Legal Counsel - Commercial

Michael Page; Coventry; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Group bonus up to 15%

27 days' annual leave

Additional company holiday

Buy/sell up to five days' annual leave

8% employer pension contributions

Private medical insurance

Access to 24/7 digital GP

Flexible working options

Healthcare, dental, wellbeing benefits

Professional development & funded mem­

Paid volunteering time

Job summary

Michael Page is representing a major housing-focused client in the West Midlands seeking a Lead Legal Counsel - Commercial. You will head the commercial legal function, advise on strategic matters and develop a team of lawyers and paralegals while ensuring governance and regulatory compliance.

Reporting to the General Counsel, the role offers hybrid working, a competitive salary and a strong focus on professional development and external training.

Qualifications

• Significant post-qualification experience in commercial contracts.
• Experience advising on complex, high-value contracts and strategic arrangements.
• Ability to provide pragmatic, commercially-focused advice to senior stakeholders.
• Experience supervising or managing lawyers and paralegals.
• Familiar with public procurement, framework agreements or regulated contracting.

Responsibilities

• Act as senior legal lead for commercial contracts, procurement and related matters.
• Advise on complex, high-value contracts, frameworks and partnerships.
• Lead and develop the in-house commercial legal team.
• Support procurement activity with legal compliance and risk allocation.
• Manage external advisers to ensure quality and cost efficiency.
• Collaborate with senior stakeholders to balance commercial objectives with governance.
• Develop commercial templates, playbooks and practical guidance.
• Support General Counsel with wider legal leadership and strategic projects.

Skills

Commercial contracts

Team leadership

Stakeholder management

Public procurement

In-house experience

Education

Solicitor / Barrister / Legal Executive with practising certificate

Job description

An excellent opportunity has arisen for a Lead Legal Counsel - Commercial to join a major purpose-led organisation in the West Midlands.

Reporting directly to the General Counsel, you'll lead the commercial legal function, advise on strategically important matters and manage and develop a team of lawyers and paralegals.

Client Details

Our client is a large, commercially focused and socially responsible housing organisation that reinvests its surplus into improving homes, services and local communities.

The organisation has created a diverse and inclusive working environment where different perspectives are valued. It also places considerable emphasis on professional development, supporting colleagues through external training, professional qualifications and funded memberships.

Description

The Lead Legal Counsel - Commercial will be:

• Acting as the senior legal lead for commercial contracts, procurement and wider commercial matters.
• Advising on complex and high-value contracts, frameworks, collaboration agreements and strategic partnerships.
• Leading and developing the in-house commercial legal team, including supervising lawyers, paralegals and legal assistants.
• Supporting procurement activity by advising on legal compliance, risk allocation and commercial contracting strategy.
• Managing external legal advisers to ensure consistent quality, value and cost-effective support.
• Working closely with senior stakeholders to enable commercial objectives while maintaining appropriate regulatory and governance standards.
• Developing commercial templates, playbooks and practical legal guidance across the organisation.
• Supporting the General Counsel with wider legal leadership and strategic projects.

Profile

The Lead Legal Counsel - Commercial should be:

• A solicitor, barrister or legal executive with significant post-qualification experience in commercial contracts and a current practising certificate.
• Experienced in advising on complex, high-value commercial contracts and strategic arrangements.
• Able to provide clear, pragmatic and commercially focused advice within a large or complex organisation.
• Experienced in supervising, mentoring or managing lawyers and other legal professionals.
• Confident engaging with and influencing senior stakeholders across legal, procurement and operational teams.
• Ideally experienced within an in-house, regulated, public sector or not-for-profit environment.
• Familiar with public procurement, framework agreements or regulated contracting arrangements.
• Exposure to the social housing or local government sectors would be advantageous but isn't essential.

Job Offer

This is a genuine legal leadership opportunity offering a salary of £75,000-£85,000, hybrid working and the chance to shape a growing commercial legal function.

The wider benefits package includes:

• Group bonus potential of up to 15% of salary.
• 27 days' annual leave, increasing with service.
• Bank holidays plus an additional company holiday.
• The ability to buy or sell up to five days' annual leave.
• Employer-matched pension contributions of up to 8%.
• Employer-funded private medical insurance and access to a 24/7 digital GP.
• Enhanced family-friendly benefits and flexible working options.
• Healthcare, dental, wellbeing and lifestyle benefits.
• Professional development, external training and funded professional memberships.
• Paid volunteering time and access to a comprehensive employee assistance programme.

Desired Skills and Experience

Lead Legal Counsel, Commercial Lawyer, In-House Counsel, Commercial Contracts, Procurement Law, Public Procurement, Framework Agreements, Strategic Partnerships, Contract Negotiation, Legal Leadership, Social Housing, Regulatory Compliance, Stakehold