Senior Legal Counsel - Commercial Contracts

Dept Agency; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Legal Counsel specializing in Commercial Contracts. In this pivotal role, you will advise on a range of commercial agreements while ensuring compliance with UK laws. Collaborate with dynamic teams across multiple regions, and enjoy a supportive environment that values personal growth and creative freedom. With a commitment to diversity and sustainability, this role offers a unique opportunity to thrive in a fast-paced agency setting. If you are passionate about legal compliance and eager to make a significant impact, this is the perfect chance to advance your career.

Benefits

Pension

Free private healthcare

Mental health support

Company sick pay scheme

25 days paid holiday

Office refreshments

Team rewards for project successes

Training and development opportunities

Global charity support initiatives

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor with strong knowledge of UK contract law and 6+ years of experience.
• Experience in commercial contracts within service industries, especially marketing or technology.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate various commercial agreements.
• Provide expert advice on UK contract law and compliance.
• Stay informed about changes in UK law and industry regulations.

Skills

UK contract law

commercial contracts negotiation

risk mitigation

analytical skills

fluent English

team player

Education

Qualified solicitor in England and Wales

Job description

This role is at the centre of our Holding team in the UK. We’ve got a mix of skills here, from Finance and Hospitality, to Recruitment, People & Culture, IT Support and Marketing. Think of us as the backbone of the company, keeping things running smoothly and helping out everywhere we can. We're the ones who answer questions, toss around ideas, offer support, and plan those fun outings and initiatives everyone loves. We’re the reliable crew that everyone counts on to keep things rolling.

JOB PURPOSE:

As Legal Counsel - Commercial Contracts, you will play a pivotal role in advising our business, managing, and negotiating a wide range of commercial contracts across our marketing and technology operations. Collaborating with cross-functional teams across the UK, US and Europe, you will ensure compliance with UK laws while minimizing risk and supporting the agency's commercial objectives.

You will join the Legal Team at Dept, a group of passionate colleagues that will feel like friends in no time. If you grow, we grow: we’ll support your personal development with a tailored growth plan and training budget. You will collaborate with stakeholders that will challenge and inspire you, in the environment of a leading international agency with the energy of a dynamic local team. We trust and value creative freedom and autonomy.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial agreements, including client services (e.g. master service agreements, statements of work, service level agreements), supplier contracts, and licensing agreements (IP, AI, software).
• Provide expert advice on UK contract law and commercial best practices, with a focus on risk mitigation and compliance.
• Support the development and maintenance of contract templates, policies, and legal workflows.
• Partner with business and operational teams to identify and mitigate legal risks while achieving commercial objectives.
• Stay informed about changes in UK law and industry-specific regulations, including data protection (UK GDPR) and technology-related legal developments.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

• Qualified solicitor in England and Wales.
• Strong knowledge of UK contract law, with experience in European legal frameworks being highly desirable.
• A minimum of 6 years of post-qualification experience in a law firm or in-house legal role, ideally with exposure to (digital) marketing, advertising, or technology sectors.
• Experience of commercial contracts counsel within a service industry setting.
• Pragmatic, business-oriented approach to resolving legal issues.
• Exceptional analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Fluent in English, both written and spoken; additional European language skills are an advantage.
• A proactive, independent team player who thrives in a fast-paced, international environment and embraces a dynamic, evolving business landscape.

WE OFFER:

• An excellent salary based on experience and equal pay policies.
• Hybrid working: you have the choice to work from our office or remotely, and we have core working hours where you can choose your start and finish times to suit you.
• Pension, free private healthcare, mental health support, and company sick pay scheme.
• 25 days paid holiday with the opportunity to buy extra days.
• Refreshments are provided in the office all week, as well as drinks at 4 pm on a Friday.
• We celebrate successes by rewarding teams when big projects go live and honouring the year’s top achievements at our annual awards ceremony.
• A reputation for doing good. DEPT has been a Certified B Corp since 2021 and named ‘Agency of the Year’ at both The Lovies and The Webby Awards.
• Awesome clients. Whether big or small, local or global — at DEPT you’ll get the opportunity to work with clients of all sizes and across all industries. And we celebrate all of our successes together!
• The opportunity for possibility. We want to enable you to do what you do best and help you develop your skills further with training, development and certifications.
• Global DEPT Cares Month in which employees come together and donate their skills to support local charities.

WHO ARE WE?

We are pioneers at heart. What does that mean? We are always looking forward, thinking of what we can create tomorrow that does not exist today. We were born digital and we are a new model of agency, with a deep skillset in tech and marketing. That’s why we hire curious, self-driven, talented people who never stop innovating.

Our culture is big enough to cope and small enough to care. Meaning, that with people across 30+ countries, we’re big enough to provide you with the best tools, global opportunities, and benefits that help you thrive. While acting small by investing in you, your growth, and your team, and giving you the autonomy to solve our client's problems, no matter where you are in the world.

DEPT is committed to making a positive impact on the planet and since 2021 has been Climate Neutral and B Corporation certified.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION

At DEPT, we take pride in creating an inclusive workplace where everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive. We actively seek to recruit, develop, nurture, and retain talented individuals from diverse backgrounds, with varying skills and perspectives.

Not sure you meet all qualifications? Apply, and let us decide! Research shows that women and members of underrepresented groups tend not to apply for jobs when they think they may not meet every requirement, when in fact they do. We believe in giving everyone a fair chance to shine.

We also encourage you to reach out to us and discuss any reasonable adjustments we can make to support you throughout the recruitment process and your time with us.

Want to know more about our dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion? Check out our efforts here.