Head of Legal - Technology

Head of Legal - Technology

Competitve + Great Benefits

London

The Head of Legal, Tech is critical in helping ensure that the Legal Department meets the needs and requirements of all elements of ASOS’ business across the globe. It requires the ability to give commercial as well as legal advice, to operate comfortably and effectively in many different jurisdictions, and to promptly identify risks and issues that need to be escalated within the Company.  You’ll need to technically excellent (and probably Tech obsessed), hands on and commercially minded, with a strong professional ethic, and the energy, interest and training to pursue a huge array of matters. To win ASOS’ ~1,000 strong Tech Team over, you’ll need to speak their language and move as quickly as them. With the ability both to give the teams give quick, confident, commercial calls, at all times in the ASOS tone of voice, as well as lead the most complex of our Tech contract negotiations.  

Responsibilities:

This is a high impact, commercially focused, senior Legal role - you will be the most senior Tech lawyer at ASOS, and responsible for partnering with, leading and supporting the needs of the ASOS Tech community. There are several key elements to the Head of Legal role:

Tech

• Leading (or supervising) the drafting and negotiation of the full range of ASOS Tech contracts for software development and licensing, SaaS, PaaS, hosting, service level agreements, telecoms, consultancy and services, outsourcing and hardware provision, and all other technology across the ASOS group. Providing specialist sector knowledge and expertise on the Tech aspects of other ASOS contracts and negotiations.
• Advising on the implementation of Tech programmes that support the business – i.e.  for Retail (e.g. Global Retail Management System), Supply Chain (e.g. Warehouse Management Systems), Finance (ASOS Finance System) and our People Team.
• Work closely with ASOS’ Tech Teams to assist with the development of ASOS various ecommerce offerings (website, mobile-web, apps, etc) and advise on new technologies, including opportunities and inherent risks.
• Working very closely with ASOS’ Procurement Team, providing Legal input on tender processes and collaborating on the negotiation of all Tech contracts.
• Responsible for the continuous improvement and updating of ASOS standard form agreements, ASOS templates and legal processes.
• Assisting the Team with on Legal Operations strategy and Legal Tech acquisitions.
• Comprehensive knowledge of GDPR and PECR, and assisting our Data Privacy team with implementation and ongoing compliance.
• Supporting the development and implementation of Legal Operations technology within the Legal Department to promote efficient and effective ways of working.
• Able to support the due diligence and commercial analysis for start-up partnerships and/or acquisitions.
• Have a cutting-edge knowledge of the Tech landscape, providing informed insights and updates on relevant Legal developments to the Tech community. Be the recognised Tech expert in Legal.
• Identify areas of leverage and opportunities for improvement, in ASOS existing Tech arrangements.
• Lead and develop the Legal: Tech Team including, developing objectives, hosting regular 1-2-1s and defining career development plans.
• Be able to influence at highest levels internally and externally.
• Being a general all-round Tech superstar, and a sounding board and trusted, commercially orientated advisor to ASOS Tech Leadership. Helping them make their Team as successful as possible.
• Be a Team Player, willing and able to review a wide variety of commercial contracts across other areas of the business, and provide general ad hoc legal support, as needed.

Managing Legal Counsel 

• The Head of Legal will supervise and work closely with more junior members of the ASOS Legal Team. You will help support their development and manage the allocation of work including holding regular meetings with junior lawyers, and supervising the work of a paralegal. You will help foster an inspired and motivated working environment within the Legal Team, championing high-performing reflecting the company culture, values, and behaviours.

Senior Legal Team

• Act as a role model for the ASOS Legal Department, encouraging collaboration across the business, and growing the credibility of the Legal Department and ultimately ASOS as a whole.
• Identify and provide training to the Legal team and to the business on relevant legal and commercial issues. Build and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders and external counsel.
• Identify the need for external legal advice and exercise appropriate cost management and control with all external partners used by the Tech division of the Legal Department.
• Provide project management experience to drive projects forward with multiple stakeholders.

Experience and qualifications you’ll need

Communication is key to any role in this Legal Department, as our team members continually build relationships at all levels across the business, at the same time as working together to deliver what’s needed, when needed, by whatever means necessary.  All Legal team members must be approachable & capable of adapting their approach and communications to ensure excellent interaction with the wide variety of people and personalities across the unique environment of ASOS. We’re also fast paced, so all team members also need to be adaptable and cope with change quickly, and be enthused and excited about what’s around the corner for us.

Experience

• Significant specialist Legal Tech experience, and general commercial experience, gained ideally from both private practice and in-house positions.
• Will ideally suit someone who loves ecommerce retail and innovative tech.
• Previous experience working in a fast-growing, agile, adaptable environment is preferable.
• Experience managing junior members of a team.

Skills & Qualifications

• 8+ PQE Qualified Solicitor (PQE level is only a guide)
• Excellent IT skills, particularly in relation to the use of Sharepoint, Word, Excel and PowerPoint, and ideally an enthusiastic early adopter of new Technology generally.