Senior Legal Counsel

🔒 Confidential Employer
Posted 2 January 2026
LOCATION
Leeds
TYPE
Full-time
LEVEL
Mid-Senior level
CATEGORY
Legal
This employer holds a UK Home Office sponsor license — sponsorship for this specific role is at the employer’s discretion

SKILLS

Commercial Contracts IP Licensing Legal Strategy Data Protection Compliance Negotiation Pharmaceutical Sector Team Leadership

FULL DESCRIPTION

Senior Legal Counsel

Location: Office or Remote, UK based

##### Key Responsibilities

  • Drafting, reviewing and negotiating various commercial contracts and agreements, with a particular focus on development/distribution/out-licensing/in-licensing agreements across global territories.
  • Act as the legal team owner and ‘go-to’ point of contact for the business on all non-US legal patent litigation, pre-litigation and IP licensing matters, and offer proactive support to the General Counsel in all territories.
  • Support the General Counsel and business in developing and implementing legal strategies for protecting the intellectual property of the Group.
  • Provide expert and pragmatic solutions-based legal advice on a timely basis to support the business in a variety of areas across multiple jurisdictions, including strategic IP advice, ensuring that advice is balanced against legality, commerciality and business priorities.
  • Support the General Counsel in the design, implementation and evolution of the company’s legal governance and approval processes to protect and enhance the Company’s operations across all geographies.
  • Proactively identify legal risk areas and work with the General Counsel to develop risk mitigation solutions including through updating of company templates, policies and procedures.
  • Ensuring compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, including data protection, competition, health and safety, environmental law, anti-bribery, criminal finance and fraud, and modern slavery, while proactively staying up to date with legislative and regulatory changes.
  • Assist with the support, supervision and development of other team members, where requested by the General Counsel.

##### Key Behaviours

  • Lead, motivate, and coach your team to deliver their best, fostering collaboration and engagement across the business.
  • Drive a positive culture, celebrate success, and share best practices to boost performance and efficiency.
  • Stay ahead of industry trends and provide valuable insights to support informed decision-making.
  • Operate effectively within agreed budgetary constraints.
  • Ensure full compliance with procedural and governance standards, including competition law, anti-bribery legislation, the Criminal Finances Act, GDPR, and relevant industry codes of practice.
  • Oversee supplier management and governance processes, and maintain strict adherence to the Group’s Levels of Authority (LOA) within your area of responsibility.

##### Knowledge and Experience

  • Qualified UK lawyer with a minimum 6 years PQE (essential).
  • A minimum of 4 years’ industry experience, including substantial exposure to the pharmaceutical sector, as well as a proven track record in building and developing teams (essential).
  • Experience of working in a Private Equity environment (desirable).

##### Skills

  • Excellent communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills, ability to influence multidisciplinary teams.
  • Ability to forge strong, collaborative partnerships across all key business functions, working seamlessly with their own team to deliver exceptional results.

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