Commercial Lawyer - Principal Associate Leeds, England
Job description
About your new role
We provide a comprehensive range of commercial services encompassing:
- Commercial contracts
- Technology
- Data protection
- Intellectual property
- Competition, energy work and public projects
We advise on a variety of contracts from day-to-day business relationships up to major projects.
Our clients are in various sectors such as technology, media, retail, pharmaceutical, insurance transport and logistics, manufacturing alongside work within the public sector for universities, NHS bodies, police forces and local authorities.
The team is national with coverage across our Liverpool, London, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle and Glasgow offices.
Weightmans operates a hybrid working policy with at least two days a week working in the office.
We are recruiting for a Commercial Contracts Solicitor 5 YRS + pqe (Principal Associate level). Candidates must have experience of commercial contracts, technology, data protection, intellectual property.
We will consider applications from Liverpool, Manchester or Leeds for this particular role.
Your new role will cover the following key aspects:
Working on your own matters and assisting partners (and other fee-earners) with their matters.
- Commercial contracts work will be broad, with coverage including Master Services Agreements.
- Framework Agreements, Supply of Goods and Services, Agency & Distribution Agreements, Outsourcing Agreements, Manufacturing Agreements and Consultancy Agreements.
- Technology contracts work will be varied, including Software as Service Agreements (SaaS), Software Licences, Software Development Agreements, Mobile App Development Agreements, Reseller Agreements, Managed Service Agreements, Service Level Agreements, Support & Maintenance Agreements and Video Games Agreements.
- Data protection work will relate to data mapping exercises, data protection compliance documentation, privacy notices, cookies notices, data processing agreements, data sharing agreements, international data transfer advice and electronic marketing advice.
- Intellectual property work will focus on commercialisation. Typically, IP licences and assignments with involvement in intra-group IP re-organisations.
- Corporate support work will involve undertaking legal due diligence on corporate transactions, advising on warranties and drafting transitional services agreements.
- Competition law support will involve assisting lead partner on competition law projects and areas of specific advice.
- Opportunity to get involved with our energy team on a variety of large and innovative projects.
- Manage matters in accordance with client service level agreements.
- Work in accordance with Weightmans’ values and procedures.
- Contribute to achieving Commercial National team set financial and chargeable time targets.
- Comply with Weightmans process around data protection compliance and procedures.
- Complete client management information procedures/databases as and when required.
This list is not intended to be exhaustive and you will have other duties and responsibilities that fall within the remit of the role.
About You
We are looking for someone with the following skills:
- 5+ PQE is essential - If you do not meet this criteria please see other roles available
- Strong experience across commercial contracts, technology, data protection, intellectual property and corporate support
- High level of commercial awareness with strong attention to detail and good drafting skills
excellent communication and listening skills
- Conscientious, self-motivated, hard-working, and responsive
- Critical thinking abilities and excellent communication, organisation and analytical skills
- Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team within the commercial team supporting more senior and junior staff and across the wider firm on larger projects
- Aptitude to work to strict deadlines and client protocols while maintaining high standards
- Appreciation and a focus on the need for work to be delivered in a profitable way
- Willingness to learn new areas (even if currently not skilled in a particular area) including competition law, energy contracts and public projects work
Why work for us
Weightmans is a Top 40 law firm with offices throughout the UK. Having been recognised as the leading legal employer and 9th overall employer at the annual Britain's Top Employers awards 2022 and achieved record rankings in Chambers UK.
We are proud to be an accredited living wage employer.
The independent research showed "Weightmans provides exceptional employee conditions, nurtures and develops talent throughout all levels of the organisation."
We are truly committed to fostering a culture of equality and diversity, where everyone in the firm is respected and recognised on merit for the work that they do.
We strongly encourage applications from people of all ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations and disabilities. Please let us know if you require any reasonable adjustment at any stage of the application process.
Please feel free to note your preferred pronouns in your application.
Work for a firm where people matter – work for Weightmans.
As well as being immensely proud of the work we carry out for our clients and the culture we provide to our people we offer a wide range of benefits including;
- 28 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays (pro-rated for part time)
- Agile / working from home including provision of home office equipment*
- Healthcare cover/ Medicash
- Pension plan
- Life Insurance 4 x salary
- Interest free travel loan scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme including counselling, legal and consumer advice service
- Discounted gym membership
- Discounted dental scheme
- Cycle to work scheme
- Offers & discounts
- Great reward and recognition scheme
- there are a small number of roles that cannot be performed from home, your Recruitment Adviser can confirm.
Please note
- Any reference to experience or PQE in our adverts or job descriptions is to be used as a guideline only. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and with different levels of experience who can demonstrate that they fulfil the requirements of the role.
- The successful candidate appointed to this role will be subject to our standard background checking process, and any offer of employment made is conditional upon successful completion of those checks. Further details can be obtained from the Recruitment team.
- We are open to part time/job share applicants.
Recruitment agencies (PSL /non-PSL)
Weightmans operates a strict 'preferred supplier list' (PSL) and is committed to working closely with the recruitment agencies that feature on that list. As such, Weightmans does not accept speculative or unsolicited CVs, profiles or any other introductions from both our PSL and non-PSL agencies. If a PSL or non-PSL agency chooses to submit a speculative or unsolicited CV, profile or introduction without instruction from a member of Weightmans’ recruitment team, we will reserve the right to treat the introduction as a gift and contact the candidate directly without accepting or entering into the agency’s terms nor being liable for a recruitment fee.
Eligibility to work in the UK
Eligibility to work in the UK will be verified in the final stages of the selection process. All candidates must either already have a right to work in the UK before commencing employment, or meet the Home office criteria for Visa sponsorship. Candidates who require sponsorship should evaluate the Home Office eligibility criteria for a Skilled Worker visa before applying.
