The Legal Counsel is responsible for supporting the corporate venture and transformation strategy to achieve better results.
Supporting the legal team, the role is expected to support and manage all aspects of the fund's legal operations, including investments, strategic partnerships and exits, whilst overseeing the fund's governance, compliance and risk management programmes and be an access point to the wider business.
In respect of the business areas, initiatives and projects, the role holder is expected to: Support and take a lead in legal work related to managed investments, strategic partnerships / commercial arrangements with the portfolio, and exits.
Assist the legal team and the wider team, as required, in preparing recommendations to the Investment Committee, the Standing Committee or key stakeholders.
Assist in monitoring portfolio companies to ensure interests are protected, e.g.
at follow-on investment rounds.
Potentially help portfolio companies with significant legal issues, at a strategic level.
Identify the major legal, reputational, compliance and corporate affairs issues and risks that may arise, including structuring and contractual issues e.g.
process issues, structuring issues, competition issues, conditionality and required consents (including merger control), issues arising out of diligence / minority ownership, purchase price adjustments, compliance and reputational risk, any ancillary commercial agreements (e.g.
IP licencing agreements / product development agreements), announcement and comms strategy etc.
Effectively manage third party legal support where required, to focus upon key legal issues / documentation where needed.
Assist in the negotiation of the terms of any transaction and specifically resolve contract negotiations, and lead those negotiations where necessary.
Draft legal documentation or manage the drafting of documentation by external advisers.
Engage with the wider Legal team (including compliance) and other functions as required.
Experience Required & Technical / Functional / Leadership Skills Required Venture Capital, M&A and/or general corporate/commercial experience obtained in private practice and ideally in-house with another company (preferably FMCG but not essential).
Must be a self-starter capable of working without supervision on legal aspects.
Has technical expertise and experience in (Corporate) Venture Capital, private equity, minority investments and/or M&A but understands the broader commercial and regulatory legal environment.
Contributes in supporting and the broader business development activities.
Combines a blend of legal expertise, emotional intelligence, and creative problem-solving.
They should excel in collaboration, adaptability, and continuous learning, making them effective in building relationships and adding value.
Has the credibility and ability to engage and influence external stakeholders.
Understands, or has the ability to efficiently learn and understand, the business / industry in order to execute effective activities.
Has strong written and verbal communication skills.
Strategic thinker, dynamic and result-oriented professional.
Has the ability to engage and communicate in a clear and coherent manner.
Has the ability to advise the business commercially on how to deliver results whilst managing legal risks.
Education / Qualifications / Certifications Required Professionally qualified as a lawyer with approximately 4 years post qualification experience of international corporate, commercial, consumer goods and/or non-contentious law, preferably including extensive in-house experience.