Interim Legal Counsel - High Growth Tech

The Stephen James Partnership; Slough; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The Stephen James Partnership is recruiting a UK Legal Counsel for a global, high-growth technology platform based in London. You will own complex matters end-to-end, advising on employment, commercial and regulatory issues specific to UK ride-hailing and transportation law.

Lead drafting and negotiation of commercial agreements, support product launches, and partner cross-functionally with Tax, Regulatory and Privacy teams to deliver joined-up legal advice.

Qualifications

• Qualified lawyer with ~3 years PQE.
• Strong grounding in UK employment and commercial law.
• Experience in platform businesses is a plus.
• Corporate law exposure is advantageous.
• Strong drafting and negotiation skills with a business-focused lens.
• Ability to balance legal risk with business speed and make prudent pushes or compromises.

Responsibilities

• Own complex legal matters end-to-end with autonomy.
• Advise on employment, commercial and regulatory issues in UK ride-hailing/transportation law.
• Draft, review and negotiate supplier contracts, partnerships, and T&Cs.
• Support product launches, marketing initiatives and live operations projects.
• Collaborate with Tax, Regulatory and Privacy teams on integrated advice.
• Monitor UK legislative changes and translate them into commercial action.
• Assist with corporate governance for the UK entity.
• Liaise with external counsel as needed.
• Flex across markets/projects as the business scales.

Skills

Employment law

Commercial law

UK law

Regulatory affairs

Job description

UK Legal Counsel | High Growth Tech Platform

Location: London, United Kingdom

Reports to: Regional General Counsel (Legal Division)

PQE: c.3 years

This is not a \"process and file\" legal role. This is a build-and-own role.

Our client - a global, high-growth technology platform - is looking for a commercially sharp UK Legal Counsel to take the wheel on one of its most complex, most regulated markets. If you want to be the legal voice in the room, not one of many - this is your move.

You'll be embedded at the heart of the business: advising on live product launches, shaping commercial strategy, and managing legal risk across a business that moves fast and expects its lawyers to move faster.

What You'll Actually Be Doing

• Operating with genuine autonomy - owning complex legal matters end-to-end, not escalating everything upstairs
• Advising on employment, commercial and regulatory issues specific to UK ride-hailing/transportation law
• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating commercial agreements - supplier contracts, partnership agreements, T&Cs
• Getting hands-on with product launches, marketing initiatives and live operational projects
• Partnering cross-functionally with Tax, Regulatory and Privacy teams to deliver joined-up legal advice
• Staying ahead of UK legislative change and translating it into commercial action, not just risk memos
• Supporting corporate governance and housekeeping for the UK entity
• Managing external counsel where needed
• Flexing across markets/projects as the business scales - because growth doesn't sit still, and neither will you

What You’ll Bring

• Qualified lawyer, c.3 years PQE
• Strong generalist grounding in UK employment & commercial law
• Bonus points for experience in platform businesses - ride-hailing, tech, or transportation
• Corporate law exposure is a serious advantage
• Sharp drafting and negotiation skills with a commercial (not just technical) lens
• The confidence to balance legal risk against business pace - and know when to push back and when to move
• A track record of juggling multiple stakeholders on complex matters, solo
• Thrives in fast-paced, high-growth environment
• Late August / Early September start

Why This Role

This is a seat at the table in a business scaling aggressively across one of the toughest regulatory environments in Europe. You won't be a cog - you'll be shaping how the company operates in the UK, full stop.