General Counsel

Taylor Root; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Taylor Root is seeking a General Counsel to act as a trusted adviser to the Board, Chief Executive and Executive Team within a leading UK charity. The role spans legal, governance, enterprise risk, compliance and information governance to help the organisation make sound, ethical and commercially informed decisions while enabling innovation and sustainable impact.

Based in the UK with regular attendance at the London office, you will lead a high-performing Legal and Governance team, shape risk

Qualifications

• Qualified Solicitor or Barrister with a current UK practising certificate and 12+ years’ PQE.
• Experience advising boards, trustees and executive leaders on governance and regulatory matters.
• Strong governance and regulatory expertise; ability to operate effectively at Board level.

Responsibilities

• Advising the Board, Executive Team and senior stakeholders on significant legal, governance, regulatory and reputational matters.
• Providing strategic oversight of governance frameworks and supporting trustees in fulfilling their responsibilities.
• Leading the development of the organisation’s enterprise risk framework, risk appetite and risk culture.
• Supporting major organisational change initiatives, commercial arrangements, partnerships and new ways of working.
• Overseeing information governance, data protection and regulatory compliance.
• Providing oversight of safeguarding, whistleblowing, serious incident reporting, investigations, business continuity and crisis governance.
• Leading and developing a high-performing Legal and Governance team while building legal and risk capability across the wider organisation.

Skills

Board advisory

Governance

Risk management

Regulatory compliance

Information governance

Stakeholder management

Education

Qualified Solicitor or Barrister

Job description

An exciting opportunity to join one of the UK’s largest and most recognised charities as General Counsel, acting as a trusted adviser to the Board, Chief Executive and Executive Team.

This is a broad leadership role spanning legal, governance, enterprise risk, compliance and information governance, with responsibility for helping the organisation make sound, ethical and commercially informed decisions while enabling innovation, effective partnerships and sustainable impact.

Key responsibilities include:

• Advising the Board, Executive Team and senior stakeholders on significant legal, governance, regulatory and reputational matters
• Providing strategic oversight of governance frameworks and supporting trustees in fulfilling their responsibilities
• Leading the development of the organisation’s enterprise risk framework, risk appetite and risk culture
• Supporting major organisational change initiatives, commercial arrangements, partnerships and new ways of working
• Overseeing information governance, data protection and regulatory compliance
• Providing oversight of safeguarding, whistleblowing, serious incident reporting, investigations, business continuity and crisis governance
• Leading and developing a high-performing Legal and Governance team while building legal and risk capability across the wider organisation

We are looking for a commercially minded, pragmatic and influential lawyer who can:

• Operate confidently at Board and Executive level
• Provide clear advice and constructive challenge on complex issues
• Balance legal, commercial, ethical and reputational considerations
• Navigate complex organisational and regulatory risk
• Turn strategy into practical and proportionate frameworks
• Build strong stakeholder relationships and drive meaningful organisational change
• Lead and develop high-performing teams

Experience advising boards, trustees and executive leaders is essential, alongside strong governance and regulatory expertise. Prior experience within the charity, public sector or not-for-profit environment is welcome but not essential.

Qualified Solicitor or Barrister with a current UK practising certificate and a minimum of 12 years’ PQE.

Candidates can be based anywhere in the UK, although regular attendance at the London office will be required. Travel costs cannot be expensed.

This is a rare opportunity to take on a highly visible leadership role, shaping the legal, governance and risk agenda of a nationally recognised organisation while delivering genuine social impact.