Head of Legal (Maternity Cover)

Job Description

Purpose of the role  

Head of Legal (12–14 Month Maternity Cover)

Location: Hybrid – minimum 2 days (Tuesday & Thursday) in the Wimbledon office

Contract: Fixed Term (12–14 Months)

We are seeking an experienced and commercially minded Head of Legal to join our business on a 12–14 month maternity cover contract.

This is an exceptional opportunity to lead the legal function of a private equity-backed, highly acquisitive international group currently operating across 26 jurisdictions and looking to further expand.

Reporting directly to the Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and working closely with the Group Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) and the wider executive management team, you will play a critical role in supporting the business through its continued growth strategy while providing pragmatic, solution-focused legal leadership across a broad range of commercial and operational matters.

This is a hands-on role, requiring someone who is equally comfortable advising on strategic matters as executing complex and routine legal work independently.

Reports to: Group CFO

ISP Key Responsibilities

1. Mergers & Acquisitions

A key aspect of this role is driving the execution of M&A activity (including in jurisdictions where we have existing operations and entry into new countries).  You will work closely with the Head of M&A and CCO, as well as the Investment & Partnerships team, in all aspects of M&A execution and integration (including adherence to deal timetables and transactional risk management).

You will have proven experience in executing international M&A transactions from inception through to post-completion.

You will be comfortable:

• With the support of external counsel, overseeing all legal aspects of cross-border acquisitions, including letters of intent, due diligence, transaction documentation, signing and completion and working closely with the Head of M&A and CCO as well as the Investment & Partnerships team.  

• Supporting post-acquisition integration activities, ensuring legal workstreams are delivered effectively and on time.

• Dealing with legal aspects of relationships with minority shareholders and local partners where applicable.

2. Operational legal support

You will also provide legal support across a broad range of day to day matters (alongside other members of the legal team), including:

• Commercial contracts and customer agreements.

• Intellectual property protection and management.

• Corporate governance – including in respect of the ongoing development of the corporate governance programme given the growth and direction of the business

• Dispute management and oversight of contentious matters.

• Advice on evolving data privacy and cyber security frameworks.

• Legal support relating to ongoing equity and debt financing arrangements.

• Cross functional collaboration (eg tax / treasury / HR / finance / risk).

• General commercial, operational and strategic legal issues arising across the Group.

Skills

You would need to be able to:

• Lead a lean but highly effective central legal function and a small number of regional in-house counsel.

• Be comfortable and prepared to take ownership of matters and execute them to conclusion accordingly.

• Provide pragmatic, commercially focused legal advice to senior management and business stakeholders.

• Operate autonomously across a diverse range of legal matters while prioritising effectively in a fast-paced environment.

• Minimise reliance on external counsel by providing practical, high-quality in-house advice and determining when specialist support is genuinely required.

Qualifications and Experience

You are an experienced in-house lawyer who enjoys operating in a dynamic, fast-moving international business (being a qualified solicitor with a minimum of 8-10+ years' post-qualification experience (PQE) and a strong background in M&A and commercial matters).

You combine strong technical legal expertise with commercial judgement and a pragmatic, execution-focused approach.

You will have:

• Significant and proven experience of cross-border M&A transactions (from initial structuring through to post-completion integration) and international businesses operating across multiple jurisdictions.

• Proven experience operating at a senior level within an in-house legal function, partnering with executive leadership teams.

• Strong commercial contracting and general corporate legal experience.

• Experience advising on corporate governance and broader commercial legal matters.

• Demonstrable ability to manage a varied legal workload autonomously, and manage a team doing the same.

• Excellent judgement, strong stakeholder management skills and the confidence to influence senior decision-makers.

• A proactive, solutions-oriented mindset with the ability to anticipate issues before they become problems.

• Proven ability to collaborate effectively across multiple business functions and cultures.

ISP Principles

Begin with our children and students. Our children and students are at the heart of what we do. Simply, their success is our success. Wellbeing and safety are both essential for learners and learning. Therefore, we are consistent in identifying potential safeguarding

and Health & Safety issues and acting and following up on all concerns appropriately.

Treat everyone with care and respect. We look after one another, embrace similarities and differences and promote the well-being of self and others.

Operate effectively. We focus relentlessly on the things that are most important and will make the most difference. We apply school policies and procedures and embody the shared ideas of our community.

Are financially responsible. We make financial choices carefully based on the needs of the children, students and our schools.

Learn continuously. Getting better is what drives us. We positively engage with personal and professional development and school improvement.

ISP Commitment to Safeguarding Principles

ISP is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All post holders are subject to appropriate vetting procedures, including an online due diligence search, references and satisfactory Criminal Background Checks or equivalent covering the previous 10 years’ employment history.

ISP Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

ISP is committed to strengthening our inclusive culture by identifying, hiring, developing, and retaining high-performing teammates regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender expression, age, disability status, neurodivergence, socio-economic background or other demographic characteristics. Candidates who share our vision and principles and are interested in contributing to the success of ISP through this role are strongly encouraged to apply.