Interim Senior Legal Counsel - Commercial & Procurement

LHH; Warrington; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

LHH is seeking an experienced Senior Legal Counsel to join its in-house team on a 12-month fixed-term contract in Cheshire. Hybrid working with two days in the office per week, you will support UK and international operations on complex commercial matters that impact governance and business performance.

Reporting to the Head of Legal, you will draft and negotiate high‑value contracts, advise on procurement and governance initiatives, manage external counsel, and provide commercially focused

Qualifications

• 8+ years post-qualification experience.
• Significant experience negotiating and drafting complex commercial contracts.
• Strong knowledge of procurement and commercial legal issues.
• Experience advising senior stakeholders on business-critical matters.
• In-house experience within a regulated sector is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating a wide range of complex commercial agreements, including international contracts.
• Providing legal support on major business projects and procurement activity.
• Advising on governance initiatives and compliance programmes.
• Delivering practical, commercially focused legal advice to stakeholders across multiple business functions.
• Identifying and managing legal and commercial risks while facilitating business objectives.
• Building trusted relationships with senior leaders and serving as a key legal advisor.
• Contributing to board, committee and corporate governance matters.

Skills

Contract negotiation

Commercial contracts

Stakeholder management

Regulated sectors

Education

Qualified Solicitor in England & Wales

Job description

Senior Legal Counsel (12-Month Fixed-Term Contract)

Hybrid Working – Cheshire | 2 Days Per Week in Office

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced commercial lawyer to join a well-established organisation operating at the forefront of a highly regulated and strategically significant industry. Supporting major UK and international operations, this role offers the chance to work on complex commercial matters that have a direct impact on business performance, governance, and long-term growth.

Working as part of a respected in-house legal team, you'll partner with senior leaders across the organisation, helping to navigate legal risk while enabling commercial objectives. This is a varied and visible role, ideal for a lawyer who enjoys building relationships, influencing decision-making, and contributing to high-profile projects.

The Role

Reporting into the Head of Legal, you will provide commercially focused legal advice across a broad range of strategic and operational matters. You'll play a key role in supporting significant commercial transactions, procurement activity, governance initiatives, and business-critical projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating a wide range of complex commercial agreements, including international contracts.
• Providing legal support on major business projects, transactions and transformation initiatives.
• Advising on procurement and tendering activities, supplier agreements and contractual frameworks.
• Supporting the organisation's governance arrangements and compliance programmes.
• Delivering practical, commercially focused legal advice to stakeholders across multiple business functions.
• Identifying and managing legal and commercial risks while facilitating business objectives.
• Building trusted relationships with senior leaders and acting as a key legal advisor.
• Contributing to board, committee and corporate governance matters.
• Managing relationships with external counsel, suppliers and other key stakeholders.
• Monitoring legislative and regulatory developments and providing guidance to the wider business where required.

About You

You will be a confident and commercially minded legal professional with strong contract negotiation experience and the ability to operate effectively within a complex business environment.

• Qualified Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive in England & Wales.
• Approximately 8+ years' post-qualification experience.
• Significant experience negotiating and drafting complex commercial contracts.
• Strong knowledge of procurement and commercial legal issues.
• Experience advising senior stakeholders on business-critical matters.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management and negotiation skills.
• Pragmatic approach to problem-solving and legal risk management.
• Ability to work autonomously while collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Previous experience within an in-house legal function.
• Exposure to regulated sectors such as infrastructure, engineering, transport, logistics, energy or related industries.
• Understanding of corporate governance and compliance frameworks.
• Knowledge of wider legal disciplines including competition, intellectual property and employment law.