Senior Legal Counsel – Commercial

FIA; London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An international sport federation is seeking a Senior Legal Counsel – Commercial to enhance its Legal Department in London. The role involves leading high-impact international agreements and working closely with multiple departments to provide strategic legal support. Ideal candidates are fully qualified lawyers with at least 5 years of post-qualified experience, excellent negotiation skills, and a background in commercial or sports law. A proactive mindset and leadership potential are also essential for this dynamic position.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of PQE (post qualified experience).
• Strong exposure to international commercial contracts, ideally in the sports, media, or entertainment sectors.
• Expert drafting and negotiation abilities.

Responsibilities

• Draft, negotiate, and manage complex commercial agreements.
• Advise different departments on commercial and legal strategy.
• Anticipate and mitigate legal risk in various contexts.

Skills

Negotiation

Contract Drafting

Commercial Awareness

Interpersonal Skills

Education

Fully qualified lawyer

LLM or specialization in Commercial Law, Sports Law or Media Law

Job description

This is a unique opportunity to join the FIA’s Legal Department in a strategic role at the crossroads of sport, media, and global commercial partnerships. As Senior Legal Counsel – Commercial, you will lead high-impact international agreements and act as a key legal partner to our Sport, Marketing, and Digital teams.

You’ll combine hands-on legal work with strategic input on complex commercial matters across FIA championships and platforms. This role is ideal for a senior legal professional seeking autonomy, influence, and the opportunity to grow within a dynamic and international environment.

MISSIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Contractual Leadership & Legal Support

• Draft, negotiate and manage complex commercial agreements (e.g. promoter, licensing, marketing, sponsorship, broadcasting, digital, e-gaming)
• Structure and oversee contractual frameworks supporting FIA Championships and Series
• Advise departments (Sport, Marketing, Digital, Partnerships) on commercial and legal strategy
• Review and improve contract templates and internal procedures aligned with evolving needs and regulatory frameworks

Strategic Legal Input

• Integrate principles of European competition law in commercial practices
• Contribute to the legal design of procurement, tenders, and promoter selection procedures
• Anticipate and mitigate legal risk (dispute resolution, contractual enforcement, governance)
• Support transversal initiatives linked to new platforms, event models or rights packaging

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Act as a trusted legal advisor across functions and geographies
• Coordinate with external counsel and key commercial partners
• Work closely with the Commercial Legal Director and the Head of Legal Commercial
• Affairs to shape and maintain a robust legal architecture

PROFILE:

• Fully qualified lawyer
• LLM or specialisation in Commercial Law, Sports Law or Media Law is a plus
• Minimum 5 years of PQE (post qualified experience)
• Strong exposure to international commercial contracts, ideally in the sports, media, or entertainment sectors
• Native or fluent English required (min C2)
• Expert drafting and negotiation abilities (English law essential, Swiss law an asset)
• Strong commercial awareness and ability to translate legal complexity into strategic decisions
• Proactive mindset, high autonomy, strong prioritisation and time management
• Leadership potential, with capacity to evolve towards broader responsibilities
• Excellent interpersonal skills and capacity to build trust across functions and cultures

Regular travels to Geneva are required

Deadline to apply: August 31st, 2025

If you are interested, please send us your CV and cover letter.

The FIA is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome and encourage applications from all qualified candidates.