An ambitious, commercially minded corporate / commercial counsel is required to join Applegreen’s growing Group legal function. The candidate will have excellent technical legal skills and sound business judgment. Reporting to the Senior Legal Counsel with a dotted line to the Group General Counsel, the candidate will provide legal advice and support to the Group’s business functions in the U.S., the U.K. and Ireland, and will have a proven ability to manage and resolve complex legal challenges.
An opportunity may be available for the successful candidate to transition to Applegreen’s U.S. headquarters in New Jersey, if desired.
Responsibilities:
- Support the Group legal function on legal matters relating to all aspects of the Group’s operations.
- Draft, negotiate and advise on general business and contractual terms and large scale, high value commercial agreements, including supply, services, consultancy, franchising, licensing and non-disclosure agreements, to minimise risk and optimise legal protection.
- Establish procedures for contract management and maintain a database of the Group’s legal documents.
- Provide legal advice to the Group’s business functions on contractual, transactional and governance issues, including on the business-critical aspects of property, IP/IT, M&A, competition, data protection, finance and employment law, as required (prior experience in these areas would be helpful, but is not essential).
- Assist with company secretarial, compliance and governance matters, and maintenance of the Group’s IP.
- Assist with the legal aspects of intra-group restructurings.
- Develop an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the Group’s multi-jurisdictional business, including a particular focus on the Group’s U.S. contractual relationships.
- Keep abreast of legal and compliance developments and advise of any proposed changes in law that might affect the Group’s commercial activities.
- Instruct and manage external legal counsel, as required, while being acutely mindful of the Group legal budget.
- Support the Group legal function to establish and maintain culture, tone and consistency across the Group on legal and compliance matters.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with all key stakeholders in the Group.
- Energetically contribute towards innovation and continuous improvement.
Background required:
- Qualified solicitor, ideally having trained in a top-tier Irish or international law firm.
- 1-3 years’ PQE, ideally with a mix of private practice and industry exposure.
- A confident self-starter with a strong commercial and legal mindset, capable of independently managing workload and priorities.
- Experience in negotiating high-value commercial agreements with an ability to work independently and efficiently, while exercising good judgement.
- Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced and dynamic organisation.
- Excellent relationship management and communication skills, with an ability to explain complex legal issues and associated risks succinctly and in a commercial manner to non-lawyers.
- Ability to provide legal advice and support to senior level management on highly technical matters.
- Strong planning and organisational skills and attention to detail.
- Driven to execute and deliver optimal results for the Group, as well as flourish in a high-growth, entrepreneurial environment.
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