Head of Legal - Corporate Legal Affairs

United Kingdom
Competitive Salary and Good Benefits
25 Sep 2022
18 Oct 2022
GB/CS/1926
In House Counsel
10+, 8-10
Permanent
Full Time

Vice President- Legal Affairs (Head of Legal)

 

Our client is a global high tech company operating within the Aerospace/Defence and Security sectors.

 

We have a fantastic new and unusual opportunity for a Vice President to lead the Corporate Affairs function.

 

This position leads the UK’s Corporate Affairs team, sitting within the Legal, Corporate Affairs and Compliance function, a broader community of legal, corporate, and compliance specialists.

 

As part of that team, reporting into the Director of Legal, you will have wide-ranging responsibilities for providing critical and timely legal advice in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.

 

You will forge relationships with key personnel in the UK, wider Europe and globally. Your ability to understand the business, its needs and how they relate to the external legal environment will be of crucial importance.

 

The role has broad dimensions but will include providing legal advisory support to the UK board and central functions and the Company’s overseas presences, including managing the provision of Company Secretariat services, supporting the legal aspects of the Company’s M&A, real estate and construction projects, managing the Company’s data protection response, driving best practice in corporate governance, as well as providing general corporate legal support to UK business units on matters such as company law, ethical and regulatory compliance.

 

This role can be based from a number of different UK sites nationally.

 

Main Responsibilities

 

  • Setting of the strategic direction and aims together with the overall department management for the UK Corporate Affairs department, to include leading and developing the Corporate Affairs team

 

  • Lead the provision of Corporate matters for the UK Company - company secretarial, corporate governance, regulatory, legal aspects of property related services for the UK company (and where applicable its overseas subsidiaries and offices), and other related matters, to include:

 

  • Lead and advise on broad regulatory issues and compliance, including supporting engagement with regulators or regulatory investigations

 

  • Lead and advise on corporate governance including development of best practice and initiatives

 

  • Provide specialist advice on real estate and construction projects in connection with the UK company’s portfolio of freehold and leasehold property interests

 

  • Lead the provision of legal and associated support to M&A projects

 

  • Provide support to the Company Secretary

 

  • Advise the business on all ethical and anti-corruption matters, including third party integrity declarations

 

  • Supporting the effective governance of the company through the Board Committees, attending as appropriate.

 

  • The appointed Data Protection Officer for UK Ltd, and the lead for data protection matters and compliance.

 

  • Own and develop the relevant systems, procedures and services of the Corporate Affairs team to ensure its efficient and effective operation

 

  • Develop close working relationships with the Corporate Affairs team in Europe to facilitate the review, development and implementation of the corporate governance initiatives.

 

What we are looking for

 

 

 

  • English or Scottish Qualified Lawyer, or other significant relevant experience; (8+pqe)
  • Strong working knowledge of company law, combined with excellent drafting and negotiation skills;
  • Broad regulatory compliance knowledge and understanding, preferably in defence and aerospace and/or engineering and manufacturing sectors;
  • Strong drive to support the business, add value to the services the Corporate Affairs team deliver, and to always be seeking opportunities to better deliver;
  • Good communication and presentation skills;
  • In-house and relevant industry experience desirable, but not essential.