Legal Counsel - Corporate

Rentokil Initial; Crawley; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

23 days holiday + 8 bank holidays

Healthcare

Death in service benefit

Free parking

Employee Assistance Programme

Rentokil Initial Reward Scheme

Competitive salary and bonus scheme

Job summary

Rentokil Initial is seeking a highly skilled Legal Counsel to lead corporate and commercial legal operations across the UK and Irish business. You will manage a diverse matter caseload, negotiate major contracts, and advise business leaders in a fast-paced environment.

The role encompasses risk management, procurement, AI-enabled processes, and collaboration with regional counsel, with a hybrid working model and competitive rewards.

Qualifications

• Qualified lawyer in England & Wales (or equivalent jurisdiction) with at least 5 PQE.
• Corporate & commercial contracting principles knowledge.
• Public procurement experience or exposure.
• Hands-on experience with AI tools in legal practice.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate complex commercial terms, framework agreements, procurement tenders, and variations.
• Lead end-to-end negotiations for major supplier and customer contracts.
• Provide practical legal counsel on risk, corporate principles, insurance, and finance matters.
• Navigate construction project insurance, collateral warranties, performance bonds, and claims management.
• Design legal training programs, update contract templates, optimize processes, and leverage AI to boost efficiency.
• Collaborate with Regional GC and external panel counsel on high-impact issues.

Skills

5+ years PQE

Contract negotiations

Risk management

Cross-functional advisory

AI in legal

Education

Qualified lawyer in England & Wales

Job description

Shape High-Stakes Deals for a Global FTSE100 Powerhouse

Ready to tackle complex commercial deals, drive innovation, and safeguard a world-leading global brand? Rentokil Initial is hiring a high-performing Legal Counsel to lead corporate and commercial legal operations across our UK and Irish business.

As part of a FTSE100 company operating in over 90 countries, you will manage a diverse matter caseload, steer major contract negotiations, and advise business leaders in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.

Core Responsibilities & Impact

• High-Value Contracting: Draft, review, and negotiate complex commercial terms, framework agreements, procurement tenders, and variations.
• Commercial Strategy: Lead end-to-end negotiations for major supplier and customer contracts while balancing commercial agility with risk mitigation.
• Cross-Functional Advisory: Provide practical legal counsel on risk, corporate principles, insurance, and finance matters.
• Specialized Risk Management: Navigate construction project insurance, collateral warranties, performance bonds, and claims management.
• Legal Enablement & AI Integration: Design legal training programs, update contract templates, optimize legal processes, and leverage AI capabilities to boost efficiency.
• Strategic Counsel: Collaborate directly with the Regional General Counsel and external panel counsel on high-impact legal issues.

Essential Qualifications

• Legal Qualification: Qualified lawyer in England & Wales (or equivalent jurisdiction) with at least 5 years Post-Qualified Experience (PQE).
• Corporate & Commercial Expertise: Deep technical mastery of general corporate and commercial contracting principles.
• Public Procurement: Practical exposure to public sector procurement processes and regulations.
• AI Proficiency: Hands-on experience or fluency with AI tools in legal practice.

Key Skills & Leadership Strengths

• Stakeholder Influence: Outstanding communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills to guide non-technical audiences and executive stakeholders.
• Strategic Problem-Solving: Ability to evaluate risks and recommend clear, pragmatic solutions under tight deadlines with imperfect information.
• Autonomy & Risk Appetite: Thrives independently in a fast-paced, matrixed environment with a high appetite for strategic risk

• Competitive salary and bonus scheme
• Hybrid working
• Rentokil Initial Reward Scheme
• 23 days holiday, plus 8 bank holidays
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Death in service benefit
• Healthcare
• Free parking

At Rentokil Initial, our customers and colleagues represent diverse backgrounds and experiences. We take pride in being an equal opportunity employer, actively encouraging applications from individuals from all walks of life. Our belief is that everyone irrespective of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disabilities, religion, or beliefs, has the potential to thrive and contribute.

We embrace the differences that make each of our colleagues unique, fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can be their authentic selves and feel a sense of belonging. To ensure that your journey with us is accessible if you have any individual requirements we invite you to communicate any specific needs or preferences you may have during any stage of the recruitment process. Our team is available to support you; feel free to reach out to ([e-mail]) if you need anything