Senior Sole Counsel

Clifton Search; West of England; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Clifton Search seeks a UK-based Senior Sole Counsel to lead the legal function for a newly acquired technology-focused entity. This standalone, highly autonomous role requires hands-on leadership across commercial, data protection, and regulatory matters with global stakeholder interaction.

The ideal candidate will be a UK Qualified Solicitor with senior-level experience, ideally from a software/tech background, and capable of managing complex international contracts and licensing deals.

Qualifications

• Senior-level/lead experience required for UK-based role.
• Experience in software/tech environment preferred.
• International experience or contracts under foreign laws is desirable.
• Hands-on, autonomous leader capable of advising across business units.

Responsibilities

• Assume full legal responsibility for the newly acquired organisation.
• Lead negotiations and management of a wide range of commercial contracts.
• Oversee international contracts and cross-border legal compliance.
• Advise on software licensing including SaaS, IaaS, PaaS arrangements.
• Lead privacy, data protection and consumer protection compliance initiatives.
• Develop and implement AI/ML regulatory strategy.
• Manage IP portfolio and related protection activities.

Skills

Senior leadership

Commercial contracts

International contracts

Data protection

Privacy compliance

Regulatory strategy

IP portfolio management

SaaS licensing

Cross-border negotiation

Education

UK Solicitors Qualification

Job description

Our client is a highly acquisitive global organisation operating within the Software/Content/Media/Telco sector.

As a result of further growth and a recent acquisition we are looking for a Senior Sole Counsel to be the lead lawyer for a newly acquired part of the group.

The position will report to the internationally based CEO sitting in a wider global group of companies.

This is a standalone and highly autonomous role within an ambitious and multi-layered organisation and will require a hands on approach across the business.

You'll regularly work with colleagues and customers from all over the world in a truly borderless role.

We are looking for a UK based senior level lawyer with extensive experience gained within the software Technology sector.

Main responsibilities

Full legal responsibility across the newly acquired organisation

Advising and negotiating and leading on a wide range of commercial contracts.

Significant lead experience of international contracts, or contracts subject to foreign laws and jurisdiction.

Robust negotiation skills, especially in the context of high-value contracts with customers.

Experience of working with, or within a software, Media/ telecoms company.

Experience of software licensing contracts, together with SaaS, IaaS, PaaS

Experience of advising in relation to global data protection issues

Lead compliance management efforts related to privacy and consumer protection laws.

AI/ML Regulatory Strategy

IP Portfolio Management

Person

UK Qualified Solicitor with senior level/lead experience. (Head of legal/Director)

International experience gained in a Software Tech environment.

UK based

Hands on and flexible approach

US experience helpful