Legal Counsel

Think Legal Recruitment; West Yorkshire; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Mentoring from General Counsel

Job summary

Our client is one of the UK's most established names in the video games industry and is looking to hire an early-career solicitor to join the in-house team near Sheffield. You will work directly with the General Counsel on a broad commercial portfolio and develop your legal career in a fast-moving, creative sector.

The role centers on drafting and negotiating commercial contracts (about 75% of the work), advising on data protection and GDPR, and assisting with employment, property and corporate

Qualifications

• To be a qualified solicitor in England and Wales with up to 2 years PQE.
• Solid grounding in commercial law from private practice or in-house.
• Within commuting distance of Sheffield or willing to relocate; hybrid with time in Sheffield.
• Genuine passion for video games and understanding of industry at technical/commercial level.
• Curiosity and enthusiasm for learning; mentorship from GC.

Responsibilities

• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating a broad range of commercial contracts (≈75% of work).
• Advising on data protection matters and GDPR compliance.
• Assisting with employment law, commercial property queries and corporate matters as they arise.
• Developing understanding of how games are made, operated and published to advise the business.
• Working closely with the General Counsel who will mentor and support across the role.
• Building relationships with internal stakeholders across studios and business functions.

Skills

Commercial law

In-house experience

Data protection

GDPR

Employment law

Interpersonal skills

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Solicitor England & Wales

Job description

Our client is one of the UK's most established and respected names in the video games industry.

With a presence spanning multiple studios & a track record of working on some of the biggest titles in gaming, this is a business that sits at the heart of a genuinely exciting and fast-moving global sector.

The legal team is small, experienced and closely embedded in the business, working directly alongside senior leadership on a wide range of commercial and operational matters. The General Counsel has built the function carefully over a number of years and is now looking to bring in a talented early-career lawyer who shares a genuine passion for what the business does.

Due to the confidential nature of this search, the client name will be shared with suitable candidates at the appropriate stage.

The Opportunity

This is a rare early-career opportunity to join a genuinely well-known gaming business at a junior in-house level and develop your legal career in one of the most dynamic and creative sectors in the world.

You will work closely with the General Counsel on a broad and varied commercial portfolio, gaining exposure to areas well beyond what most lawyers at this stage of their career would typically encounter. This is not a narrow role — it is a genuine opportunity to grow.

The Role

Working directly alongside the General Counsel, your responsibilities will include:

• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating a broad range of commercial contracts — this will form the majority of your day-to-day work, approximately 75% of the role
• Advising on data protection matters and supporting GDPR compliance across the business
• Assisting with employment law matters, commercial property queries and corporate matters as they arise
• Developing an understanding of how games are made, operated and published to enable you to advise the business effectively and with genuine commercial insight
• Working closely with the General Counsel who will provide mentoring, guidance and support across all areas of the role
• Building relationships with internal stakeholders across studios and business functions

The Candidate

To be considered for this role you will need:

• To be a qualified solicitor in England and Wales with up to 2 years post-qualification experience
• A solid grounding in commercial law from private practice or a previous in-house role
• To be within commuting distance of Sheffield or willing to relocate — the role is hybrid with regular time in the Sheffield office near Meadowhall
• A genuine passion for video games and a desire to understand the industry at a technical and commercial level — this matters as much as your legal background
• A curiosity and enthusiasm for learning — the General Counsel will invest in your development and is looking for someone who wants to grow with the business
• The confidence and interpersonal skills to work directly with senior people across a creative and fast-moving organisation
• A technology or gaming background would be a significant advantage but is not essential for the right candidate

Key Attractions

• The opportunity to work on legal matters for some of the biggest names and titles in the global video games industry
• Direct, day-to-day mentoring from an experienced General Counsel in a genuinely supportive environment
• Rare early-career in-house exposure to a broad range of legal disciplines well beyond what private practice typically offers at this level
• A creative, collaborative and genuinely exciting business culture in one of the UK's most respected gaming companies
• Hybrid working from a Yorkshire base with flexible arrangements
• A role with real long-term potential — the business has a track record of developing its legal team from within