In-house Legal Counsel (Commercial Lawyer)

ASPEN - PKF Francis Clark; Exeter; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading firm of accountants in Exeter is seeking an experienced In-house Legal Counsel (Commercial Lawyer) to provide strategic legal advice and support, focusing on contract drafting and negotiation. The ideal candidate will bring at least two years of post-qualification experience, with a solid understanding of contract law. Competitive benefits and a supportive workplace culture are offered.

Benefits

Pension

Health cash plan

Flexible holiday purchase

Qualifications

• At least two years of post-qualification experience in a commercial contracts-oriented role.
• Proven ability to analyse and interpret contract terms.
• Strong communication skills for complex issue clarification.

Responsibilities

• Draft, negotiate and advise on supplier contracts.
• Provide expert advice on legal matters.
• Assist in resolving contractual disputes.

Skills

Contract law understanding

Excellent contract drafting skills

Strong commercial awareness

Experience with GDPR compliance

Education

Post-qualification experience in commercial contracts

Job description

In-house Legal Counsel (Commercial Lawyer)

In-house Legal Counsel (Commercial Lawyer)

PKF Francis Clark Exeter, United Kingdom

In-house Legal Counsel (Commercial Lawyer)

PKF Francis Clark Exeter, United Kingdom Apply now Posted 1 month ago Permanent Competitive

In-house Legal Counsel (Commercial Lawyer)

PKF Francis Clark Exeter, United Kingdom Apply now

In-house Legal Counsel (Commercial Lawyer)

In a nutshell
We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Commercial Lawyer to join our in-house legal team. You will provide strategic legal advice and support with the primary focus being the drafting and negotiation of a variety of commercial contracts and supplier agreements. In addition, you may be required to support other requirements such as dispute resolution, M&A, GDPR and employment matters from time to time.
What you'll be doing day to day

• Ensure the effective and efficient delivery of legal services to support PKF Francis Clark's procurement processes. Draft, negotiate and advise on supplier contracts across the firm
• Foster strong, collaborative, working relationships with stakeholders and act as a trusted legal 'business partner'
• Provide expert advice on legal and contractual matters, helping the business to navigate complex issues and understand legal risks
• Assist the business to resolve contractual disputes with suppliers and manage any associated litigation that may arise (with support from external counsel where necessary)
• Identify and manage legal risks; and devise risk mitigation strategies in response to them
• Travel to offices may be required to support collaboration, team meetings, or project delivery

About you

• Brings experience in providing legal advice on complex commercial contracts, with a solid grasp of contract law and at least two years of post-qualification experience in a commercial contracts-oriented role, gained either in-house or in private practice
• Demonstrates excellent contract drafting skills and attention to detail, with the ability to analyse and accurately interpret contract terms while identifying potential risks
• Shows strong commercial awareness and pragmatism, distinguishing legal issues from business concerns and tailoring advice to reflect commercial considerations and practical realities
• Communicates complex issues clearly and effectively, using language that is easy to understand
• Builds trust and contributes proactively to discussions, with the confidence and gravitas to constructively challenge decisions when appropriate
• Maintains composure under pressure, managing competing demands, prioritising effectively, and resourcing work appropriately
• Possesses working knowledge and experience with GDPR compliance

Why work at PKF Francis Clark
As the largest firm of independent chartered accountants and business advisors in South West England, joining PKF Francis Clark brings opportunities to develop your career in a direction that interests you.

Having celebrated our centenary in 2019, we're a team of nearly 1,000 people, based across our offices in Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth, Poole, Salisbury, Southampton, Taunton, Torquay and Truro.

Our culture is flexible and supportive, enabling you to be the best you can be. We work hard to ensure you can be yourself, develop and be part of a forward-thinking team that makes brilliant things happen. But don't just take our word for it.

PKF Francis Clark is certified as a Great Place to Work. In 2024, we climbed nine places to 24 out of 105 large organisations on the list of the UK's Best Workplaces.

We're also ranked among the UK's Best Workplaces for Women (33 out of 90 large organisations), Best Workplaces for Development (30 out of 100) and Best Workplace for Wellbeing (44 out of 100).

Workplace culture experts Great Place to Work also highlighted PKF Francis Clark as a top achiever among the UK's Best Workplaces in Consulting & Professional Services.

And in recognition of our outstanding training programmes for graduates, school leavers and career changers, we've been ranked among England's Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers for two years running.

Whilst we're proudly independent, PKF Francis Clark is a member of the PKF Global family of firms - together we're the 12th largest provider of accountancy services in the UK. Being part of a global community of business advisors in 150 countries provides opportunities to expand your horizons by connecting with PKF colleagues around the world.
Your core benefits
Financial benefits:
• Pension
• Group life assurance - up to four times your core salary
• Group income protection
• Health cash plan to help cover the costs of everyday healthcare

Health & Wellbeing benefits:
• Option to buy 5 extra days holiday*
• Counselling and support for you and your immediate family
• Virtual GP for you and your immediate family
• Cycle to work*

Other benefits:
• Medicash Extras providing you with shopping and gym discounts
• Gifts for career and family milestones
• One volunteering day per year to support local organisations
• Emergency funding from the Francis Clark Charitable Foundation

Please note
* These benefits are provided via a salary exchange and are subject to employee's post exchange hourly rate remaining above the national minimum wage.

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