In House Legal Counsel, 5 QPE plus, Commercial, Franchising, Employment

Ellis-Wake; Greater London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading legal recruitment agency in London is seeking an experienced lawyer for a dynamic in-house role. As part of a friendly corporate environment, you will manage commercial contracts, employment law, and franchising matters. The ideal candidate will have over 5 years of PQE, with skills in litigation, data protection, and risk management. This position offers the opportunity for variation and growth in a supportive office culture, making it ideal for those looking for a shift to in-house. Interested candidates should contact the Director in confidence.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of PQE, preferably with in-house experience.
• Strong understanding of commercial contracts and employment law.
• Experience in franchising and HR matters.

Responsibilities

• Provide franchise support, including breach notices and disputes.
• Review and draft employment contracts and manage change.
• Draft legal documents minimizing risk and maximizing rights.
• Support data protection compliance and manage DSARs.
• Investigate trademark issues and draft cease and desist letters.
• Identify and manage legal and compliance risks.
• Liaise with insurance brokers and manage off-site leases.
• Handle customer complaints and assist with litigation.

Skills

Commercial contracts

Franchising

Employment law

Data Protection compliance

Litigation

Education

Qualified solicitor

Job description

New 2026: INHOUSE: this fast moving commercial / franchising role has been recommended to us by a valued PP client (since 2000!) … working in a friendly and super charged corporate environment, this role is fully in house and general in nature and would suit an associate or senior associate with 5 plus PQE. You will be looking to break into the world of in house work from PP or more likely, already in house, and looking for a move. You will report to the UK managing director and general counsel in the US and you will have a solid grasp and be super clued‑up on commercial contracts, employment and specifically franchising. Remember, this is an in house role so it is general in nature … you will thus, inter alia provide:

• Franchise support – population of template franchise agreements, breach notices and terminations and support to resolve any disputes arising;
• HR – revision and update to template contracts of employment, change management and involvement in ER;
• Contracts – review, drafting and amending of contracts and other legal documents with numerous parties such as suppliers with a view to minimising risk and maximising legal rights;
• Data Protection – supporting the implementation of procedures and policies to ensure and monitor compliance working closely with legal counsel for the businesses other UK brands and coordinating responses to DSARs made to the business;
• Trademark and passing off – investigation and drafting of cease and desist letters together with seeking assistance of webhosts and social media platforms to remove offending sites/posts;
• Risk – identifying and creating strategies managing legal and compliance risks;
• Liaison with and management of insurance brokers;
• Lease management for off site properties including terminations, renewals, rent reviews and dilapidations in conjunction with the facilities manager;
• Litigation – customer complaint resolution, drafting of pre‑action correspondence, sole conduct of small claims court cases and assistance with the preparation of disclosure in larger scale litigation and liaison with external counsel in more significant cases.

Again, you will note from the above, this is - like most in house roles - a commercial contracts role, with a great deal of other general law disciplines thrown in … a must for a lawyer wanting variation!

Based in the City of London, Dan qualified as a solicitor in 2003 and is the owner of one of the longest serving legal recruitment agencies in London and the South East of England, Ellis‑Wake. He regularly advises his clients on the complexity of the legal market, on their strategic future and is a known 'connector' and 'influencer' in the recruitment market. Dan's experience stretches back to 2004 and he's seen many significant changes in Global and local legal and recruitment markets and has recruited successfully in all of them.

If this role is of interest please contact Dan Wake (Director) in confidence at [e-mail] or on ([phone].