Legal Counsel

Key Appointments (UK) Ltd; Runcorn; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading international group in Runcorn seeks an experienced Group Associate Legal Counsel. In this role, you will manage legal matters, advise on compliance, and interact with senior management. The ideal candidate is a qualified lawyer with at least 3 years PQE and strong skills in contract negotiation. This position offers flexible hours and opportunities for professional development in a hybrid working environment.

Benefits

Generous holiday allowance

Flexible hours and hybrid working

Professional development opportunities

Mental health initiatives

Physical wellbeing support

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years PQE as a qualified Lawyer.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments effectively.
• Attention to detail and innovative thinking.

Responsibilities

• Draft and manage contracts across the full lifecycle.
• Provide legal advice to management on various matters.
• Support compliance with financial regulations.

Skills

Qualified Lawyer

Strong expertise in commercial contracts

Excellent communication skills

Strong understanding of relevant laws

Highly organised

Education

Relevant degree (or equivalent)

Job description

Overview

Legal Counsel
Permanent | Full-Time | Runcorn | Hybrid

Are you a qualified Lawyer looking for your next in-house role? Do you want the chance to build a legal function and make a real impact on a growing international group? We are looking for an experienced Lawyer to join a global group of companies as Group Associate Legal Counsel. This is an exciting, brand-new opportunity where you'll take ownership of legal matters across the business, shaping strategy and ensuring compliance at every level. With regular interaction with the Board, Group Companies, operational sites, suppliers and customers, this role is ideal for a self-starter who thrives at pace and is ready to influence at a senior level.

What’s on offer

• Generous holiday allowance with buy/sell holiday scheme
• Flexible hours and hybrid working
• Genuine professional development opportunities through external training and internal programmes
• Mental health initiatives, including free therapy and counselling
• Physical wellbeing support and challenges

What you’ll be doing

• Drafting, reviewing, negotiating and managing contracts across the full lifecycle for both customer and supplier side
• Providing legal advice and guidance to management and departments on a wide range of matters
• Managing and developing relationships with external lawyers on various projects
• Advising on M&A transactions
• Supporting compliance with financial regulations, data protection laws, ABC and money laundering requirements
• Developing and implementing policies and procedures for legal compliance and risk management
• Organising and managing legal filings and documentation
• Delivering legal training and education to employees

What you’ll need

Essential

• Qualified Lawyer with a minimum of 3 years PQE and a relevant degree (or equivalent)
• Strong expertise in preparing, reviewing and negotiating commercial contracts and handling corporate matters
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Strong understanding of relevant laws and regulations
• Highly organised with exceptional attention to detail
• Ability to manage multiple assignments and priorities effectively

Desirable

• Previous in-house experience or secondment from private practice
• Exposure to the chemicals/industrial sectors
• Experience with private or public corporate transactions
• Familiarity with intellectual property law
• Company secretarial experience
• Experience managing external counsel and budgets
• Interest in Legal AI tools

About the company

This group maintains a portfolio of Material and Life Science companies, committed to delivering chemistry-based solutions for a better life today and a better world tomorrow. Headquartered in the UK, they operate in over 90 countries and have been market leaders in the chemical industry since 2004. Their culture is collaborative, innovative, and supportive, encouraging creativity and fairness across the business.

Next Steps

If shortlisted, our client will contact you directly to discuss the role and your experience further. We will update unsuccessful applicants once we have received feedback from the client. Key Appointments UK Ltd will assess your suitability for the role based on the information contained in your CV and application. This includes skills, experience, education, and location. By applying for this role, you give consent for your CV to be processed by Key Appointments for recruitment purposes. Our full Privacy Policy is available at key-appointments.