Legal Counsel

N BROWN; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

24 days holiday (+ 8 bank holidays)

Annual bonus scheme

Enhanced maternity and adoption leave

Company pension with up to 8% N Brown

Mental Health support

Financial wellbeing support

Stream - pay tracking tool

Colleague discount across all N Brown

Onsite café with subsidised rates

Private Medical Insurance

Paid volunteer time

Job summary

N Brown, a leading UK digital retail platform, is seeking a Legal Counsel to join its Legal Services team at its Head Office in central Manchester. You will handle a wide range of commercial legal matters supporting all brands and business areas.

You will work autonomously with support from an experienced team, advising on IP, IT, advertising, financial services, consumer rights, data and privacy, and disputes. This is a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor with 2-4 years PQE.
• Strong commercial contract drafting and negotiation experience.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills (including legal drafting).
• Team player with a positive can-do attitude.
• Ability to work autonomously under pressure in a fast-paced digital environment.
• Organised and able to manage own workload and prioritise tasks.
• Financial services and consumer/retail experience helpful but not compulsory.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements across brands.
• Provide timely advice to colleagues across Brand, Customer Services, IT and Product.
• Advise on contract terminations, renewals and variations.
• Manage small claims and disputes and advise on litigation strategy.
• Support Head of Legal and Senior Legal Counsel on transformational projects.
• Monitor future legislation and advise on regulatory changes.
• Assist with IP protection and registration guidance.
• Support GDPR compliance and data protection enquiries.
• Assist with AI project rollout and related legal considerations.
• Design and deliver training on regulatory matters.

Skills

Contract drafting

Negotiation

Legal drafting

Communication

Autonomous work

Education

Qualified solicitor

Job description

We're looking for a Legal Counsel to join our Legal Services team! N Brown is looking for a Legal Counsel to join its Legal Services team at our Head Office in central Manchester. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a high-performing team in a busy, agile and fast-moving digital retail business. You will deal with a variety of retail-focussed, commercial legal issues and support all our brands and business areas.

This role will allow you to work autonomously and manage your own workload with support from an experienced and professional Legal team. As Legal Counsel you will report directly to our Head of Legal and be actively supported by our Senior Legal Counsel.

The role offers exposure to all parts of the business and the opportunity to expand your legal skills in a variety of areas (such as intellectual property, IT, advertising, financial services and consumer rights, data and privacy, and dispute resolution/litigation) whilst making a real difference to our business.

What will you do as a Legal Counsel at N Brown?

• Draft, review and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements (including consumer-facing terms, brand, media & marketing service agreements, product supply agreements, IT & software agreements and various other retail-focussed service agreements).
• Provide timely and efficient advice to colleagues and stakeholders across all business areas, including Brand & Marketing, Customer Services, IT and Product.
• Advise on and action contract terminations, renewals, variations and other enquiries.
• Manage and conduct small claims and escalated disputes with consumers and suppliers, and advise on litigation strategy (in compliance with the relevant civil procedure rules and practice directions).
• Participate in transformational business projects and provide general support as required to Head of Legal and Senior Legal Counsel.
• Keep up to date with future legislation and regulatory changes and proactively identify and update the business on risks and implement changes and solutions to mitigate them where necessary.
• Assist with protecting the company's existing intellectual property and provide guidance and support on the registration of new intellectual property.
• Support the Data Protection and Privacy Office with respect to GDPR compliance and other data protection related enquiries.
• Support and advise on the roll out of AI projects and use cases across the business, helping to identify and manage associated legal and regulatory considerations.
• Assist with the design and delivery of training and updates to various business areas on regulatory and legislative matters and best practice in areas such as consumer rights and data protection.

What skills and experience will you have?

• Qualified solicitor with 2 - 4 years PQE
• Strong commercial contract drafting and negotiation experience
• Strong written and verbal communication skills (including legal drafting)
• Team player with a positive "can do" attitude
• Ability to work autonomously under pressure in a fast-paced digital environment
• Organised and able to manage own workload and prioritise tasks accordingly
• Financial services and consumer / retail experience would be helpful but not compulsory

What's in it for you?

• Hybrid working
• 24 days holiday (+ 8 bank holidays)
• Annual bonus scheme
• Enhanced maternity and adoption leave
• Company pension with up to 8% N Brown contribution
• Mental Health support both internally and externally, including access to our wellbeing champions and counselling services
• A range of financial wellbeing support
• Stream - a financial wellbeing tool that helps you track your pay, access earnings early and manage your money with confidence
• Colleague discount across all N Brown brands
• Onsite café with subsidised rates and local restaurant discounts!
• Life Assurance and Private Medical Insurance
• Paid volunteer time - all our colleagues can take a full day paid to volunteer for a charity of their choice

N Brown - who we are and why work for us?

N Brown is a leading UK digital retail platform for clothing, footwear, home and technology, headquartered in Manchester and employing over 1,000 people nationwide. Through our strategic retail brands JD Williams, Jacamo and Simply Be and our unique payments offering, we exist to champion inclusivity and serve the underserved. Our customers are our passion and we take great pride in delivering products that ensure they can look and feel amazing, without compromising on choice, value and accessibility.

We're committed to building a diverse workforce and creating an inclusive environment that values equality for all. Our vision is that 'By championing inclusion, N Brown will become the UK's most loved and trusted consumer platform, shaping the future of financial empowerment and personal expression'. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging are, therefore, at the heart of our culture.

In May 2024 we were delighted to be named one of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2024. We work hard to create a happy and inclusive culture for everyone and we're so proud to have made this list - as voted for by our very own colleagues!

Ways of Working

We offer hybrid working which varies across the business depending on the role you're in. Our Head Office is located in the Northern Quarter in Manchester City Centre. So if you are travelling by train, tram or bus we're perfectly located, plus we're surrounded by cool cafes, trendy bars and the best places to eat!

Our working hours are 36.17 per week over 5 days.

We believe AI will become a standard part of modern professional practice. We are therefore looking for individuals who are open to learning, testing, and responsibly adopting AI tools to improve efficiency, insight, and impact in their role.

Our promise to you:

We're an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.