Legal Counsel

Overview

As sole legal counsel for Baxters’ European business, you will manage legal risk and provide pragmatic advisory to the European Leadership Team and business units, including the Polish subsidiary. You will combine strategic oversight with hands-on delivery across governance, compliance and a broad range of commercial matters. You’ll review, draft and negotiate contracts for the European Business Unit and oversee relationships with external advisers. You will shape the legal function, drive efficiency, and support growth with a focus on practical, business-friendly solutions.

Pay / Benefits

• highly competitive salary and benefits package

Responsibilities

• Provide pragmatic legal advice on complex commercial matters and manage external counsel as appropriate
• Support compliance, corporate governance and risk management within Baxters’ legal framework
• Ensure consistency and efficiency of contracting processes across the European Business Unit, including risk assessment in new and existing contracts
• Lead on transactional work and special projects (including banking transactions and M&A), coordinating external advisers as needed
• Monitor and manage Baxters’ IP portfolio, including registration, renewal and enforcement across jurisdictions
• Oversee litigation/disputes for the European Business Unit and coordinate external legal support as required
• Support insurance programme administration and claims management in collaboration with Group Legal Director & Company Secretary
• Administer and steward the European property portfolio, including leases, purchases, ratings and dilapidations
• Attend European Board Meetings for minute-taking; nurture key relationships with external legal providers
• Collaborate with Baxters’ Legal team on strategy, improvement initiatives and adoption of AI/legal tech to boost efficiency and partnership

Key requirements

• Scottish or English qualified lawyer
• Experience in-house (retail/FMCG preferred) or equivalent private practice background
• Experience managing external advisers
• Strong analytical and cross-functional collaboration skills
• Self-motivated, hands-on, able to handle conflicting priorities in a changing environment
• Excellent verbal and written communication; able to present complex information to senior leadership
• Comfortable drafting reports for Board-level presentation
• Experience advising/managing legal support for a multi-jurisdictional business

• cross-functional collaboration
• resilience
• effective communication
• contract review and negotiation
• legal risk assessment
• corporate governance

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