Legal Counsel

DWF; Manchester, Liverpool; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

DWF, a leading global provider of integrated legal and business services, is seeking a Legal Counsel in Manchester to join its Group Legal team. The role offers hybrid working with regular presence in the Liverpool or Manchester office.

You will draft and negotiate commercial contracts, provide practical legal advice, manage risk, and support governance and corporate projects. The ideal candidate has 1–3 years' PQE in commercial law and strong communication skills.

Qualifications

• Qualified Solicitor (England & Wales) with 1–3 years' PQE.
• Experience in commercial contracts and/or commercial litigation.
• Strong analytical and risk assessment skills.
• Ability to provide practical, business-focused legal advice.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Interest in legal technology and process improvement.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review and negotiate commercial contracts, including client, supplier and technology agreements.
• Provide day-to-day legal advice to stakeholders across the business.
• Identify and manage legal and commercial risks.
• Support corporate projects, governance initiatives, restructures and due diligence activities.
• Assist with disputes and litigation matters.
• Develop legal policies, templates, guidance and training materials.
• Drive process improvements and adoption of AI and technology solutions.
• Build relationships across the Group and with external legal partners.

Skills

Commercial contracts

Commercial litigation

Risk assessment

Stakeholder management

Business-focused advice

Communication skills

Legal technology

Education

Qualified Solicitor (England & Wales)

Job description

Why join us?

DWF is seeking a Legal Counsel to join its Group Legal team, providing in-house legal support across commercial contracts, corporate matters, governance, data protection, employment, disputes and regulatory issues.

Reporting to the Group General Counsel, you'll deliver practical, commercially focused advice, support legal risk management, and contribute to policy development, governance and continuous improvement initiatives.

The role is hybrid, with a minimum of one day per week in either the Liverpool or Manchester office. We are flexible to discuss this for the right candidate.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities:

The role will support the Group Legal team across the full range of legal and governance matters affecting the business, including:

• Draft, review and negotiate commercial contracts, including client, supplier and technology agreements.
• Provide day-to-day legal advice to stakeholders across the business.
• Identify and manage legal and commercial risks.
• Support corporate projects, governance initiatives, restructures and due diligence activities.
• Assist with disputes and litigation matters.
• Develop legal policies, templates, guidance and training materials.
• Drive process improvements, legal operations and the adoption of AI and technology solutions.
• Build strong relationships across the Group and external legal partners.

The above is not an exhaustive list of duties and you will be expected to perform different tasks as necessitated by your changing role within the organisation and the overall business objectives of the organisation

What will help you succeed in this role?

Essential Requirements;

• Qualified Solicitor (England & Wales) with approximately 1-3 years' PQE.
• Experience in commercial contracts and/or commercial litigation.
• Strong analytical and risk assessment skills.
• Ability to provide practical, business-focused legal advice.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Interest in legal technology and process improvement.

Desirable;

• Previous in-house experience or a strong interest in developing broad commercial legal expertise.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage competing priorities.
• Collaborative, adaptable and solutions-focused approach.

What we offer?

We are committed to ensuring that each member of our team feels valued and duly rewarded during their time at DWF.

We are an equal opportunities employer that celebrates diversity, and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all. We aim to create a positive experience for all candidates and offer any adjustments or additional support needed. You may be the right candidate for the role or others across the wider team.

About us

DWF is a leading global provider of integrated legal and business services. Our approach delivers efficiency, price certainty and transparency for our clients across the world without compromising on quality or service. Our purpose is to deliver positive outcomes with our colleagues, clients and communities and we foster a culture that places our colleagues at the centre of all that we do.