Director of Legal

We are seeking an experienced and strategic legal professional to join our team as a Senior Director, Legal Counsel. This pivotal role involves overseeing the company’s legal operations, providing expert counsel to senior leadership, and ensuring compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. The ideal candidate will demonstrate the capability and ambition to transition into a General Counsel role in the future.

We are open to recruiting this role into Cambridge or Durham.

Key Responsibilities:

Legal strategy and leadership:

• Develop and implement legal strategies that support the company’s business growth objectives while mitigating risks
• Deliver ongoing assessment and monitoring of the global business regulatory environment and industry trends
• Provide strategic legal advice to the Executive team and senior leadership
• Ensure compliance with all relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards

Contract management:

• Oversee the drafting, review, and negotiation of a wide range of contracts
• Provide legal support for mergers, acquisitions, and other corporate transactions

Intellectual property management:

• Oversea the protection of the company’s intellectual property rights, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets.
• Collaborate with R&D / Technology teams to protect and manage the company’s intellectual property portfolio

Risk management and compliance:

• Oversee corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and risk management.
• Ensure adherence to UK and international laws, including data protection and industry specific regulations
• Identify potential legal risks and develop strategies to address and mitigate them effectively
• Lead the response to any legal disputes or litigation involving the company
• Advise on anti-money laundering (AML), anti-bribery, and corruption laws, ensuring company policies and practices comply with the UK Bribery Act 2010 and related laws.

Litigation and Dispute Resolution:

• Manage and oversee all litigation, dispute resolution, and regulatory investigations.
• Develop and implement strategies to resolve disputes in a cost-effective and timely manner.
• Represent the company in legal proceedings or negotiations with regulatory bodies, stakeholders, or counterparties.

Ethics and corporate social responsibility:

• Drive ESG initiatives from a legal perspective

Inclusive leadership and development:

• Create a culture of trust and psychological safety
• Foster diversity and representation
• Ensure equitable career development
• Lead with cultural awareness and encourage inclusive decision making

Legal budget and external counsel management:

• Develop and manage the legal department’s budget
• Oversee the use of external law firms and other third-party legal service providers

Qualifications, Training and Essential Skills

• Qualified solicitor in England and Wales (or equivalent)
• International legal qualification would be an advantage
• Minimum of 10 years’ experience in a senior legal role, ideally at a Director level or above, within a corporate or commercial environment.
• Experience in direct management of a diverse team
• Commercial awareness: Ability to navigate complex legal issues in a business context, balancing legal risk with commercial priorities
• Cross-cultural and international business training is an advantage
• Experience in a high-tech, intellectual property-heavy environment and familiarity with international legal matters is an advantage
• Experience of the semiconductor industry is a distinct plus
• Expertise in operational skills

Pragmatic is committed to equity, equality, diversity, and inclusion; we strive to welcome everyone and create inclusive teams. We celebrate difference and encourage everyone to be themselves at work. Please let us know if you would like any adjustments to our application and interview process.