Legal Counsel

This role is part of a key business team supporting FDM’s growing UK and European businesses and is one of two Legal Counsel positions, supporting the Senior Legal Counsel and reporting into the Regional General Counsel.

As one of our Legal Counsel you can expect to:

• Take a leading role in the preparation and determination of disputes and settlement agreements in relation to employees, helping to bring about a result which is in the best interests of the Company.
•  Support the People Team providing commercially focused advice and solutions, covering the full range of employment issues including hiring, termination, mobility and immigration, disputes, investigations, and advisory support for specific employee issues.
• Provide advice to relevant stakeholders, including managers and Directors, as to the risks associated with various employment related processes
• Review policies and procedures, keeping track of new legislation and advising the Company on the implementation of required legal amendments to policies and procedures.
• Coordinate closely with the People Team on a global basis to ensure a consistent approach to policies and decision making across the global organisation
• Contribute to developing and maintaining the Legal Teams resources, including template contracts, forms and other materials.
• Work with and manage external counsel.
• Research applicable legal issues affecting the company in both the UK and Europe and provide advice to managers and directors
• Prepare training materials and support with the provision of training sessions as required to internal employee groups to ensure compliance with applicable laws
• Provide more general commercial legal support depending on capacity

You must be a UK qualified Solicitor who holds a current practicing certificate with 3-5 years PQE in employment law with the following attributes:

• Experience in providing respected legal support on general policy issues.
• Strong leadership attributes, with a proven track-record of constructive partnership with colleagues and business leaders, and of pro-active participation in cross-functional teams.
• A pragmatic and commercial approach to legal advice and being comfortable taking risk-based decisions.
• Comfortable engaging with and, where necessary, constructively challenging, senior leaders.
• Good organisational skills.
• Negotiating skills and social skills in representing interests and providing advisory work.
• Ability to interact professionally with all levels and cultural backgrounds in the organisation.
• Writing skills, for expressing matters, contracts, reports, etc., in legal terms accurately and inventively.
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment
• Business acumen, determination and go-getter attitude.