Senior Legal Counsel

New Look Group; London; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading fashion brand seeks a Senior Legal Counsel to support their dynamic legal team in London. This role offers an opportunity to manage complex contracts and guide various business areas, all while enjoying flexible hybrid working arrangements. Ideal candidates bring extensive experience in retail and FMCG law, alongside strong interpersonal and legal skills. You'll enjoy numerous perks including a generous staff discount and a range of benefits designed to support your wellbeing.

Benefits

40% off for staff and a loved one

25% off for up to 12 friends and family

Access to discounts from top retailers

Contributory private pension scheme

Profit-related bonus scheme

Enhanced family-friendly policies

AXA Private Medical Scheme

Buy more holiday scheme

Cycle2Work scheme

Free breakfast

Qualifications

• Significant in-house experience ideally in retail/FMCG.
• Strong expertise in commercial contract law and IP.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial agreements.
• Provide strategic legal advice on branding and marketing.
• Oversee brand protection strategy including IP management.

Skills

Commercial contract law

Intellectual property

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Negotiation skills

Education

8 years PQE

Job description

We’re the feel-good fashion brand making style accessible and fun for over 55 years, on our website, mobile app, and over 300 stores in the UK. By living our values — we play to win, customer obsessed, we are one, and it starts with me — we deliver That New Look Feeling for our customers and each other.

The Role:

Join Our Dynamic Legal Team!

Are you a Senior Legal Counsel with significant experience in the FMCG/Retail sector and management experience? We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Legal Counsel to join our support centre in London on a 12-month maternity FTC. This role offers a hybrid working model and reports directly to our General Counsel & Company Secretary.

As a trusted Senior Legal Counsel, you will advise and support various areas of the business, including ecommerce, marketing, procurement, customer service, BMD, and property teams. You will work on key complex contracts, transactions, and projects, and lead as a legal advisor on large and complex projects. Additionally, you will manage two direct reports, providing guidance and support on their commercial and IP workloads.

Benefits & Perks:

You’ll love our generous staff discount – 40% off for you and a loved one, and 25% off for up to 12 friends and family members! You’ll also get access to hundreds of discounts from top retailers and gyms via our rewards platform Runway. We offer a contributory private pension scheme, profit-related bonus scheme, family-friendly policies including enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave, and share parental leave.

Additional benefits include AXA Private Medical Scheme, buy more holiday scheme, extra paid day off on your birthday, Cycle2Work scheme, interest-free season ticket loans, and free breakfast. Please note, these benefits are non-contractual and subject to change.

What you'll be doing:

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements.
• Provide strategic legal advice on branding and marketing materials.
• Support procurement, retail, and marketing teams with contract development and compliance.
• Oversee brand protection strategy including trademark portfolio management, enforcement of the New Look brand, and third-party infringement claims.
• Advise on copyright, design rights, domain names, and trade secrets.
• Provide legal advisory services on matters including competitions and promotions, advertising compliance, consumer law, dispute resolution, and contract renewals.
• Ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
• Collaborate with teams to embed IP considerations from concept to execution.
• Manage external counsel on disputes, litigation, and IP matters.
• Support company governance and assist with company secretarial work.

Other Responsibilities:

• Manage upwards, keeping leadership informed about key issues.
• Provide training on relevant legal issues.
• Coordinate projects and manage external law firms.
• Work with compliance functions such as Data Privacy, Finance, and HR.

Who you are:

• Approximately 8 years PQE (we will consider suitable candidates with different levels of experience).
• Significant in-house experience, ideally within retail, FMCG, or consumer brands.
• Strong expertise in commercial contract law and intellectual property.
• Excellent interpersonal, stakeholder management, drafting, negotiating, and communication skills.

Desired Attributes:

• Technical skills across commercial and IP law.
• Experience managing junior team members.
• Personable, confident, and relationship-builder.
• Resilient, calm under pressure, adaptable, and flexible.
• Autonomous, pragmatic, solutions-oriented.
• Organized, able to prioritize and manage deadlines.
• Creative, proactive, and innovative in legal solutions.
• Professional and willing to challenge the status quo.

Why New Look?

We care about you and the planet, celebrating inclusion and diversity. We support your development and offer flexible working arrangements. Please ensure your CV is in a simple format, e.g., Microsoft Word, when applying.