Managing Counsel

Managing Counsel

From £85,000 + Bonus + Pension + PMI + ShareSave + 6.6 weeks holiday + Hybrid Working 

Southampton, Store Support Office

Reporting into B&Q’s Head of Legal, this role supports the Head of Legal in leading B&Q’s Commercial Legal Team in partnering and protecting the business. As trusted strategic partners, the Legal team play a critical role in delivering business goals in the right way, aligned with B&Q’s Purpose and Behaviours.

The role is exciting, hugely varied and fast paced. No one day is the same, but you will manage legal risk, advise and support the Business on all manner of commercial contracts and new projects as well as provide advice on competition law, intellectual property, insolvency, data protection, litigation and much more. You will help lead the Legal Team to partner our business and drive growth, whilst protecting B&Q, Kingfisher, our colleagues and our assets.

Key Accountabilities / Responsibilities:

• Working with the Head of Legal and the Business to prioritise workload for B&Q’s Commercial Legal Team.
• Reviewing, drafting and negotiating complex commercial/strategic contracts for all relevant Business areas including for both digital and non-digital channels and for goods not for resale and goods for resale arrangements.
• Partnering the Business on project strategy on an end-to-end basis and act as "lead lawyer" as required.
• Advising on templates/precedents.
• Supporting the Business on data protection law compliance, including interactions with Regulators and advise and support on data incidents/investigations and complex data subject complaints.
• Case managing commercial litigation including deciding tactics and strategy.
• Advising on competition law compliance and training including dawn raid training programmes and interactions with Regulators.
• Advising on Intellectual Property matters: including managing B&Q's IP portfolio; advising on IP infringement risk and IP licences; and liaising with Kingfisher Legal Team on Kingfisher Group IP matters.
• Managing compliance within Kingfisher Group’s/B&Q's Authority Limits and policies.
• Providing excellent customer service with sound legal, commercially focussed advice.
• Regularly interacting with Kingfisher Group’s Legal Teams and panel law firms (managing outsourcing costs effectively and efficiently).
• Providing day to day support to the other 6 in-house lawyers in the team (including our apprentice).

Experience:

• Qualified as a Solicitor (in England and Wales) with significant relevant experience, ideally in-house.
• Excel at providing commercial, legally sound, strategic advice.
• Broad and extensive legal knowledge with sound experience in commercial law in a retail or similar environment.
• Strong knowledge of data protection law and competition law.
• Excellent technical skills and ability to give clear, simple, pragmatic advice to all levels of stakeholder.
• Management skills and an ability to create and manage a culture to motivate the Commercial Legal Team within Kingfisher's/B&Q’s culture and objectives.
• Strong judgement and communication skills (both written and verbal).
• Ability to focus on commercially and legally important matters.
• Ability to find effective, legally compliant and Business focussed solutions to legal and commercial issues.
• Ability to negotiate with external and internal parties to ensure B&Q’s and its customers’ best interests are protected.
• Be experienced in leading projects including complex negotiations and regulatory matters.

Skills:

• Be an effective influencer.
• Have a proven track record in building excellent stakeholder relationships.
• Ability to prioritise and manage multiple matters concurrently and to work to tight deadlines.
• Resilience to handle high volume/multiple deadlines and evolving environment.
• Problem solver and decision maker - able to find solutions to support the Head of Legal drive the Legal Team and its work forward positively.

As part of a great team, you’ll be valued for who you are. We’re committed to making B&Q more diverse and representative of the communities we serve, where everyone can feel they belong and have equal opportunities. You will have access to a range of networks that represent our colleagues and allies and help us to continue to put diversity and inclusion at the heart of our business.

We also recognise that wellness means different things to different people, and we want to help colleagues be at their best and feel well by offering a range of benefits to help you. As well as a competitive salary, our benefits package includes an award-winning pension scheme, bonus, ShareSave options, 6.6 weeks holiday, payroll giving, an Employee Assistance Programme, shopping discounts, colleague wellbeing benefits and lots more! 

So we can support you during the application or interview process, please contact ssorecruitment@b-and-q.co.uk for any recruitment adjustments.