Legal Counsel - Commercial Lawyer - Associate Director - Permanent - London

Ernst & Young; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 73,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global professional services firm is seeking a Senior Legal Counsel – Commercial Lawyer to support their UK Legal team. Responsibilities include advising and negotiating various complex commercial agreements including Master Services and collaboration agreements. The ideal candidate has at least 8 years of post-qualification experience and adept in handling fast-paced environments, with a strong focus on building relationships and commercial awareness. This role comes with a competitive benefits package and offers flexibility in working arrangements.

Benefits

Support and coaching from colleagues

Opportunities for career development

Flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• 8 or more years of post‑qualification experience.
• Significant experience gained in‑house.
• Ability to handle fast-paced environments.

Responsibilities

• Advise, draft, and negotiate Master Services Agreements.
• Provide legal advice to service lines and internal functions.
• Advise on and draft complex commercial contracts.

Skills

Commercial awareness

Negotiation

Legal drafting

Relationship building

Self-starter

Education

Post-qualification experience (8+ years)

Job description

Overview

The Senior Legal Counsel – Commercial Lawyer role is part of EY’s UK Legal team, led by General Counsel Lisa Cameron. The team of 36 lawyers (plus 4 paralegals) supports the entire UK business, advising on contracts, government agreements, technology, GenAI, and more.

Responsibilities

• Advise, draft and negotiate Master Services Agreements and Global Framework Agreements with clients.
• Advise, draft and negotiate large complex commercial contracts, increasingly related to AI.
• Advise, draft and negotiate Managed services and outsourcing agreements.
• Advise, draft and negotiate Subcontracts, where EY is either the prime or the subcontractor.
• Advise, draft and negotiate Collaboration agreements.
• Advise, draft and negotiate Software and Licensing agreements, both traditional and SaaS.
• Advise, draft and negotiate Government and public sector agreements.
• Advise on the use of technology, including GenAI, and the provision of technology related services.
• Advise on tenders and RFP responses.
• Advise on, draft and negotiate contracts with suppliers.
• Provide legal advice to the firm’s service lines and its other internal support functions such as real estate and facilities, procurement, finance, Talent, IT, knowledge and marketing, and lead firm‑wide projects.

Qualifications

• 8 or more years of post‑qualification experience.
• Significant experience gained in‑house.
• Practical legal advice and support with a high degree of professionalism in a fast‑paced environment.
• Self‑starter, adept at responding promptly and juggling deadlines, building relationships based on trust and confidence.
• Demonstrable commitment to the attributes of EY’s highest performing teams – focus on results, accountability, embracing healthy conflict, and building trust.
• Ability to keep calm and cope well with conflicting and ever‑changing deadlines.
• Ability to lead, provide a view, take responsibility and ownership of issues, including difficult decisions and substantiated arguments.
• Commercial awareness of the business issues and an active desire to scan the horizon for new service offerings to provide legal insight and support.
• Ideally, experience of advising on the use of GenAI in the context of service provision and experience of using GenAI in the provision of legal services.

Benefits

• Support, coaching and feedback from engaging colleagues.
• Opportunities to develop new skills and progress your career.
• The freedom and flexibility to handle your role in a way that’s right for you.

Compensation

£72,120 per year (estimated). Permanent, new position. EY offers a competitive Total Rewards package including flexible working, career development, holidays, health and well‑being, insurance, savings and a range of discounts.

Equal Opportunities

EY is committed to being an inclusive employer and we are happy to consider flexible working arrangements.