Interim Senior Legal Counsel, South East University

Anderson Quigley is delighted to be supporting a University in the South East who are looking to appoint an Interim Senior Legal Counsel.

In this role, you will lead in overseeing the provision of legal advice and support as well as managing legal risk in relation to commercial, academic, student and consumer related matters.

The Opportunity

You will be the primary point of contact and lead Governance and Legal Services (GLS) day to day working relationship with a variety of key University teams by providing expert, solution oriented legal advice to support the University’s strategic aims.

Working independently as well as part of the GLS team and when required, taking responsibility for instructing external counsel, you will support and advise on a variety of complex matters. You will be responsible for advising (including undertaking due diligence) on all collaboration agreements with UK and non-UK partners for the provision of education, agreements relating to the recruitment of students to courses, dispute resolution and litigation relating to students, matters relating to students as ‘consumers of education’, student placement and work experience agreements, the University’s safeguarding obligations and other legal and regulatory requirements.

You will be training colleagues, promoting best practice across the university, maintaining a repository of template agreements and ensuring the University manages its legal risks effectively and complies with its legal, statutory and regulatory obligations.

Who are we looking for?

We are excited to hear from qualified solicitors or barristers with outstanding drafting, negotiation, interpersonal and communication skills who can provide client-focussed and practical legal advice.

We will be looking for lawyers with experience of working at a senior, strategic level. Significant knowledge and experience of preparing, reviewing and negotiating a range of commercial contracts for senior internal and external stakeholders is essential. The role holder is not expected to be a specialist in all legal disciplines but will need to demonstrate substantial core experience in advising on a wide variety of commercial contracts, IP law and a capability for quickly understanding and leading on all legal matters within their remit. An excellent knowledge and experience of advising clients on pervasive legal considerations such as contract, company, consumer and data protection law, legal practice, dispute resolution, and litigation are essential. A sound understanding of charity and consumer law together with the information governance and safeguarding obligations of a public body is desirable.

For a confidential conversation please contact Az Ahmed.