Legal Counsel

The Citation Group; Wilmslow; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 Days of Holiday

Birthday Bliss

Post-Wedding Bliss

Growing Families

Healthcare cash plan

Job summary

The Citation Group is seeking a Legal Counsel based in Wilmslow. You will shape commercial, corporate, M&A and data-related legal work, partnering with senior stakeholders to enable growth while staying pragmatic and compliant.

From day one, you’ll take ownership of commercial agreements and client contracts, draw on external partners, and help steer governance questions connected to AI, products and data strategy.

Qualifications

• Experience in company commercial law.
• Strong business acumen and judgement.
• Ability to work with external counsel and internal stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead across commercial agreements and client contracts.
• Support elements of M&A activity as needed.
• Advise on governance, regulatory and risk matters arising from AI, product and data strategy.

Job description

Legal Counsel

Wilmslow Based

Citation Group is a high-growth, PE-backed business with big ambitions. Backed by Hg, KKR and HarbourVest, we’ve delivered double-digit growth year on year for over a decade – through organic growth, acquisition and continued investment in our products and services.

But the growth has a purpose. We proudly support SMEs to build better businesses and safer workplaces, with measurable impact: Citation clients are 92% less likely to face an employment tribunal, over 60% less likely to experience a serious workplace accident and over 50% less likely to suffer a workplace fatality.

As the Group continues to scale, acquire businesses and invest in AI, technology, products and data, the legal questions we need to navigate are becoming broader and more interesting too.

That’s what makes this role particularly exciting.

This isn’t a Legal Counsel role where you’ll spend your days simply reviewing contracts and telling the business what it can’t do.

You’ll use your legal expertise, commercial judgement and relationship skills to help enable the Group’s growth.

With a background in company commercial law, you’ll take the lead across commercial agreements and client contracts, support elements of M&A, and gain increasing exposure to the legal and governance questions created by our AI, product and data strategy.

You won’t be expected to know everything. You’ll have access to specialist external expertise, including Addleshaw Goddard and DWF, alongside support from the wider Group. What we do expect is good judgement – knowing when to solve something yourself, when to bring in expertise and how to get the business to a pragmatic answer at pace.

Why this role stands out

• Breadth – commercial, corporate, M&A, AI, product, technology and data exposure that most in-house roles at this level simply won’t offer.
• A genuine growth story – you’ll be supporting a PE-backed Group that is actively growing, acquiring and investing rather than maintaining the status quo.
• Real business impact – Legal is here to enable good decisions and sustainable growth, not sit on the sidelines.
• Autonomy from day one – we want your judgement and commercial thinking, not just your execution.
• Access to excellent expertise – including our external legal partners and Hg’s in-house legal team, who openly share guidance and market insight.
• A function you can help shape – you’re joining while the team and its ways of working are still evolving, rather than inheriting someone else’s finished playbook.
• Leadership exposure and progression – you’ll deputise for the Group Legal Counsel where appropriate and support the development of our Legal Assistant, building your own leadership capability as the function grows.
• Brilliant people – we put as much emphasis on attitude and behaviours as technical expertise. You’ll work with senior stakeholders across the Group in a culture that values pace, pragmatism and getting things done.

Here’s just a taste of the perks we roll out for our extraordinary team members:

• 25 Days of Holiday, plus 8 Bank Holidays: We’re talking sun-soaked beaches, snow-capped mountains, or simply your favourite cosy spot at home. Take your well-deserved break with 25 days of holiday, plus those cherished bank holidays.
• Birthday Bliss: Your birthday isn’t just another day on the calendar; it’s YOUR day! Enjoy it in style with a day off, because at Citation, we believe in celebrating YOU.
• Post-Wedding Bliss: Newlyweds, we’ve got something special for you too! Extra weeks of holiday to bask in the glow of post-wedding happiness.
• Growing Families: We’re all about supporting our Citation family, and that includes expectant parents. Vouchers and special perks await to celebrate the newest addition to your family.
• Healthcare cash plan: Your well-being is our priority. That’s why we offer private healthcare to ensure your peace of mind and keep you feeling your best.