In-House Lawyer - Commercial Contracts & Procurement Counsel
The Role
This role sits within the Legal & Regulatory Team and is responsible for reviewing, drafting and negotiating commercial agreements, helping the firm identify and mitigate legal, regulatory, data protection and commercial risks before entering into contractual arrangements.
The focus of the role is primarily on supplier and procurement-related contracts across the firm's international network, although the successful candidate will also support the review of client service agreements where required. The role will work across a broad range of business functions, including Information Technology, Human Resources and other business services teams, ensuring contractual arrangements support the firm's strategic objectives while meeting its obligations as a regulated legal services provider.
Working closely with colleagues across Legal & Regulatory, Procurement, Data Protection and Information Security, the role will play an important part in promoting best practice procurement, supplier governance and risk management across the business.
Key Responsibilities
- Review, draft and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements, with a particular focus on supplier, technology and procurement-related contracts.
- Identify and mitigate legal, regulatory, operational and commercial risks arising from contractual arrangements.
- Assess proposed supplier relationships to ensure compliance with the firm's regulatory obligations and risk management framework.
- Lead or support negotiations with suppliers and assist with the review of client service agreements where required.
- Support business initiatives involving new technologies, systems and services, with particular consideration of data protection, privacy and information security requirements.
- Conduct supplier due diligence exercises, including review of data protection, information security and regulatory compliance arrangements.
- Collaborate with Data Protection and Information Security teams on contractual and project-related matters.
- Support governance committees and internal approval processes by providing legal and regulatory input on new products, services and supplier arrangements.
- Develop, maintain and promote legal, procurement and risk management policies, procedures and best practice guidance.
- Monitor legal and regulatory developments and produce practical guidance, templates, practice notes and training materials.
- Work closely with risk lawyers, business services leaders and key stakeholders to address emerging legal, regulatory and compliance issues.
- Design and deliver engaging training and awareness programmes for lawyers and business services teams on legal, procurement and risk-related topics.
Experience & Skills RequiredEssential
- Qualified Solicitor or Barrister with relevant post-qualification experience gained in private practice or an in-house legal environment.
- Strong experience reviewing, drafting and negotiating commercial contracts, particularly supplier, procurement and technology agreements.
- Good knowledge of UK data protection and privacy legislation, including UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act.
- Strong commercial awareness and the ability to provide practical, solution-focused legal advice aligned to business objectives.
- Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to engage and influence individuals at all levels of seniority.
- Strong organisational and project management capabilities, with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to balance attention to detail against wider commercial and regulatory considerations.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to draft clear, practical guidance and precedent documentation.
- Ability to quickly understand complex legal, regulatory and operational issues and communicate clear, pragmatic recommendations.
Desirable
- Experience advising on procurement processes, supplier governance or third-party risk management.
- Experience of technology, SaaS, cloud services and information security-related contracts.
- Experience supporting legal risk, compliance or governance committees.
- Experience designing and delivering legal, compliance or risk management training programmes.
Other Requirements
- Willingness to undertake occasional travel between firm offices, with reasonable advance notice.
The Firm
When you work at Clyde & Co, you join a team of 500 partners, 2,400 lawyers, 3,200 legal professionals and 5,500 people in nearly 70 offices and associated offices worldwide. Our values are the principles that guide the decisions we make, unite us in our endeavours and strengthen our delivery, for both our clients and our firm. We work as one, excel with clients, celebrate difference and act boldly. We are committed to operating in a responsible way by progressing towards a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the communities and clients it serves. We are devoted to providing an environment in which everyone can realise their potential, using its legal and professional skills to support its communities. We do this through pro bono work, volunteering and charitable partnerships, and minimising the impact it has on the environment, including through our commitment to the SBTi Net-Zero standard and the setting of ambitious emissions reduction targets.
Our Commitment
Clyde & Co is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. Our values encourage us to support fairness, celebrate diversity and prohibit all forms of discrimination in the workplace to allow everyone to excel at work. Therefore, we welcome and encourage all applications from suitably qualified individuals, regardless of background or identity. Learn more about our interview process.
A Note on Privacy
Please take a moment to read our privacy notice. This describes what personal information Clyde & Co (we) may hold about you, what it’s used for, how it’s obtained, your rights and how to contact us as a data subject.
If you are submitting a candidate as a Recruitment Agency Partner, it is an essential requirement and your responsibility to ensure that candidates applying to Clyde & Co are aware of this privacy notice.
This is the job description as constituted at present; however, Clyde & Co reserves the right to reasonably amend it in accordance with the changing needs of the business.
