Legal Counsel

Legal Counsel (Employment Law) Contract Role - Until March 2027 Up to £1000 per day London - 2/3 days a week in office Our client are seeking a Legal Counsel to join a dynamic legal team, providing expert employment law advice across the UK and wider EMEA region. This is an exciting opportunity for a commercially minded lawyer who enjoys partnering with senior stakeholders, shaping employment policies, and navigating complex workplace issues within a regulated environment. Reporting to the Head of Employment Law, you will play a key role in advising HR and business leaders on a broad range of employment law and employee relations matters. You will help ensure compliance, mitigate risk, and support the organisation's people agenda through practical, commercially focused legal guidance. Key Responsibilities

• Provide expert employment law advice on employee relations matters across the UK, with support to wider EMEA offices as required.
• Advise HR teams and managers on complex employee issues including disciplinary, grievance, performance management, absence management and employment disputes.
• Support organisational change initiatives, including restructures, reorganisations and integrations.
• Draft, review and maintain employment-related documentation, policies, procedures and employee handbooks.
• Facilitate and manage external legal counsel where required, including employment litigation and tribunal matters.
• Advise on settlement agreements, negotiations and dispute resolution strategies.
• Identify employment-related risks and provide practical, commercially sound solutions.
• Deliver training and guidance to HR teams, managers and key stakeholders on employment law developments and employee relations best practice.
• Support the development of consistent employee relations processes, templates, guidance and frameworks.
• Monitor legislative developments and ensure policies and practices remain legally compliant and aligned with best practice.
• Contribute to governance committees, projects and wider business initiatives from an employment law perspective. Requirements
• Qualified Solicitor, Barrister or equivalent legal professional.
• Approximately 2-4 years' post-qualification experience in employment law.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law, with exposure to European employment law considered advantageous.
• Experience advising on complex employee relations matters, restructures, employment documentation and workplace policies.
• Background gained within a reputable law firm, in-house legal team, financial services organisation or similarly regulated environment.
• Strong commercial awareness with the ability to balance legal risk and business objectives.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication abilities.
• Confident handling sensitive and challenging conversations.
• Ability to work independently while building strong collaborative relationships across the business.
• Experience within financial services or another regulated sector.
• Understanding of regulatory frameworks and their impact on employment practices.
• Experience supporting cross-border employment matters across the EMEA region.