General Commercial Solicitor

Screwfix; Yeovil; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary annual bonus up to 20%

33 days holiday

Hybrid working

Flexible working hours

Career progression programs

Job summary

Screwfix is looking for a General Commercial Solicitor to join our Commercial Legal Team in Yeovil. The successful candidate will provide sharp, commercially focused legal advice, manage major commercial contracts, and work closely with senior leaders to drive firm decisions.

This role requires expertise in contract law, with a strong focus on data protection, and the ability to balance legal risk with business priorities. Benefits include a discretionary annual bonus, hybrid working, and career progression opportunities.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in private practice and/or in-house on commercial law matters.
• Expert in contract law with experience in complex negotiations.
• Strong understanding of information governance.

Responsibilities

• Manage legal risk in commercial relationships with suppliers.
• Draft and negotiate complex commercial contracts.
• Advise on contract structures and compliance.
• Support contract lifecycle management and dispute management.

Skills

Commercial contract drafting and negotiation

Data protection law knowledge

Strong communication skills

Influencing skills

Understanding of regulatory law

Education

UK qualified solicitor with 4+ PQE

Job description

Overview

Join Screwfix as a General Commercial Solicitor and play an integral role within our high‑performing Commercial Legal Team. You’ll deliver sharp, commercially focused legal advice that keeps the business moving fast but responsibly. You’ll be a key partner to the business, leading on major commercial contracts, managing legal and regulatory risk, and working closely with senior leaders, procurement, operations and cross‑functional teams to drive confident, commercially smart decisions. Your expertise will protect the brand, unlock new opportunities and power the growth of a business built on trust, simplicity and exceptional customer focus. This role is for a solicitor who thrives on pace and impact – someone who brings legal excellence while balancing risk and reward to enable optimal commercial decision‑making across the organisation.

Benefits

• Discretionary annual bonus up to 20%
• 33 days holiday (including bank holidays, 5 of which can be taken flexibly)
• Hybrid working in line with policy
• Flexible start and end times around core working hours
• Buy More Holiday – eligible colleagues can boost their holiday allowance by up to one extra week
• EV Car Scheme in partnership with Tusker – eligible colleagues can lease a brand‑new or pre‑loved electric vehicle
• Up to 14% employer pension contributions
• Life cover up to 4x your salary
• Health cash plan and discounted gym memberships (up to 25% savings)
• 20% discount at Screwfix and B&Q

Key Responsibilities

• Manage legal risk in commercial relationships with suppliers for goods and services not for resale and goods for resale, including significant tenders, contracts and related disputes.
• Draft and negotiate a wide range of complex commercial contracts (intragroup, logistics warehousing and fulfilment, supply of goods and services, technology and software and non‑disclosure agreements). Support contract lifecycle management with renewals, updates and dispute avoidance.
• Advise on contract structure and risks re commercial strategy to support business teams.
• Develop and ensure compliance with templates, standard terms and playbooks.
• Provide expert legal support and guidance for strategic business critical projects and on a broad range of ad hoc legal queries across the spectrum of commercial law issues.
• Work closely with colleagues across the Kingfisher Group and with external counsel on a cost efficient and targeted basis.
• Ensure risks are escalated and managed to ensure optimal commercial decision‑making.
• Ensure data protection compliance in contractual relationships and provide legal support and advice on a broad range of data protection issues.
• Advise on regulatory law issues (including competition and consumer) and brand protection (intellectual property) where appropriate.
• Identify innovative methods to achieve efficiencies and seek continued process improvement.
• Support dispute management where appropriate (pre‑litigation) and to the wider Legal team as necessary.
• Provide training to Screwfix teams on contract risk, legal compliance and processes to ensure optimal understanding and visibility of critical legal issues.

Required Skills & Experience

• UK qualified solicitor with 4+ PQE and a proven track record working in private practice and/or in house on commercial law matters impacting an FMCG business.
• Expert in contract law with superlative drafting and negotiation skills across a broad range of complex commercial contracts.
• Strong knowledge of data protection law and an understanding of information governance. In‑depth experience of competition and regulatory law is desirable.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and ability to adapt style as required.
• Adept at achieving the optimal balance between legal risk and business priorities.
• Strong influencing skills, including the ability to present complex concepts clearly in plain English and to business stakeholders at all levels.
• Results‑driven experience in negotiating with counterparties on contentious (pre‑litigation) and non‑contentious matters.
• Ability to complete tasks accurately, on time and to a high standard.

Wellbeing

• Wagestream access to track earnings and save
• Access to the Kingfisher Share Scheme
• Colleague support fund
• Exclusive offers and discounts via our Hapi app
• Cycle‑to‑work scheme and savings on bikes

Every day benefits

• Career progression and development programmes
• Coaching and mentoring to help you thrive
• Access to wellbeing resourcing including PepTalk
• Support networks available

Please let us know at [e-mail] if you need any additional support or adjustments when it comes to your application.

No agencies please.