Legal Counsel

Ocado Retail; Hatfield; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

Annual bonus scheme

Pension contributions

Ocado discount

Hybrid working

Job summary

Ocado Retail is seeking a Legal Counsel to join the Legal and Compliance team in Hatfield. The role focuses on commercial contracts, data protection, regulatory matters including consumer and competition law, and IP.

The successful candidate will advise on litigation matters, provide training, and ensure regulatory compliance while supporting fast growth in online retail. The role reports to the Lead Lawyer and requires a qualified solicitor with PQE in general commercial law.

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor with post-qualification experience as a general commercial lawyer.
• Strong commercial awareness and good communication skills.
• Pragmatic, commercial and risk-based approach.
• Flexibility and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Excellent attention to detail and organisational skills.
• Ability to work to deadlines and manage competing demands from various stakeholders.
• Experience using AI to support day to day work.
• Desire to work in a fast paced, dynamic and high growth business.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day legal advice to the business.
• Develop strong business partnership to spot issues and solve problems.
• Review, draft, negotiate and advise on commercial contracts (goods/services, logistics, data processing, IT, software).
• Advise on consumer laws and advertising/marketing laws.
• Advise on GSCOP and competition law.
• Advise on escalated customer claims and litigation matters.
• Develop and deliver training to the business.
• Stay current with regulations and advise ahead of regulatory changes.

Skills

Commercial awareness

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Deadline-driven

AI experience

Teamwork

Flexible

Proactive mindset

Job description

Contract type: Permanent

Location: Hatfield (Hybrid working – 3 days in the office)

Working hours per week: 40 hours (will consider applicants looking for 32 hours per week)

Level: Manager

Reports to: Lead Lawyer

Application Closing Date: Thursday 24th September 2026

About Us

Our mission is to deliver joy in every shop, through unbeatable choice, unrivalled service, and reassuringly good value. We’re also on a mission to empower our business with smart technology; we’ve recently launched our AI Academy, providing a tailored AI learning journey for every colleague.

We’re Ocado Retail, a market-leading joint venture between Ocado Group and M&S, and the world’s largest dedicated online supermarket, ocado.com. Not only is Ocado the only place to shop a full range of M&S food online, it’s also the home to the widest online supermarket range in the UK and champion of small, independent brands. We’re also the brains behind Zoom by Ocado, our same-day grocery delivery service.

About The Team And The Role

The Legal and Compliance team is fully integrated across the whole business and we work closely with our colleagues to ensure they meet their strategic objectives. We are a small team, ambitious and curious, and we like to find innovative and commercial solutions to tricky legal problems. The role of Legal Counsel is a key member of that team, reporting directly into our Lead Lawyer. This role provides commercial legal support including: advising and supporting the business on commercial contracts, data protection, regulatory matters including consumer law, competition law and marketing guidelines, intellectual property and litigation / disputes.

What You’ll Do

Legal Counsel will support Ocado Retail’s pursuit of its commercial ambitions in a legally compliant way. Examples of the work undertaken by a Legal Counsel include the following:

• Responsibility for providing day-to-day legal advice to the business.


• Effective business partnering which facilitates and supports proactive issue spotting and problem solving.


• Reviewing, drafting, negotiating and advising on a range of commercial contracts, including contracts for goods and services, logistics contracts, data processing agreements, IT and software contracts.


• Advising on consumer laws and advertising and marketing laws.


• Advising on GSCOP and competition law.


• Advising on escalated customer claims.


• Advising on litigation matters.


• Developing and providing training to the business.


• Remaining current with the latest regulations, trends and leading practices and responding accordingly including proactively advising the business ahead of regulatory changes to ensure compliance.

Who You Are

Minimum

• Qualified solicitor with post qualification experience as a general commercial lawyer.


• Sound commercial awareness and good communication skills.


• Pragmatic, commercial and risk-based approach.


• Flexibility and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.


• Excellent attention to detail and organisational skills.


• Ability to work to deadlines and manage competing demands from various stakeholders.


• Experience using AI to support day to day work.


• Desire to work in a fast paced, dynamic and high growth business.

Preferred (not Required)

• Consumer law experience, preferably Retail / eCommerce.


• Experience of any one or more of the following areas: Competition law, Employment law, Groceries Supply Code of Practice, Data Protection.


• Private practice experience.

What’s In It For You

By joining Ocado Retail, you’ll have the chance to experience life at the world’s largest online retailer, work with an amazing bunch of people who challenge what’s possible each day, and grow your skills and career in online retail. You’ll also be part of our AI Academy, a dedicated learning journey designed to empower every colleague with the smart technology skills of the future.

If that’s not enough to tempt you, you’ll also get access to loads of great benefits to sweeten the deal. Here’s a taste of what we offer:

Health & Wellbeing

Private medical insurance with option to add your family, Digital GP appointments, market-leading family policies, mental health support, discounted gym memberships, dental insurance, and more.

Spend & Save

Annual bonus scheme split between personal and business objectives, recognition with reward platform, up to 7% matched pension contributions, 15% Ocado discount, 20% M&S discount, free breakfast every day in the office, electric vehicle leasing scheme, and free shuttle bus from Hatfield station to the office.

Never miss the moments that matter

Hybrid working, 26 days holiday plus 8 flexible bank holidays, options to buy extra holiday, 2 weeks work from anywhere, and lifestyle break opportunities.

Our Hiring Process

Lucky for us, we receive a high volume of applications and genuinely appreciate the time and effort invested by every candidate. To ensure a fair and thorough process, every application is reviewed by a member of our team. If your skills and experience are a strong match, a Talent Partner will contact you to discuss the role and guide you through the next steps of our hiring process.

Your Application and AI

In the spirit of innovation, we welcome you to use AI tools in your application, just as we use them in our own business at Ocado Retail. However, as you leverage this technology, please don’t lose sight of the most important element: your unique self. Your experiences, passions, and personality are what truly set you apart. Ensure that your application still authentically conveys who you are and why you’re a great fit for us.

Everyone’s welcome

We’re an equal opportunities employer, which means that we make sure all potential colleagues are treated fairly and equally. We want to ensure everyone has a fair chance to apply; if you need this job description in an alternative format (e.g., larger print, different document type, etc.), please reach out to us at [e-mail] and we’ll be happy to assist you, and if you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know on the application form.