Senior Legal Counsel

About Us

The FT has an uncompromising mission: delivering independent, quality information, news and services to individuals and companies around the globe. It’s the cornerstone of our reputation and the heart of our ambitions for the future. But for our people, the FT offers so much more than what we do. FT people come from all kinds of backgrounds and work across a huge range of disciplines and locations, and find an empowering, warm and welcoming culture that values curiosity and rewards smart, ambitious thinking. Those who are willing to unite around our mission and live our values will find plenty to challenge, inspire and interest them. Like the audiences we serve, no two FT people are the same; but together we help our audience be better informed and understand the world around them. It’s a job that’s never mattered more, and a career that can take you anywhere you want to go.

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace

At the FT, we give all employees a voice so that diverse perspectives are heard and valued. We believe that a supportive workplace is one where employees feel they can be themselves at work. We’ll continue to remove barriers for all, and in particular barriers facing employees from underrepresented groups.

The Role / Position Overview

We’re looking for a dynamic and motivated Senior Counsel with a passion for navigating complex commercial landscapes to join our impactful Legal, Compliance, and Company Secretariat team. This is an exciting opportunity to work at the intersection of strategy and operations, where you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our business.

This role offers the chance to make a significant impact within a renowned global media organisation, while working on some of the most exciting and challenging legal issues in the industry. If you’re ready to take your career to the next level and contribute to a forward-thinking team, we’d love to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities

As Senior Counsel, you will be the legal advisor for FT Strategies, our pioneering media consultancy division. FT Strategies helps businesses build sustainable digital strategies by driving customer engagement, retention, and revenue growth. In addition, you’ll work on strategic partnership projects across the business and be the key legal partner for commercial matters for our Editorial and Finance & Tax departments. Your expertise will be crucial in negotiating intricate commercial contracts and providing strategic legal advice on a diverse range of issues.

You’ll also lead two dedicated legal counsel who support our advertising, communications, and B2C divisions. You’ll report into the General Counsel, work closely with senior management and collaborate daily with colleagues in Procurement and Compliance to deliver impactful legal solutions.

Required Skills / Experience

• Qualified Expertise: Qualified to practise English law, with at least seven years of post-qualification experience (PQE), including in-house experience.
• Passion for Media: A genuine enthusiasm for working with a leading global business news and information organisation.
• Commercial Savvy: Deep understanding of commercial law and contract law principles, with a proven track record in drafting and negotiating complex commercial contracts.
• Specialised Knowledge: Strong working knowledge of data protection and intellectual property laws, with experience advising on advertising, consumer and competition laws.
• Leadership Experience: Experience in managing and mentoring other lawyers, with a focus on driving team success.
• Adaptability: Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, managing multiple priorities with confidence and precision.
• Communication Skills: Confident, articulate, and commercially-minded, with exceptional interpersonal skills that enable you to influence and build strong relationships across the business.

What’s in it for you? Our Benefits

Our benefits vary depending on location, but we are committed to providing best in class perks across all our offices as well as an inclusive environment to develop your career. Examples of our benefits include; generous annual leave allowances, flexible working (including working from home), medical cover, enhanced parental leave packages, subsidised gym memberships and Giving Back opportunities. Full details of our benefits can be found here.

Further Information

The FT is committed to providing an inclusive working environment for all. We are an equal opportunities employer who seeks to recruit and appoint the best talent regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. We have implemented a hybrid working model and we also promote flexible working and will consider specific requests around flexibility for all roles where it can be accommodated. Please let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments as part of the application process or to enable you to attend an interview. If you would like to discuss your requirements, or have any questions, please send an email to [email protected] and a member of our team will be happy to help.

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