Senior Legal Counsel

Lorien; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous pension contributions up to 10% matched

Comprehensive private medical insurance

Income protection

25 days annual leave, rising to 28 with service

Job summary

Lorien is seeking an experienced Senior Legal Counsel to oversee legal, governance, and compliance matters for the UK and Ireland. This role entails substantial responsibilities including leading commercial contracts and ensuring compliance across various areas such as GDPR. The position offers a competitive salary of up to £100,000, comprehensive healthcare, and a generous pension plan among other benefits. The successful candidate will influence business-critical decisions and work closely with senior leadership.

Qualifications

• Strong post-qualification experience in-house and/or private practice.
• Solid grounding in commercial law across complex contractual environments.
• Proven track record in managing external legal partners.

Responsibilities

• Act as Sole Counsel for legal, governance and compliance matters.
• Lead commercial contracting and manage disputes across various sectors.
• Drive legal input on bids and tenders while supporting strategic projects.

Skills

Commercial negotiation

Legal drafting

Stakeholder advising

Risk management

Compliance knowledge

Education

Qualified solicitor (England & Wales or equivalent)

Job description

I am working exclusively with a highly respected Global Manufacturing Company operating across the UK & Ireland — in their search to hire a Senior Legal Counsel to oversee all legal, governance and compliance matters within the organisation as a Sole Counsel for the UK and Ireland.

This is a Sole Counsel role within a complex, multi‑disciplinary business, offering the chance to directly influence commercial strategy, risk management and long‑term operational success.

As Senior Legal Counsel, you will be the go‑to legal expert for the UK & Ireland business, partnering with senior leaders to drive commercial decisions and manage risk with confidence.

What You’ll Do

• Act as Sole Counsel—trusted adviser to Sales, Operations, Finance, IT and H&S
• Lead commercial contracting, including equipment, supplier, software and construction agreements (incl. JCT Design & Build)
• Drive legal input on bids and tenders, enabling growth while protecting the business
• Own compliance and governance across key areas including GDPR, anti-bribery, competition law and corporate governance
• Manage disputes spanning contracts, product liability, debt recovery and insolvency
• Oversee external counsel, ensuring quality and cost control
• Support strategic projects, identifying and mitigating legal risk early

Why This Role?

• High-impact, standalone position with real influence
• Broad remit across commercial, compliance and strategic legal work
• Direct exposure to senior leadership and business‑critical decisions

About You

You will be a confident, commercially minded legal leader with:

• Qualified solicitor (England & Wales or equivalent).
• Strong post‑qualification experience gained in‑house and/or private practice.
• A solid grounding in commercial law across complex contractual environments.
• Experience advising senior stakeholders in a multifaceted business.
• Industry exposure to engineering, logistics, construction, or capital equipment (advantageous).
• Excellent drafting, negotiation and communication skills.
• Strong commercial judgement with the ability to balance legal risk against business priorities.
• Collaborative and influential approach, able to work cross‑functionally.
• High integrity and professionalism.
• Proven track record of managing external legal partners and controlling legal spend.
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast‑paced environment.

The Package

• Salary: Up to £100,000
• Pension: Generous employer contributions, up to 10% matched
• Healthcare: Comprehensive private medical insurance
• Protection: Income protection included
• Holiday: 25 days annual leave, rising to 28 days with length of service, plus bank holidays