Senior Legal Counsel I

FedEx Group; Atherstone; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Training to get you started and on-the

Tuition Assistance Program

Employee Assistance Program

Employee reduced-rate shipping

Great career opportunities

Job summary

FedEx is seeking a qualified UK employment solicitor to act as the primary legal partner for HR leaders and managers. You will lead strategic advice, manage tribunal claims with external counsel, and oversee TUPE, collective bargaining, and policy development across the UK.

Ideal candidates will have 5+ years PQE in UK employment law, a deep understanding of TUPE and unions, and the ability to translate complex requirements into actionable business guidance.

Qualifications

• Qualified Solicitor in England & Wales with a current, clean practicing certificate.
• Typically 5+ years PQE with significant hands-on UK employment law experience.
• Deep technical knowledge of UK employment legislation, collective matters (TUPE, trade unions), and tribunal litigation.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary legal point of contact for HR Directors, HR Business Partners, and operational managers.
• Manage UK Employment Tribunal claims with external counsel where necessary and pursue early conciliation.
• Advise on industrial relations, collective bargaining frameworks, union negotiations, and restructurings.
• Lead legal oversight on TUPE transfers, outsourcing arrangements, and service changes.
• Draft, update, and implement employment policies, contracts, severance agreements, and training modules.
• Instruct and manage external legal specialists for cost-effective, business-ready advice.

Skills

Strategic advisory

Litigation mitigation

TUPE

Industrial relations

Policy drafting

External counsel management

Data protection

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Education

Qualified Solicitor in England & Wales

Job description

Who we are:

FedEx is the largest express transportation company in the world, connecting more than 220 countries and territories. We work every moment to deliver the most important package of someone’s day. Our team of passionate people know their day-to-day work is invaluable in delivering outstanding experience to our customers. 530,000 team members strong, we are as diverse as the world we serve. We love what we do, and we do it well. Our reach is big, and so are our dreams.

What you will be doing:

1.Core Employment Law & Strategic HR Partnership

• Strategic Advisory:Serve as the primary legal point of contact for HR Directors, HR Business Partners, and operational managers, providing pragmatic, risk-balanced legal solutions on daily employee relations, executive issues, and complex workforce strategies.
• Contentious Matters & Litigation Mitigation:Manage UK Employment Tribunal claims with the assistance of external counsel where necessary, early conciliation (ACAS), and dispute resolutions, proactively mitigating litigation exposure and brand risk.
• Collective Labour & Trade Unions:Advise on industrial relations, collective bargaining frameworks, union negotiations, and workforce restructuring initiatives
• TUPE & Business Transfers:Lead legal oversight on TUPE transfers, outsourcing arrangements, commercial transitions, and service provision changes.
• Policy & Governance:Draft, update, and implement robust employment policies, standard employment contracts, severance agreements, and compliance training modules aligned with evolving UK labour legislation
• External Counsel Management:Instruct and manage external legal specialists efficiently when specialized counsel is required, ensuring cost-effectiveness and delivery of business-ready advice

2.Secondary & Wider Commercial Scope (not essential)

• Data Protection:Advise on workplace privacy, data subject access requests (DSARs), and employee data compliance under UK GDPR.
• General Commercial & Operational Support:Provide secondary support on small claims litigation, marketing and communications reviews, and general operational agreements as business needs evolve.

What do you bring with you:

Professional Qualifications:Qualified Solicitor in England & Wales with a current, clean practicing certificate.

Experience Level:Typically5+ years PQE, with significant hands‑on UK employment law experience (prior in‑house or high‑level secondment experience is strongly preferred).

Subject-Matter Expertise:Deep technical knowledge of UK employment legislation, collective matters (TUPE, trade unions), and tribunal litigation.

Commercial Acumen:A proven track record of translating complex legal requirements into clear, actionable advice for non-legal business stakeholders.

Risk Balance:Ability to adopt a pragmatic, commercial mindset that protects company assets and reputation without unnecessarily stalling operational execution

Communication & Influencing:Exceptional interpersonal and negotiation skills, capable of advising senior executives and collaborating effectively across matrixed organisations.

What do we offer:

• Attractive compensation package
• Training to get you started and on-the-job learning opportunities
• Extensive learning resources to further develop your skills and knowledge
• Tuition Assistance Program (*applicable for FedEx positions with a permanent contract)
• Employee Assistance Program for you and your family in difficult life situations
• Employee reduced-rate shipping
• Great career opportunities
• FedEx is one of the worlds most admired companies and trusted brands year after year

Bring your ideas, individuality, and dreams to our global community. Feel good about where you work. Choose your career path - we’re ready to invest in your development.

FedEx was built on a philosophy that puts people first, one we take seriously. We are an equal opportunity employer and we are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce in which we provide growth opportunities for all

Our Company

FedEx is one of the world's largest express transportation companies and has consistently been selected as one of the top 10 World’s Most Admired Companies by "Fortune" magazine. Every day FedEx delivers for its customers with transportation and business solutions, serving more than 220 countries and territories around the globe. We can serve this global network due to our outstanding team of FedEx team members, who are tasked with making every FedEx experience outstanding.

Our Philosophy

The People-Service-Profit philosophy (P-S-P) describes the principles that govern every FedEx decision, policy or activity. FedEx takes care of our people; they, in turn, deliver the impeccable service demanded by our customers, who reward us with the profitability necessary to secure our future. The essential element in making the People-Service-Profit philosophy such a positive force for the company is where we close the circle, and return these profits back into the business, and invest back in our people. Our success in the industry is attributed to our people. Through our P-S-P philosophy, we have a work environment that encourages team members to be innovative in delivering the highest possible quality of service to our customers. We care for their well-being, and value their contributions to the company.

Our Culture

Our culture is important for many reasons, and we intentionally bring it to life through our behaviors, actions and activities in every part of the world. The FedEx culture and values have been a cornerstone of our success and growth since we began in the early 1970’s. While other companies can copy our systems, infrastructure and processes, our culture makes us unique and is often a differentiating factor as we compete and grow in today’s global marketplace.

Equity, Opportunity & Diversity (EO&D)

Our greatest asset at FedEx is our people. We are committed to building a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce, and offer equal opportunities, fairness, and respect to all regardless of who you are.

We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, age, genetic information, citizenship, disability, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other characteristic protected under international and national laws and regulations. We reasonably accommodate team members and third parties to ensure equal access, inclusion and fairness across all protected characteristics.