the organisation. We offer an appealing working prospect for our people. With numerous wellbeing initiatives, shared parental leave, study assistance, and sabbaticals, we will help you meet your immediate responsibilities and your long-term goals.

Working Pattern

Working flexible hours - flexing the times when you work in the day to help you fit everything in and work when you are the most productive.

About the Business

A global leader in information and analytics, we help researchers and healthcare professionals advance science and improve health outcomes for the benefit of society. Building on our publishing heritage, we combine quality information and vast data sets with analytics to support visionary science and research, health education and interactive learning, as well as exceptional healthcare and clinical practice. At Elsevier, your work contributes to the world’s grand challenges and a more sustainable future. We harness innovative technologies to support science and healthcare to partner for a better world.

We are committed to providing a fair and accessible hiring process. If you have a disability or other need that requires accommodation or adjustment, please let us know by completing our Applicant Request Support Form or please contact 1-855-833-5120.

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We are an equal opportunity employer: qualified applicants are considered for and treated during employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, citizenship status, disability status, protected veteran status, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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