Head of Legal

BCL Legal; Greater Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Northern Gritstone in Manchester/Leeds (Hybrid) is seeking its first Head of Legal to build a dedicated in-house function from the ground up. Reporting to the CFO, you will lead on legal matters for early-stage investments and oversee external counsel on larger transactions.

You will help shape Northern Gritstone's corporate affairs, establish precedents and processes, and enable the team to deploy capital efficiently while managing legal risk.

Qualifications

• Senior lawyer with at least 8 years' PQE in venture capital or growth-stage tech.

Responsibilities

• Lead on legal matters for early-stage investments.
• Oversee external counsel on larger transactions.
• Advise on Northern Gritstone's corporate affairs and build legal frameworks, precedents and processes to support growth.

Skills

Venture capital exposure

In-house experience

Senior lawyer

Job description

Head of Legal | Northern Gritstone

Manchester / Leeds (Hybrid)

Ready to build a legal function from the ground up? Northern Gritstone is looking for its first in-house Head of Legal.

I'm delighted to be working in partnership with Northern Gritstone to appoint its first Head of Legal - a unique opportunity to establish and shape the legal function within one of the UK's most exciting venture capital investors.

Northern Gritstone was founded to unlock world-class innovation emerging from the universities of Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Sheffield, providing long-term investment to pioneering science and technology businesses. Backed by around £400 million of permanent capital, the business has built an impressive portfolio of more than 50 companies spanning deep tech, quantum, semiconductors, advanced materials and life sciences, and continues to expand its investment activity as it scales its portfolio and team.

As the business enters its next phase of growth, it is creating its first dedicated in-house legal role.

Reporting to the CFO, you'll lead on legal matters for early-stage investments, oversee external counsel on larger transactions, advise on Northern Gritstone's own corporate affairs and build the legal frameworks, precedents and processes that will support the business as it continues to grow. Working closely with the investment team and senior leadership, you'll play a key role in helping Northern Gritstone deploy capital efficiently while managing legal risk.

Who we're looking for

We're interested in speaking with lawyers who have exposure to venture capital, whether you're already working in-house within an investment house or high-growth business, or you're currently in private practice advising venture capital investors, funds or growth-stage companies, this role offers the chance to become a strategic legal partner within a highly collaborative and entrepreneurial organisation.

You’ll be commercially minded, enjoy taking ownership and be excited by the opportunity to build a legal function from the ground up. We expect this role will be best suited to a senior lawyer with at least 8 years' PQE.