Senior Commercial Legal Counsel

Overview

As Senior Commercial Legal Counsel in Grant Thornton UK’s Office of General Counsel, you will draft and negotiate commercial contracts with key clients and suppliers, while identifying and managing risk. You will lead stakeholder relationships across service lines and work cross-functionally to address legal issues. You will develop the team and explore improved delivery methods, including AI-enabled approaches, to support growth. This role offers a chance to shape commercial risk management in a client-focused, inclusive culture with flexible working. You’ll contribute to ethical, quality-driven outcomes that align with the firm’s purpose and values.

Pay / Benefits

• flexible working options
• family-friendly leave policies
• wide rewards and benefits
• work-life balance
• inclusive culture

Responsibilities

• Draft and negotiate commercial contracts (including master services agreements and public-sector frameworks) with clients and suppliers
• Lead stakeholder relationships across service lines and support functions
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Quality and Risk teams, partners, and staff on legal issues and emerging risks
• Manage and develop the team to maximize performance and improve ways of working (e.g., AI-enabled delivery)
• Act as a decision maker and escalation point; supervise junior team members as required
• Help protect the firm while enabling delivery of excellent client service

Key requirements

• Qualified lawyer with substantial commercial contracting experience in a regulated professional services business
• Extensive experience of legal and risk management issues in professional services
• Experience with supplier-side public sector contracting
• Knowledge of adjacent areas of law (data protection, intellectual property)
• Proven track record collaborating with related teams/functions (procurement, financial crime, ethics, data office)
• Pragmatic, commercial, solutions-based approach
• Self-starting attitude; ability to manage conflicting demands
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including drafting contractual terms

• collaboration
• commercial mindset
• clear communication
• proactive problem-solving
• AI-assisted legal delivery (conceptual)
• contract drafting and negotiation

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