Legal Counsel

Job Description

Commercial Legal Counsel

Competitive salary, excellent benefits and career development opportunities.

Sysco is the world's largest foodservice distributor. In Great Britain and Ireland, our businesses serve thousands of customers across the hospitality, leisure, education, healthcare and public sectors. As part of a global organisation, the Legal Team plays an important role in supporting the growth of our businesses in Europe by negotiating commercial contracts, managing risk and generally acting as a business partner to our commercial and functional colleagues across the markets in which we operate.  The team operates as part of the global legal and public affairs team, reporting to the EVP and Chief Legal Officer.

The role

We are looking for a qualified solicitor with substantial experience gained in private practice, in-house, or a combination of both. You will have strong experience drafting and negotiating commercial contracts, coupled with excellent commercial judgement and a pragmatic approach to problem solving.

While candidates with experience broadly equivalent to 3–7 years' PQE are likely to possess the skills required for this role, applications will be considered from all candidates who can demonstrate the necessary experience and competencies.

The role is based in Ashford, Kent, operating under a hybrid working model, with occasional travel to other UK locations as required.

This role offers the opportunity to work on a wide variety of matters across the Sysco businesses in Great Britain and Ireland, while also supporting European and International projects. You will work directly with colleagues across commercial, operational, procurement, supply chain, technology, finance and HR functions, providing practical and commercially focused legal advice.

You will be trusted to manage your own matters whilst working as part of a collaborative legal team that values pragmatic advice, strong stakeholder relationships and continuous improvement. In addition to providing legal support on day-to-day commercial matters, you will play an active role in helping the team to evolve its processes, tools and ways of working to ensure we continue to deliver an efficient, high-quality and commercially focused service to the business.

You will also act as an important point of contact for more junior members of the team, helping to support their development, share knowledge and foster a collaborative team culture.

Key responsibilities

• Draft, review and negotiate a broad range of commercial agreements, including customer contracts, supplier agreements, technology contracts, services agreements, confidentiality agreements and terms and conditions.
• Advise stakeholders across the business on legal, commercial and regulatory matters affecting the organisation.
• Support strategic projects and business initiatives across Great Britain and Ireland and, where required, across Europe and other International jurisdictions.
• Work closely with commercial, operational, supply chain and technology teams to identify and manage legal risk whilst supporting business objectives.
• Develop strong working relationships with stakeholders at all levels of the business.
• Act as a key contact for more junior members of the Legal Team, providing guidance, sharing knowledge and supporting their professional development.
• Support the development and delivery of legal training, compliance initiatives and legal know-how across the business.
• Contribute to the ongoing development of legal processes, templates, contract management systems and legal technology solutions.
• Identify opportunities to improve the delivery of legal services to the business and help drive continuous improvement within the Legal Team.
• Manage disputes and potential disputes at an early stage, working closely with business stakeholders to achieve practical and commercially appropriate resolutions and escalating matters where appropriate.
• Monitor legal and regulatory developments and help ensure the business remains informed of relevant changes.
• Work collaboratively with members of the Legal Team and provide support across a broad range of legal matters as priorities evolve.
• Have the opportunity to support corporate transactions and strategic projects, including acquisitions and business integration activities.
• Have the opportunity to assist with data protection, privacy, property, treasury and tax-related matters, working alongside more senior members of the Legal Team and external advisers where appropriate.

About you

You will be a qualified solicitor with experience gained in private practice, in-house, or a combination of both. You will have strong experience drafting and negotiating commercial contracts, coupled with excellent commercial judgement and a pragmatic approach to problem solving.

You will have:

• Strong experience drafting and negotiating commercial contracts.
• Excellent commercial judgement and a practical approach to problem solving.
• The ability to balance legal risk with commercial objectives.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience working with, or advising, a range of business functions.
• The ability to manage competing priorities and adapt to changing business needs.
• An interest in developing both people and processes, with a proactive approach to improving how legal services are delivered to the business.
• The confidence to provide guidance and support to more junior colleagues.
• A collaborative approach and the ability to work autonomously when required.
• A commitment to high professional and ethical standards.
• Experience of supporting multinational businesses or working on cross-border matters would be advantageous but is not essential.

What you will receive

• Car/ Travel Allowance: £5500 per annum
• Private Medical: Single Cover
• Early Access to Your Earnings: Use our dedicated Wage Stream app to access your earned salary whenever you need it, helping you manage your finances with ease and confidence.
• Flexible Time Off: Take advantage of the option to purchase additional annual leave.
• Comprehensive Wellbeing & Health Support: Benefit from our Employee Assistance Programme, offering confidential mental health support, 24/7 GP appointments, physiotherapy, flu vaccinations, eye tests and a wide range of health services for you and your family.
• Competitive Pension Scheme: Secure your future with our robust pension plan designed to help you plan long term.
• Life Assurance: Peace of mind with life assurance coverage designed to protect you and your loved ones.
• Exclusive Discounts: Enjoy access to Sysco Perks, where you’ll find discounts on everything from gym memberships to your weekly grocery shop.
• Special Sysco Product Discounts: Get the chance to purchase our food products at significantly reduced prices.
• Free Mortgage Advice: Navigate the property market with confidence thanks to complimentary expert mortgage guidance.
• Enhanced Family-Friendly Leave: Our policies support you through important life moments, offering greater flexibility and care for you and your family.

Additional Information

At Sysco GB everyone is welcome. We don’t want you to ‘fit our culture’ we want you to help define it and we actively celebrate the unique talents of each and every colleague. We don’t just look at your CV, we’re more focused on who you are and your potential. As part of our values, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture where everyone has a voice, is appreciated and has the same opportunities. We work hard to ensure that everyone feels part of our business, as we care for one another and connect the world through food and trusted partnerships. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that everyone belongs and thrives at Sysco GB and we recognise that Sysco GB can only thrive when everyone feels they belong. We'll do everything we can to support you during your application. If you need us to make any adjustments to our recruitment process, speak to our resourcing team who will be happy to support you.