Legal Counsel

Rentokil Initial; Crawley; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Rentokil Initial is seeking a high-performing Legal Counsel to lead corporate and commercial legal operations across the UK and Ireland. You will manage a diverse matter caseload, steer major contract negotiations, and advise business leaders in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.

The role requires a qualified England & Wales lawyer with 5+ PQE, deep corporate/ commercial expertise, and exposure to public procurement.

Qualifications

• Qualified lawyer in England & Wales (or equivalent jurisdiction) with at least 5 PQE.
• Deep knowledge of corporate and commercial contracting principles.
• Exposure to public sector procurement processes.
• Hands-on experience with AI tools in legal practice.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate complex commercial terms, framework agreements, procurement tenders, and variations.
• Lead end-to-end negotiations for major supplier and customer contracts with risk mitigation.
• Provide practical legal counsel on risk, corporate principles, insurance, and finance matters.
• Navigate construction project insurance, collateral warranties, performance bonds, and claims management.
• Design training programs, update contract templates, optimize legal processes, and leverage AI to boost efficiency.
• Collaborate with Regional GC and external panel counsel on high-impact legal issues.

Skills

Contract drafting

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

AI in legal practice

Education

Qualified lawyer (England & Wales)

Tools

AI tools in legal practice

Job description

Ready to tackle complex commercial deals, drive innovation, and safeguard a world-leading global brand? Rentokil Initial is hiring a high-performing Legal Counsel to lead corporate and commercial legal operations across our UK and Irish business.

As part of a FTSE100 company operating in over 90 countries, you will manage a diverse matter caseload, steer major contract negotiations, and advise business leaders in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.

Core Responsibilities & Impact

• High-Value Contracting: Draft, review, and negotiate complex commercial terms, framework agreements, procurement tenders, and variations.
• Commercial Strategy: Lead end-to-end negotiations for major supplier and customer contracts while balancing commercial agility with risk mitigation.
• Cross-Functional Advisory: Provide practical legal counsel on risk, corporate principles, insurance, and finance matters.
• Specialized Risk Management: Navigate construction project insurance, collateral warranties, performance bonds, and claims management.
• Legal Enablement & AI Integration: Design legal training programs, update contract templates, optimize legal processes, and leverage AI capabilities to boost efficiency.
• Strategic Counsel: Collaborate directly with the Regional General Counsel and external panel counsel on high-impact legal issues.

What you need to succeed:

• Legal Qualification: Qualified lawyer in England & Wales (or equivalent jurisdiction) with at least 5 years Post-Qualified Experience (PQE).
• Corporate & Commercial Expertise: Deep technical mastery of general corporate and commercial contracting principles.
• Public Procurement: Practical exposure to public sector procurement processes and regulations.
• AI Proficiency: Hands-on experience or fluency with AI tools in legal practice.

Key Skills & Leadership Strengths

• Stakeholder Influence: Outstanding communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills to guide non-technical audiences and executive stakeholders.
• Strategic Problem-Solving: Ability to evaluate risks and recommend clear, pragmatic solutions under tight deadlines with imperfect information.
• Autonomy & Risk Appetite: Thrives independently in a fast-paced, matrixed environment with a high appetite for strategic risk