Senior Legal Counsel - Corporate

Sky; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading media and entertainment brand in the UK seeks a Senior Legal Counsel, Corporate to provide crucial legal support across corporate operations. The ideal candidate will possess over 4 years of PQE, with a strong background in corporate law and excellent negotiation and analytical skills. This role offers a hybrid working model, balancing time in the office and at home, while working in a collaborative environment. Join a dynamic team at the forefront of the industry.

Benefits

Generous pension package

Private healthcare

Discounted mobile and broadband

Sky Q for TV

Qualifications

• Minimum 4 years PQE as a solicitor in corporate law.
• Experience in private practice or in-house corporate legal functions.
• Proactive and willing to assist on various projects.

Responsibilities

• Support high-profile legal projects and corporate matters.
• Advise on corporate governance and compliance issues.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external legal counsel.

Skills

Attention to detail

Negotiation skills

Drafting skills

Analytical skills

Organizational skills

Strategic thinking

Communication skills

Education

Qualified solicitor of England & Wales (or equivalent)

4+ years PQE

Job description

This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK's leading over-50s age inclusive jobs board.

Want to do the best work of your life? With 24 million customers in 7 countries, make your mark at Europe's leading media and entertainment brand. A workplace where you can proudly be yourself; our people make Sky a truly exciting and inclusive place to work.

We're now looking for a Senior Legal Counsel, Corporate to play a pivotal role within our UK&I Legal Team. Reporting to the Group Director of Legal (Sport, Connectivity & Other Strategic Partnerships), you'll be a trusted adviser at the heart of Sky's corporate operations.

In this high-impact role, you'll partner with key corporate functions - including Finance, Tax, Compliance, and Company Secretariat - providing expert guidance across a broad spectrum of corporate and corporate finance matters. You'll support the wider Legal Department, act as a strong delegate for the Group Director, and collaborate closely with Comcast's Corporate Legal team on Sky's M&A activity.

Your work will ensure that business strategies are supported with sharp, commercially focused legal advice that enables SKY teams to move with confidence.

Based in the UK, you'll also have the chance to work across Sky's international markets, connecting with legal teams across the group. This opportunity is ideal for a solicitor with 4+ years' PQE (England & Wales or equivalent), bringing a strong corporate background from private practice or an in-house environment.

What you'll do:

You’ll play a key role in supporting the Legal team on high-profile, strategically significant deals and projects, while running and coordinating large matters and independently managing smaller matters.

You’ll support Sky group management and advise on corporate matters, including:

• Advising on General corporate matters (e.g., directors' duties; restructurings, solvency, dormancy and liquidation of entities; corporate elements of commercial transactions etc.)
• Advising on Corporate finance matters (e.g., intragroup and external debt management; recapitalisations; dividend payments)
• Support for JVs on the strategic questions around divestment/ exit/ renewal from the Sky perspective as well as interaction with the commercial deals which form part of the JVs;
• Support for other investments (BAU matters, including preparation for board and shareholder meetings, corporate resolutions, investor consents, director/officer appointments, letters of support etc.)
• Flexible support for new acquisitions and other M&A activity (point person for Sky) working closely with Comcast corporate legal in London and Philadelphia.
• Instructing and managing external corporate legal support.

What you'll bring:

• English qualified solicitor of a minimum of 4+ years PQE (or equivalent)
• Strong corporate background with experience in English corporate law (or equivalent) either from private practice or equivalent in-house across a range of corporate transactions (including share and asset acquisitions, disposals and JVs)
• Excellent attention to detail, negotiation, drafting and analytical skills
• Proactivity, taking the initiative and with a willingness to help out on a range of projects
• Strong organisational skills and ability to adapt quickly, organise, prioritise and plan effectively in a fast‑paced environment with competing priorities
• An ability to think strategically, creatively and commercially and to advise stakeholders on legal and commercial risks.
• Strong communication skills and proven track record in distilling complex legal issues and risks into concise summaries suitable for commercial stakeholders and an ability to think laterally and identify creative, customer‑focused solutions.
• Excellent inter‑personial skills, a positive outlook and the ability to build trust and rapport at all levels and work collaboratively across the Sky Group to deliver Sky's objectives.
• Experience in instructing and managing external legal counsel
• Prior in‑house or secondment experience at a corporate with a developed legal function is a plus.

How you’ll work

At Sky, we want to be a community that thrives by being together. Flexible working remains a key part of that. We want our people to have the best of both worlds - time working at home, as well as time in the office.

The hybrid working expectations for this role are 3 days in the office per week.

Where you’ll work:

Our Osterley Campus is a 10‑minute walk from Syon Lane train station. Or you can hop on one of our free shuttle buses that run to and from Osterley, Gunnersbury, Ealing Broadway and South Ealing tube stations. There's also plenty of bike shelters and showers.

On campus, you’ll find 13 subsidised restaurants, cafes, and a Waitrose. You can keep in shape at our subsidised gym, catch the latest shows and movies at our cinema, get your car washed and even get pampered at our beauty salon.

Team overview:

Sky's Legal department is a fantastic place to work. We comprise over 200 industry leading lawyers and legal and compliance professionals across the Sky territories, providing commercial, risk‑based advice to the wider business. We regard ourselves (and are recognised) as trusted partners of the business functions we support. We seek to employ the "Believe in Better" mantra in our day‑to‑day work, both in our output and in our behaviours. Our Vision is to be one team, business partnering to deliver Sky's Protect & Grow plan, empowered to be our best.

The rewards:

There's a reason people can't stop talking about #LifeAtSky. Our great range of rewards really are something special, here are just a few:

• Sky Q, for the TV you love all in one place
• A generous pension package
• Private healthcare
• Discounted mobile and broadband
• Access a wide range of exclusive Sky VIP rewards and experiences

Inclusion:

We're an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We don't discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We're a Disability Confident Accredited Employer, and welcome and encourage applications from all candidates. We'll look to ensure a fair and consistent experience for all and will make reasonable adjustments to support you where appropriate. Please flag any adjustments you need to your recruiter as early as you can.

Why wait?

Apply now to build an amazing career and be part of a brilliant team. We can't wait to hear from you.

To find out more about working with us, search #LifeAtSky on social media. A job you love to talk about.

Just so you know: if your application is successful, we'll ask you to complete a criminal record check. And depending on the role you have applied for and the nature of any convictions you may have, we might have to withdraw the offer.