Senior Legal Counsel

Job Description

About the Role

As Senior Legal Counsel, you’ll sit within the ASOS Legal Team. This is a permanent, senior legal role covering a broad range of general commercial matters.

You will be a key point of contact across a number of business areas which may include, for example, Commercial/Retail, Supply Chain, Marketing, Payments, Technology, and Consumer Regulation. Previous experience across every area of practice is not a requirement, but the successful candidate will need to be comfortable with taking the initiative across a diverse range of matters.

This is a high-impact, commercially focused role requiring 6+ years’ PQE. You will report to a Head of Legal. You will also supervise junior members of the team, so people management skills are a prerequisite.

The role is critical in helping the wider ASOS Legal Team meet the needs and requirements of all elements of ASOS’ business across the globe, requiring the ability to give commercial as well as legal advice, often on cross-border matters, and to promptly identify risks and issues that need to be escalated within the company. 

The role requires someone who is hands-on and commercially minded, with a strong professional ethic and the energy, interest, and training to pursue a huge array of legal and commercial challenges. You’ll need to be technically excellent and able to give commercial as well as legal advice, operate comfortably on cross-border matters, and promptly identify risks and issues for escalation to appropriate senior stakeholders.

Flexibility and adaptability are essential – the successful candidate must be comfortable picking up work across any area of the business. ASOS is fast paced, so all employees need to be adaptable and enthused about what’s around the corner for us. We work in a highly collaborative environment, presenting numerous opportunities to enjoy a wide variety of often innovative legal and commercial challenges.

The details 

This is a general commercial role, and we have set out some examples of the types of work that this role may involve.

Commercial & Supply Chain

• Supporting ASOS on its wholesale, third party brands, flex fulfilment models and sourcing teams across the full range of commercial matters.
• Advising on the commercial supplier lifecycle process, including onboarding, T&Cs negotiations, policies, supplier compliance, exit strategies, and any disputes.
• Advising on, drafting, and negotiating global supply chain contracts for the supply of a wide range of goods and services required to get products from the manufacturer to the customer’s doorstep.
• Negotiating long-term agreements with global logistics services providers to operate warehouses, and contracts for the supply and installation of warehouse equipment.
• Advising on global compliance issues and product safety matters, including managing and supervising escalated customer complaints.

Marketing & Consumer

• Working collectively with the Procurement Team to provide legal support on a broad range of commercial contracts including adtech, affiliate relationships, brand partnerships, public relations, and creative agencies, while ensuring all critical commercial and regulatory requirements are appropriately covered.
• Negotiating contracts and IP rights relating to marketing and customer-facing projects.
• Working closely with marketing and media teams to ensure ASOS’s global marketing campaigns and commercial partnerships are compliant with relevant advertising regulations across multiple territories, including copy clearance and managing any ASA or CMA complaints.
• Advising the business on consumer regulation compliance, including consumer rights, digital markets/services regulations, green claims regimes, online practices regulations (e.g., dark patterns), pricing regulations, and other relevant frameworks. Managing regulatory and consumer complaints/litigation.
• Global horizon scanning of upcoming regulation and project managing the implementation of new regulations across internal business stakeholders.

Technology & Payments

• Reviewing, drafting, and negotiating the full range of technology contracts, including software development and licensing, SaaS, PaaS, HaaS, service level agreements, telecoms, consultancy services, outsourcing, and hardware provision.
• Advising on the implementation of technology programs across business functions (e.g., Retail Management Systems, Warehouse Management Systems, Finance Systems, and People Team platforms).
• Working closely with Technology teams to assist with the development of ASOS’s ecommerce offerings (website, mobile web, apps) and advising on new technologies, including opportunities and inherent risks.
• Supporting the due diligence and commercial analysis for start-up partnerships and/or acquisitions, and proof of concept phases for new technology.
• Advising on payments-related matters across the business.

Team & Management

• Reporting to a Head of Legal, with the opportunity to work closely with the General Counsel and Company Secretary.
• Managing junior team members, so people management skills are a prerequisite.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with internal stakeholders and external counsel across all levels and geographies.
• Managing legal and commercial aspects of critical projects and acting as the key point of contact to drive projects forward with multiple stakeholders.
• Identifying the need for external legal advice and escalating legal matters accordingly.
• Identifying and helping to prepare and deliver training to the Legal Team and to the wider business on relevant legal and commercial issues.

Qualifications

About you

• Broad general commercial legal experience gained from private practice and/or in-house positions. Previous experience across every area of practice is not a requirement – but the role will suit someone who loves job variety and working across multiple business areas.
• 6+ years’ PQE, qualified solicitor in England & Wales (or equivalent qualification outside of England & Wales).
• Previous experience working in a fast-paced, growing, agile in-house commercial environment is preferred.
• Exposure to retail, ecommerce, or consumer-facing businesses is highly desirable.
• Excellent IT skills, particularly in relation to SharePoint, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. An enthusiastic early adopter of new technology, including AI tools and emerging legal technology – comfort and curiosity with AI-assisted workflows is a real plus.
• An excellent communicator who is approachable and adaptable, building relationships at all levels across the business and across geographies. Able to adapt communication style to interact effectively with a wide variety of people and personalities within the unique environment of ASOS.
• Energy and drive to succeed – comfortable with change and enthused about what’s around the corner for us.
• Experience in the maintenance and development of agreement templates and contract playbooks.
• Ability to identify areas for process improvement and leverage opportunities in existing workflows and procedures.

Additional Information

BeneFITS’

• Employee discount (hello ASOS discount!)
• Employee sample sales
• 25 days paid annual leave + an extra celebration day for a special moment
• Performance related bonus
• Private medical care scheme
• Opportunity for personalised learning and in-the-moment experiences that enable you to thrive and excel in your role.