Senior Contracts Lawyer (3+ PQE)

Douglas Scott Ltd; Greater Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working arrangements

Career development opportunities

Job summary

Douglas Scott Ltd. is seeking a commercial solicitor to join the General Counsel's Office in Manchester/Leeds. Hybrid working and a strategic, non-fee‑earning role focusing on client contracting, risk management and legal innovation.

You'll review, draft and negotiate a broad range of agreements, advise on risks, and drive process improvements with senior stakeholders across the firm. 3+ years PQE and strong drafting skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Qualified Solicitor with approximately 3+ years' PQE.
• Strong commercial contracts drafting and negotiation experience.
• Confident managing stakeholders and providing practical legal advice.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills.
• Experience supervising or mentoring junior team members is advantageous.
• Interest in legal technology, AI and process improvement would be highly beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating complex commercial contracts.
• Advising on contractual, regulatory and professional risk issues.
• Support the firm's approach to technology, AI and innovative client solutions.
• Work with partners and business teams across multiple practice areas.
• Improve contracting processes, templates and internal frameworks.
• Identify and mitigate legal and commercial risks.
• Support policy development and wider strategic projects within the General Counsel's Office.
• Drive efficiency through legal technology and contract management tools.

Skills

Commercial contracts

Contract negotiation

Stakeholder management

Legal advice

AI / legal tech interest

Education

Solicitor qualification (England & Wales)

Tools

Contract management tools

Job description

Looking for a commercial contracts role with real strategic influence?

Manchester or Leeds

Hybrid Working

£70K+ DOE

A leading international law firm is seeking a talented commercial lawyer to join its General Counsel's Office, supporting the firm's client engagement teams on complex contractual and risk-related matters.

This is a unique opportunity to move away from fee‑earning targets and into a highly visible role where you'll help shape how a global professional services business approaches client contracting, risk management and legal innovation.

The Role

Working closely with senior stakeholders across the firm, you'll play a key role in reviewing, drafting and negotiating a broad range of client‑facing agreements while providing pragmatic, commercially focused legal advice.

Responsibilities will include:

• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating complex commercial contracts
• Advising on contractual, regulatory and professional risk issues
• Supporting the firm's approach to technology, AI and innovative client solutions
• Working with partners and business teams across multiple practice areas
• Improving contracting processes, templates and internal frameworks
• Identifying and mitigating legal and commercial risks
• Supporting policy development and wider strategic projects within the General Counsel's Office
• Driving efficiency through legal technology and contract management tools

About You

• Qualified Solicitor with approximately 3+ years' PQE
• Strong commercial contracts drafting and negotiation experience
• Confident managing stakeholders and providing practical legal advice
• Excellent communication and organisational skills
• Comfortable working on complex and unfamiliar legal issues
• Experience supervising or mentoring junior team members is advantageous
• Interest in legal technology, AI and process improvement would be highly beneficial

Why Apply?

• Opportunity to work at the centre of a leading international law firm
• Exposure to high-value, business‑critical decision making
• Diverse mix of commercial, technology and AI‑related work
• Supportive, collaborative and highly regarded legal team
• Strong focus on professional development and career progression
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• Chance to influence firm‑wide contracting strategy and best practice

This role would suit a commercial contracts lawyer looking to utilise their technical expertise in a broader strategic environment while gaining exposure to cutting‑edge legal technology and innovative ways of delivering legal services.