Senior Legal Counsel - Corporate M&A

About the role

We are seeking a Senior Legal Counsel to join a UK‑headquartered global engineering and manufacturing group. The successful candidate will act as a trusted business partner, delivering pragmatic legal advice across a wide range of corporate and commercial matters, with a focus on M&A and strategic transactions.

Key responsibilities

• Provide legal support for corporate matters, including mergers, acquisitions and other strategic deals.
• Draft, review and negotiate high‑value, complex commercial contracts with customers, distributors and suppliers.
• Support tender processes and respond to customer legal queries.
• Assist with governance change initiatives, process‑improvement projects and legal research as required.
• Maintain and develop legal templates, playbooks, procedures and knowledge‑sharing materials.
• Instruct and manage external counsel when needed and support senior lawyers across the UK and internationally.

Required profile

• Qualified solicitor with at least 8 years post‑qualification experience.
• Commercially minded with strong negotiation skills and sound judgment.
• Analytical thinker who can apply flexible, creative solutions to complex legal issues.
• Professional, proactive, detail‑oriented and able to build effective relationships at all levels.
• Committed to continuous learning and knowledge sharing.

Required skills

• Experience advising on corporate and strategic transactions.
• Expertise in drafting and negotiating complex commercial contracts.
• Ability to manage external legal advisers.

What we offer

• Salary of £100,000‑£110,000 per year, dependent on experience.
• Hybrid working model (3 days in the office, half‑day finish on Fridays).
• Enhanced pension contribution, private medical cover and life assurance.