Senior In-House Counsel / Head of Legal

Clara Rose Consultancy; Norwich; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading legal consultancy in the United Kingdom is seeking a skilled lawyer to provide legal support across multiple business units. In this hybrid role, you'll engage in complex commercial contracts, corporate governance, and M&A projects, offering senior-level advice and supporting a growing business. Ideal candidates are confident, commercially minded, and eager to build a long-term career in a collaborative environment. Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits are offered.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Pension contributions up to 10%

33 days holiday

Private healthcare options

Flexible benefits including gym discounts

Investment in professional development

Qualifications

• Strong grounding in corporate and commercial law, focusing on transactions.
• Experience advising on complex commercial contracts and negotiations.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a legal team.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior-level legal advice across multiple business units.
• Lead on complex commercial contracts and negotiations.
• Advise on corporate governance and company secretarial matters.
• Support M&A activity and strategic projects.
• Manage external solicitors and oversee compliance programmes.

Skills

Commercial law

Corporate governance

Transactional advisory

Stakeholder management

Collaboration

Education

Qualified solicitor (UK or common law)

Chartered Secretary

Job description

Mid Suffolk | Hybrid Working | Long-Term Career Opportunity

Are you an experienced lawyer looking for a role where you can truly embed yourself in a business, shape how legal support is delivered, and build a long-term career rather than a short-term move?

This is a rare opportunity to join a large, complex and fast-growing organisation operating at scale across the UK. The legal team sits at the heart of the business, advising on high-value, strategic matters that genuinely move the organisation forward.

This is not a “sit on the sidelines” legal role. It is hands‑on, varied, commercially driven and deeply connected to the people and operations of the business.

The Opportunity

The organisation has grown significantly over the past decade and continues to expand. With that growth comes complexity, opportunity, and the need for strong, pragmatic legal leadership.

You will join a well‑established in‑house legal function and work closely alongside a senior legal leader, with the clear intention of building depth, resilience and long‑term succession within the team. This is a role you grow into over time. No one expects you to know everything on day one.

The work is broad and engaging, covering commercial contracts, corporate matters, governance, regulatory frameworks, property interests and major infrastructure projects. Litigation is minimal. This is about enabling the business, not slowing it down.

What You’ll Be Doing

At a high level, you will act as a trusted adviser to the business, helping teams move forward confidently and compliantly.

Your role will include:

• Providing senior‑level legal advice across multiple business units and legal entities
• Leading on complex commercial contracts, negotiations and transactional matters
• Advising on corporate governance, company secretarial matters and board processes
• Supporting M&A activity, due diligence and strategic projects
• Working closely with operational, construction and regulatory teams on large‑scale infrastructure projects
• Overseeing land rights strategy and supporting a specialist team responsible for access and registration
• Managing and instructing external solicitors, controlling scope, quality and spend
• Playing a key role in compliance programmes including ethics, anti‑bribery, modern slavery, data protection and whistleblowing
• Overseeing the corporate insurance portfolio and working with brokers and advisers
• Helping shape legal processes so they are practical, efficient and fit for a growing organisation

This is a role for someone who enjoys variety, autonomy and being involved early, not just reviewing documents at the end.

The Person

This role will suit someone who is confident but grounded, commercially minded and genuinely curious about how a business works.

You are likely to be:

• A qualified solicitor (UK or common law jurisdiction) or an experienced Chartered Secretary
• Currently working in‑house or in private practice and considering a move in‑house
• Strong in corporate and commercial law, with a transactional rather than contentious focus
• Comfortable advising senior stakeholders and boards in a clear, pragmatic way
• Someone who enjoys collaboration and knowledge‑sharing rather than operating in isolation
• Motivated by long‑term growth, stability and being part of something bigger

This is not a role for someone looking to make sweeping changes on day one or build a personal empire. It is for someone who wants to embed, influence, and grow alongside the business.

Longevity matters here. The business invests heavily in its people and expects the same commitment in return.

Working Pattern & Culture

• Hybrid working, with an expectation of being in the office around three days per week
• Initially more office‑based to build relationships and understanding
• Supportive, down‑to‑earth leadership with a strong sense of shared purpose
• A genuinely collegiate environment where legal is seen as a partner, not a blocker

Reward & Benefits

This organisation takes employee wellbeing, development and reward seriously.

You can expect:

• Highly competitive salary with flexibility for the right person
• Pension contributions up to 10% (with salary sacrifice and NI uplift)
• Life assurance at 4x salary
• 33 days holiday including bank holidays, plus long service recognition
• Option to purchase additional holiday
• Private healthcare options for you and your family
• Flexible benefits including gym discounts, car and bike schemes, dental and critical illness cover
• Loyalty and long‑term incentive schemes linked to company performance
• Enhanced family‑friendly policies
• Investment in learning, leadership and professional development
• Volunteering allowance during working hours
• A strong wellbeing culture with EAP access, mental health first aiders and proactive health support

The organisation is consistently recognised as a great place to work, with a real focus on safety, wellbeing and long‑term careers.

Interested? Let’s Talk

If this sounds like the kind of role where you could see yourself building a long‑term future, we’d love to have a confidential conversation.

If you feel you meet some but not all of the criteria, don’t rule yourself out. This role has flexibility for the right person, including those moving from private practice into an in‑house environment.

To apply, request further details, or simply have an exploratory discussion about your career options, please contact:

Clara Rose 📧 [e-mail] 📞 07971 493048

All conversations are confidential and focused on understanding your aspirations. Don’t dismiss yourself when you might be just what they are looking for.