Senior Legal Counsel

Williams Racing; Greater London; On-site; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading motorsport team in the UK is seeking a Senior Legal Counsel to provide high-quality legal advice and support across its operations. This role demands expertise in commercial contracts, regulatory compliance, and effective stakeholder management. The ideal candidate will be a qualified lawyer with significant experience in a fast-paced environment, bringing strong negotiation and drafting skills. Join a vibrant team committed to innovation in motorsport, with benefits including generous holidays and a competitive work environment.

Benefits

Generous holidays

Subsidised onsite restaurant

Free gym access

Qualifications

• Experience in a fast-moving, complex, or regulated environment.
• Strong background in commercial contracts and corporate advisory work.
• Excellent drafting skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice on commercial contracts.
• Advise on regulatory compliance in motorsport.
• Mentor and train junior legal team members.
• Manage external legal counsel relationships.

Skills

Commercially minded

Pragmatic

Negotiation skills

Stakeholder management

Education

Qualified lawyer (UK or equivalent jurisdiction)

Significant post-qualification experience

Job description

Role Purpose

The Senior Legal Counsel will play a critical role in supporting the legal commercial and regulatory activities of Atlassian Williams F1 in a fast‑paced high‑stakes global environment. This position provides strategic and operational legal advice across all aspects of the team's racing, technical, commercial and corporate functions ensuring compliance with FIA regulations, Formula One management requirements and applicable international laws.

Reporting to the General Counsel, the Senior Legal Counsel will act as a trusted adviser to senior leadership and key stakeholders helping to manage legal risk while enabling the team to compete and innovate at the highest level of motorsport.

This is a hands‑on role requiring strong commercial judgment, the ability to work autonomously and the confidence to advise senior stakeholders in a dynamic and competitive setting.

Main Duties

Provide high quality pragmatic and commercially focussed legal advice and support to the business including the following tasks:

• Drafting, reviewing, negotiating and advising on a variety of commercial contracts including supply and purchase agreements, manufacturing agreements, SaaS agreements, collaboration agreements, sponsorship and licensing agreements.
• Providing comprehensive legal advice, strategic guidance and general support to the business and its support functions including Esports, IT, HR, Procurement, Facilities, Aero, Wind Tunnel, Merchandise & Licensing, Fan Engagement, Experience Centre, Creative Content and Communications.
• Advising on contractual rights and obligations, providing clear and practical guidance to support effective decision‑making and timely legal advice that aligns with overall business strategies.
• Collaborating with cross‑functional teams to assess legal implications and provide recommendations for successful project execution.
• Serving as the key legal point of contact for new internal and external company projects including initiatives in areas such as policy governance, fan engagement and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).
• Protecting and managing Williamss intellectual property strategy and portfolio including trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets; advising on brand usage, content rights, digital media and merchandising activities.
• Assisting in data protection related legal matters including preparing and negotiating data sharing agreements, data processing agreements, GDPR addendums, IDTAs and other documentation such as DPIAs.
• Working closely on intra‑group agreements ensuring alignment with the overall corporate structure and legal requirements and collaborating with internal stakeholders to structure, draft and negotiate agreements between different entities within the organisation while addressing legal and regulatory considerations.
• Advising on FIA regulations, Formula One sporting and technical regulations and related governance frameworks; supporting compliance with F1 commercial agreements and governing body requirements; monitoring regulatory developments affecting motorsport and advising on impact and risk mitigation.
• Providing guidance, support and oversight to junior team members; acting as a mentor and role model; fostering a positive inclusive environment that encourages learning, collaboration and meaningful contribution to legal initiatives; delegating work aligned to individual skills and development goals; providing clear instructions, timelines and constructive feedback; maintaining open communication through regular one‑to‑one meetings and supporting performance, professional growth and career development while setting a high standard for professional conduct and ethical behaviour.
• Providing support to the business and other lawyers in the team including legal research, updates on legal developments and updating standard terms and conditions, agreements and other documentation.
• Providing training to the business in respect of regulatory and legal compliance and good practice.
• Identifying legal risks across the business and devising effective solutions to mitigate such risks; assisting in coordinating company‑wide risk governance.
• Ensuring compliance by the business and its support functions with all applicable laws and regulations.
• Managing relationships with external counsel.
• Ensuring that the General Counsel is appropriately informed and updated on progress on all work matters and key issues, including ensuring that input and guidance are requested as appropriate.
• Undertaking such other duties of a similar nature that are commensurate with your skills and abilities as determined by the General Counsel.

Qualifications

Required

• Qualified lawyer (UK or equivalent jurisdiction).
• Significant post‑qualification experience ideally gained in a top‑tier law firm and in‑house environment.
• Strong background in commercial contracts and general corporate advisory work.
• Experience advising in a fast‑moving complex or regulated environment.
• Excellent drafting, negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• Commercially minded, pragmatic and solutions focused.

Desirable

• Experience in sports media, entertainment, automotive, technology or advanced engineering sectors.
• Familiarity with IP, sponsorship or brand‑driven businesses.
• Prior exposure to regulatory frameworks similar to FIA / sporting governance.

Additional Information

We fuel our team with a competitive benefits package including generous holidays, vibrant staff events, a subsidised onsite restaurant and a range of car schemes. Stay energised with 24/7 access to our gym and free fitness classes like outdoor boot camps, Pilates and Yoga. With free parking and sprawling green spaces you’ve got the perfect space to recharge and refocus.

Join a fast‑paced future‑thinking team that is driving innovation and pushing past engineering boundaries.

Atlassian Williams F1 Team is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and inclusion. We are happy to discuss reasonable job adjustments.

Remote Work

No

Employment Type

Full‑time