Senior Legal Counsel

The Hibernian Football Club Limited; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Hibernian FC seeks a Senior Legal Counsel to oversee its legal function, ensuring compliance and providing expert legal advice across a range of issues. The role involves drafting commercial contracts, managing legal disputes, and advising senior management, with a focus on commercial, corporate governance, and employment law.

Qualifications

• At least 5 years' post-qualification experience.
• Strong knowledge of commercial and corporate law.
• Familiarity with sports law is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Lead the legal function at the Club, providing expert advice on commercial contracts and compliance.
• Draft, review, and negotiate a variety of legal agreements, ensuring alignment with legal regulations.
• Monitor compliance with laws and regulations, advising on risk and governance matters.

Skills

Communication

Negotiation

Attention to Detail

Analytical Thinking

Organisational Skills

Commercial Acumen

Education

Legal Qualification Recognised by the Legal Services Regulator in Scotland

Job description

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The Club is one of the leading professional football clubs in Scotland. Based at Easter Road Stadium in Scotland's Capital City, Edinburgh the Club is a stones throw away from the hustle and bustle of the City Centre. Over the course of its history Hibernian Football Club has won all of the major domestic titles, most recently winning the Scottish Cup in 2016. Hibernian was the first British team to play in European competition in the 1956; reaching the semi-finals.

Job Title:Senior Legal Counsel
Department: Corporate
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
Contract Type: Full Time
Salary: Competitive

SCOPE AND DIMENSIONS

Hibernian Football Club have created a football structure and strategy at the very forefront of the British game with a club philosophy and ethos that is performance-driven and encourages all players and staff to maximise their ability and potential.

Improving performance on an individual and collective level is at the very core of everything we do. The Club is committed to providing all business members with integrated, structured, and proactive administrative support.

THE ROLE

We are seeking an experienced Senior Legal Counsel to lead the legal function at the Club. The successful candidate will provide expert advice and guidance to the Club across a wide range of matters including commercial contracts, compliance, corporate governance, regulatory issues, employment law, and dispute resolution. You will also be expected to work with and to manage external counsel as necessary.

This role plays a key role in protecting the Club's legal interests and ensuring continued compliance with all relevant laws and regulations.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Working closely with the Club's Commercial, Marketing, Communications and Sales teams, drafting, reviewing and assisting with the negotiation of a wide variety of commercial contracts, including partnership agreements, supplier agreements, broadcast/distribution agreements and other commercial sales contracts and service level agreements.
• Provide clear and practical legal advice to senior management and internal stakeholders on day-to-day business operations and strategic projects.
• Assist with legal work in respect of any construction and development projects related to the Club's facilities;
• Undertake events-related advisory and legal work including premises' licensing, health and safety issues, venue hire agreements and facilities arrangements.
• Lead the Club in navigating new legal and regulatory developments.
• Monitor and ensure the company continues to comply with applicable laws and regulations, and advising in relation to risk, regulatory and governance matters, data protection and other associated legal areas which may apply from time to time.
• Identify, assess and mitigate legal, ethical and reputational risks, ensuring that decisions align with the organisation's objectives.
• Work with the HR department and advise where necessary on disciplinary, employment and other HR and dispute resolution issues.
• Work with the Club's safeguarding team on safeguarding issues and policies..
• Educate internal teams on legal issues, policies, and procedures to ensure legal awareness and best practices.
• Lead in the management of legal disputes and providing insurance claim legal advice where necessary.
• Manage relationships with external legal counsel, ensuring cost-effective and high-quality support when specialist advice is required.
• Develop and maintain legal resources, including contract templates, standard terms and conditions and guidance documents, to improve efficiency and support the wider organisation

SKILLS & ATTRIBUTES

• A legal qualification recognised by the legal services regulator in Scotland.
• At least 5 years' post qualification experience.
• Strong knowledge of commercial and corporate law; familiarity with sports law.
• Skills:
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills
• High attention to detail and analytical thinking
• Ability to work independently and make sound legal judgments
• Strong organisational and project management skills
• Strong commercial acumen.
• Ability to develop and maintain relationships with the business at all levels as well as with a wide variety of third parties.

Hibernian FC is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.

Hibernian FC is also committed to the safeguarding of vulnerable groups.