In-House Counsel

Clifton Search; Bath; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Market leading pension scheme

Competitive bonus system

Flexible working 4–5 days

Job summary

Clifton Search is seeking an experienced In House Counsel in Somerset to join a high‑performing Commercial Legal Team. You will lead major commercial contracts, manage legal and regulatory risk, and work with senior leaders, procurement and operations to drive commercially smart decisions.

UK qualified solicitor with excellent drafting and negotiation skills, strong data protection knowledge and familiarity with competition/regulatory issues will thrive in a fast‑paced environment that values

Qualifications

• UK qualified solicitor with private practice and/or in-house experience in commercial law.

Responsibilities

• Manage commercial contracts and related disputes, including tendering and supplier relationships.
• Provide expert legal guidance on strategic projects and ad hoc commercial queries.
• Support governance, data protection, and regulatory compliance across the business.
• Deliver training on contract risk and compliance to internal teams.

Skills

Contract drafting

Negotiation

Data protection

Regulatory knowledge

Influencing skills

Education

UK qualified solicitor

Job description

In House Counsel - Somerset

Due to exceptional growth across the business, our client is looking for a General Commercial Solicitor to play an integral role within their high‑performing Commercial Legal Team.

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.

This is a very close knit, engaging and long-standing legal function closely aligned to the business.

The leadership of the legal function bring superb industry experience and have developed a team equipped to support a high growth and entrepreneurial organisation.

Responsibilities

Commercial contracts

• Manage legal risk in commercial relationships with suppliers for goods and services not for resale (non-stock suppliers) and goods for resale (stock suppliers) including significant tenders, contracts, and related disputes.

• Draft and negotiate a wide range of complex commercial contracts (incl. 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.

Legal advisory and risk management

• 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 wider Group and with external counsel on a cost efficient and targeted basis.

• Ensure risks are escalated and managed to ensure optimal commercial decision-making.

Governance, compliance and regulatory support

• Ensure data protection compliance in contractual relationships and providing legal support and advice on a broad range of data protection issues.

• Where appropriate, advising on regulatory law issues (including competition and consumer) and brand protection (intellectual property).

Other

• 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 internal teams on contract risk, legal compliance and processes to ensure optimal understanding and visibility of critical legal issues.

Background/Person

• UK qualified solicitor with a proven track record working in private practice and/or in house on commercial law matters. (pqe dependant on experience)

• Expert in contract law and with exceptional drafting and negotiation skills across a broad range of complex commercial contracts.

• Good knowledge of data protection law and an understanding of information governance.

• Experience of competition and regulatory law is desirable.

• Pleasure to work with style. (essential)

• 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.

On offer is a competitive salary and highly attractive benefits package including a market leading pension scheme and highly competitive bonus system.

We would consider 4 or 5 days for this position.