SENIOR LEGAL COUNSEL

Asahi Europe and International; Woking; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the FMCG sector is seeking a Senior Legal Counsel to join their UK team in Woking. This role involves providing legal support across various commercial teams, managing legal risks, and ensuring compliance with regulations. The ideal candidate will be a qualified lawyer with significant experience in a reputable firm or in-house, ready to contribute to exciting legal initiatives and brand growth.

Benefits

Annual bonus

Beer Allowance

Subsidised on-site Cafe

Industry-leading pension contribution

Private Healthcare

Life Assurance

Private Dental insurance

25 days holiday with option to purchase 5 extra days

Qualifications

• At least 4 years' post-qualification experience in a reputable law firm or in-house.
• In-house or FMCG sector experience is an advantage.
• Fluent in English.

Responsibilities

• Provide clear, business-focused legal advice to key commercial teams.
• Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of contracts.
• Implement and maintain compliance programmes.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Legal compliance

Education

Qualified lawyer in a UK jurisdiction

Job description

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SENIOR LEGAL COUNSEL - UK and Ireland

Join Asahi Europe & International and become a new member of our UK Legal Team!

Job Overview
This Senior Legal Counsel role supports our UK and Ireland business and is based in the Asahi UK Woking office, reporting directly to the Head of Legal for UK and Ireland.
You must be able to work 3 days per week on site at the Asahi UK office in Woking.
You will work closely with all areas of the business, with a particular focus on supporting the commercial teams across Marketing, Sales, and Procurement-providing practical legal advice and helping to manage legal and regulatory risks. A key part of your role will involve supporting initiatives to promote and grow our global brands such as Asahi Super Dry and Peroni Nastro Azzurro, as well as our local brands like London Pride. You will also contribute to broader legal initiatives, collaborating with our regional legal team based in Prague.

This job represents is a unique opportunity for an established Senior Legal Counsel or an In-House Counsel ready to take the next step in their career, in a dynamic and sought after industry where roles like this are rarely vacant.

Job Specification

• Provide clear, business-focused legal advice to key commercial teams, particularly Marketing, Sales and Procurement, acting as a trusted partner to help them achieve their goals while managing legal and regulatory risks.
• Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of contracts, including customer trading agreements, service agreements, and high-profile partnership agreements with football clubs, athletes, entertainment venues, and music festivals.
• Advise on strategic company initiatives such as major projects, transactions, integrations, sustainability schemes, sponsorships, product launches and national brand led marketing campaigns.
• Identify and advise on significant legal risks relating to trading, reputation, financial and regulatory exposure.
• Implement and maintain compliance programmes (e.g. competition, anti-bribery, data protection, whistleblowing, modern slavery), ensuring alignment with legal requirements and internal policies.
• Monitor and interpret legal and regulatory developments, keeping the business informed of key changes and obligations.
• Advise on intellectual property and advertising standards compliance in the UK and Ireland.
• Manage corporate governance for UK entities, including statutory records, filings, board meetings and stakeholder coordination.
• Contribute to group legal projects, create templates and best practices, and promote legal awareness through training and enablement tools to support self-service.
• Lead on the UK's data protection programme, including high-risk processing, breach management, third-party risk, consent, DPIAs, data subject requests and cookie policy compliance.

Do you have what it takes?

• Qualified lawyer in a UK jurisdiction with at least 4 years' post-qualification experience, gained in a reputable law firm or in-house.
• In-house or FMCG sector experience is an advantage.
• Fluent in English.
• Strong interpersonal skills and a genuine interest in learning and growing within the business and industry.
• Highly organised, able to prioritise and work independently.
• Able to work from the Woking office at least three days per week.

Enjoy a little extra with our benefits (the list of benefits applies to the United Kingdom)

• Annual bonus
• Beer Allowance
• Subsidised on-site Cafe
• Industry-leading pension contribution
• Private Healthcare
• Life Assurance
• Private Dental insurance
• 25 days holiday with option to purchase 5 extra days

Join our team and uncover even more exciting perks that make Asahi an exceptional place to work.

We are committed to nurturing a workplace where we celebrate and respect differences, and support everyone to be true to who they are! At Asahi Europe and International, we believe you can SHINE AS YOU ARE - no matter your age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disabilities, religion, or beliefs. We want to support you to be courageous in your individuality and to know that whoever you are and whatever your circumstances, you can belong with us without having to conform.