Legal Counsel

UnitedHealth Group; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Optum in the UK is seeking a qualified Legal Counsel to join the Legal, Compliance, Privacy and Contracts team. You will handle a broad range of commercial and regulatory matters, reporting to a Senior Legal Counsel, with genuine responsibility from day one.

This hybrid role is based in Leeds, requiring about two days in the office per week, with remote work rest of the time. The ideal candidate has 1–5 years' UK experience in commercial contract law and data governance.

Qualifications

• Qualified lawyer in the UK with 1–5 years' relevant experience
• Strong grounding in commercial contract law
• Experience or interest in information governance and data matters
• Excellent drafting, analytical and communication skills
• Ability to manage competing priorities under pressure

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality, timely legal advice across the business
• Draft, negotiate and advise on SaaS, licensing, subcontracting and reseller agreements
• Support data governance, regulatory compliance and dispute matters
• Advise on healthcare sector issues such as licensing and information governance
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support business objectives
• Assist with mergers, acquisitions and restructuring activities
• Contribute to risk management and compliance initiatives
• Deliver legal training to internal stakeholders
• Build strong relationships across the organisation

Skills

UK qualified lawyer

Commercial contract law

Information governance

Stakeholder management

Drafting contracts

Job description

Are you a qualified legal professional looking to broaden your experience in a dynamic, fast-paced organisation?

Do you thrive in an environment where you're empowered to take ownership, work collaboratively, and support meaningful innovation? If so, we encourage you to read on.

About the Team / Business Area:

The Legal, Compliance, Privacy and Contracts team supports the organisation across a wide range of commercial, regulatory and governance matters. The team works closely with all business areas, providing pragmatic and commercially focused legal advice while ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

You'll be joining a collaborative and supportive team of experienced professionals, working at the heart of a growing digital healthcare business undergoing significant transformation.

About the Role:

This is an excellent opportunity to join as a Legal Counsel, reporting to one of the Senior Legal Counsels. From day one, you will be given genuine responsibility and exposure to a broad range of legal and compliance matters across the business.

You will work closely with senior stakeholders, including the General Counsel, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to support business objectives while developing your legal expertise and commercial awareness.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide high-quality, timely and pragmatic legal advice across the business
• Draft, negotiate and advise on a wide range of commercial agreements, including SaaS, software licensing, subcontracting and reseller agreements
• Support business teams on data governance, regulatory compliance, and dispute-related matters
• Advise on healthcare sector-specific issues such as licensing, mobile health and information governance
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including product and commercial teams, to support business objectives
• Assist with mergers, acquisitions and corporate restructuring activities
• Contribute to risk management and compliance initiatives
• Deliver legal training and guidance to internal stakeholders
• Build and maintain strong working relationships across the organisation

Who You Are:

You are a commercially minded and proactive legal professional with a strong grounding in contract law and a willingness to learn. You are confident handling a variety of legal matters, including unfamiliar areas, and thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.

You bring excellent communication, analytical and stakeholder management skills, enabling you to influence and support decision-making across the organisation.

Key Skills, Experience & Qualifications:

• Qualified lawyer in the UK with 1-5 years' relevant experience
• Strong grounding in commercial contract law, with other backgrounds considered where transferable skills are demonstrated
• Experience or interest in information governance and data-related matters
• Commercially minded with a pragmatic approach to problem-solving
• Excellent drafting, analytical and communication skills
• Ability to manage competing priorities and work under pressure
• Confidence in handling a variety of legal matters, including unfamiliar areas
• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building capabilities

Working Arrangements:

This is a hybrid role based in Leeds, with an expectation of approximately two days per week in the office and the remainder working remotely.

Take the Next Step in Your Career With Us:

Optum | EMIS is a leading provider of digital healthcare technology, supporting healthcare professionals and organisations with innovative software solutions that improve patient care.

Following its acquisition in March 2026, the business is entering an exciting phase of growth and transformation, including the adoption of AI-driven services. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to shaping the future of digital healthcare.

If this sounds like the right next step for you, we'd love to hear from you. If you have any questions about the role or would like an informal conversation before applying, please feel free to reach out to the hiring manager.

Careers with Optum.

We built an entire organization around one giant objective; make the health system work better for everyone. So when it comes to how we use the world's large accumulation of health-related information, or guide health and lifestyle choices or manage pharmacy benefits for millions, our first goal is to leap beyond the status quo and uncover new ways to serve. Optum, part of the UnitedHealth Group family of businesses, brings together some of the greatest minds and most advanced ideas on where health care has to go in order to reach its fullest potential. For you, that means working on high performance teams against sophisticated challenges that matter. Optum, incredible ideas in one incredible company and a singular opportunity to do your life's best work. SM

Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. UnitedHealth Group is a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.