Senior Legal Counsel

AJW Group; Slinfold; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonus

Healthcare

Perkbox benefits

Relocation assistance

Onsite gym

Bike-to-work scheme

Restaurant

Job summary

AJW Group, a global aviation support leader, seeks an experienced Senior Legal Counsel to join our Legal team. You will lead the drafting, review, and negotiation of complex commercial contracts, including aviation-related agreements, while mentoring junior staff and providing strategic legal advice to drive business success.

You will coordinate overseas entity governance and work closely with finance, risk, and commercial teams to ensure compliant, value‑adding outcomes across cross-border

Qualifications

• English law qualified solicitor with experience in commercial, aviation or corporate law (in-house and private practice).
• Experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating complex commercial contracts (sale/purchase, leases, IT agreements, confidentiality).
• Proven cross-border advisory and overseas entity governance.

Responsibilities

• Lead drafting, review, and negotiation of complex commercial contracts including aviation-related agreements.
• Mentor and review junior legal staff to ensure high-quality drafting and compliance.
• Provide strategic legal advice to support business decisions across departments.

Skills

Commercial contracts

Aviation law

Cross-border transactions

Mentoring junior staff

Regulatory compliance

Education

English law qualification

Job description

Are you ready to take your legal career to new heights? AJW Group, a global leader in aviation support, is looking for a meticulous Senior Legal Counsel to join our dynamic Legal team.

What You'll Be Doing

As a key member of our legal team, you'll be involved in diverse responsibilities that keep the business running smoothly and securely, including

• Leading the drafting, review, and negotiation of complex commercial contracts, including but not limited to cost-per-flight-hour agreements, repair management agreements, supplier agreements, distribution agreements, letters of intent, confidentiality agreements, sale and purchase agreements, consignment agreements, IT software agreements, engine leases and loan agreements.
• Supervising and mentoring junior members of the legal team, reviewing and amending documents drafted by junior members of the legal team, providing constructive feedback and ensuring high-quality drafting of legal documents.
• Acting as a key business partner across various departments, providing strategic legal advice to support decision-making and business objectives.
• Coordinating and advising on the incorporation and ongoing oversight of any overseas office/entities required by the company.
• Working closely with commercial teams to establish key transactional terms, ensuring alignment across departments, and managing the dissemination of post-transaction details.
• Coordinating with Finance in respect of debt recovery matters and overseeing the debt recovery process via legal means, including drafting and negotiating payment agreements, letters of demand, settlement agreements and instructing and coordinating with external counsel where necessary to recover debts.
• Providing proactive and comprehensive legal support to colleagues across all levels of the organisation, ensuring timely and practical legal advice in relation to business operations and transactions, including providing legal advice to other entities in the AJW Group, including but not limited to AJW Middle East and AJW Technique.
• Liaising with the Company's insurance broker on matters of insurance coverage in relation to complex, cross-border and multi-party transactions, including renewal of the Company’s insurance policies. Completing renewal questionnaires.
• Creation and development of in-house precedents.
• Designing and delivering in-house legal and compliance training programs for various departments, promoting best practices, and fostering awareness of legal risks.
• Developing and maintaining an in-house database of overseas counsel contacts and legal know-how.
• Promoting and sustaining a constructive, supportive and friendly working relationship with all clients, external and internal, immediate and senior management and other colleagues.
• Drafting new company policies and reviewing and updating existing policies.

About You

Our person specification below is by no means exhaustive, and we would like to hear from you if you are interested in the role or in joining AJW Group, despite whether you meet all of our requirements. We will provide training to ensure your success and growth at AJW Group. We welcome informal conversations before deciding to apply, please direct your request for a pre-application call to [e-mail].

• An English law qualified solicitor with significant experience in commercial law, aviation law or corporate law, preferably gained in both private practice and in-house.
• Extensive experience in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating complex commercial contracts, including sale and purchase agreements, cost per flight hour agreements, asset leases, software agreements, licence agreements, loan agreements, supplier and distribution agreements and confidentiality agreements.
• Proven experience advising on cross-border transactions and overseeing the establishment and governance of overseas entities.
• A commercial attitude and ability to communicate effectively with a wide variety of individuals, including senior management and business associates.
• Strong familiarity with the aviation or transport industry would be an advantage, particularly with cost-per-flight-hour agreements, repair management agreements, and other aviation-related commercial contracts.
• Strong background in corporate governance, regulatory and company compliance, including KYC, AML and export compliance.
• Significant experience managing, mentoring, and developing junior legal staff, with a focus on quality assurance and continuous professional development.
• Proven track record of acting as a business partner, working with senior management and non-legal colleagues to provide commercially sound legal advice that supports business objectives.
• Ability to provide high-level strategic advice, aligning legal solutions with business goals while mitigating risks and ensuring compliance.
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with internal departments and external parties, including senior management, commercial teams, suppliers, and external counsel.
• A self-starter who can take initiative, lead projects independently, and drive legal matters to resolution with minimal supervision.

What's in it for you?

• Enjoy a monthly team fun budget and support community causes through charity events.
• Join our vibrant social scene with company-run events and experience a stunning work environment at our state-of-the-art HQ, complete with an onsite gym, bike-for-work scheme, delicious restaurant, discretionary bonus, healthcare, and Perkbox benefits.
• Relocation support packages are available to make your move to the area easier.
• Inclusive recruitment process; let us know about any reasonable adjustments needed.
• AJW Group promotes diversity and equal opportunities.
• DBS background check may be required for successful candidates.

AJW Group is an equal opportunities employer to provide a diverse and inclusive environment. We encourage suitably qualified applications regardless of race, disability, age, sex, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy and maternity, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, and religion or belief. We are a culture that celebrates success on merit.