Contracts Lawyer - 2-5 years' PQE - Birmingham or Glasgow

Job Description

CONTRACTS LAWYER2-5 YEARS PQEBIRMINGHAM OR GLASGOWAbout the FirmPinsent Masons is a global 100 law firm, with over 3,400 employees operating out of 25 locations across Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. We have a long-standing reputation for delivering high-quality legal advice rooted in a deep understandingof the sectors and geographies in which our clients operate. Our global reach ensures that we are well-placed to advise on complex multi-jurisdictional matters across a full range of legal disciplines.The firm has significant multinational credentials in the financial services, energy, infrastructure, real estate, and advanced manufacturing and technology sectors. Services provided across these sectors include asset management and investment funds, corporateand M&A, commercial, competition, litigation and arbitration, banking, restructuring, insurance, regulatory, construction, projects, pensions, property, planning and environmental, procurement, outsourcing, employment, share plans and incentives, technologyand tax advice.We champion change and promote progress to make business work better for people. Pinsent Masons has embedded a range of diversity and inclusion initiatives to create an environment in which its people can flourish. We operate an agile working scheme, whichoffers our employees flexibility in terms of where, and how, they work.We stand out for our innovative approach to service delivery. For example, the firm has developed a number of in-house legal technology and project management solutions, operates a hub of freelance lawyers, called Vario, and a global Diversity and Inclusionconsultancy, Brook Graham. Put simply, we offer a range of professional disciplines to our clients, enabled by our people, process and technology.AwardsPinsent Masons has achieved more tier 1 rankings in The Legal 500 UK guide than any other firm, won the "Law Firm of the Year Award 2019Legal Business" for the second time and won Europes Most Innovative Law at the Financial Times Innovative LawyerAwards Europe 2020. Pinsent Masons was also named Law Firm of the Year 2018 by The Lawyer and is ranked No 4 on the UK Stonewall Workplace Equality Index 2020 and named Stonewalls Top Global Employers 2020.BriefWe are currently looking to recruit a Contracts Lawyer who will ideally have 2-5 years PQE. The role can be based in Birmingham or Glasgow. Whilst it is a full-time position, applicants wishing to work part time (4 days per week) are also encouraged toapply.BackgroundThe Central Procurement and Contracts ("CPC") team combines procurement and legal contract expertise working together to support the firm in its sourcing, contracting and management of 3rd party suppliers, both in the UK and other jurisdictionswhere the firm has a presence. On the contracts side, the team currently comprises a Legal Director, three Senior Contracts Lawyers, a Senior Training and Contracts Lawyer and a Paralegal, all permanent roles.On the procurement side CPC has a Head of Procurement, three Category Managers, a data analyst and an apprentice. The team is also supported by a dedicated administrative coordinator.The team operates a centre of excellence approach working with representatives across the various business functions (referred to as the buying community) using established policies, procedures and work practices to provide a best practice approach tosourcing, contracting and supply management.The role of the Contracts Lawyer is generally to draft, review, negotiate and advise on a wide range of commercial contracts in support of the procurement, contracting and supplier management activities undertaken by CPC and the buying community. The businessfunctions provided with procurement and contract support by CPC are IT, Info Sec, Vario, facilities, HR and learning, business development, communications, knowledge, finance and risk, compliance and legal services. CPC also assists fee earners with procurementand contracting activities, to the extent that practice groups have sourcing requirements.The Candidate Required

• Strong academic background
• 2-5 years PQE in a general commercial or IT role is preferable, either in-house or private practice in a substantial, well established organisation, but we will consider those with less experience or newly qualified-lawyers if otherwise ideally suited forthe role
• We are particularly keen to hear from individuals from a diverse background.

Key skills and abilities:

Technical excellence in contract drafting and amending and ability to apply skills to a wide range of commercial contracts for services and equipment

Experience dealing with all legal aspects of commercial agreements. In particular, experience of IT, IP and data protection related aspects highly desirable

Ability to formulate and draft service requirements and service level agreements based on input from the wider business

Commercial awareness and ability to prioritise and make sound judgements on contract issues and level of acceptable risk

Enthusiastic and proactive

Solution driven - ability to solve problems creatively and effectively

Ability to take responsibility and act autonomouslywith appropriate supervision

Team player with strong (internal) client focussed approach

Excellent communication skills, both written and oral

Ability to plan, organise and prioritise tasks and projects

Confident in dealing with senior and junior staff alike

Ability to remain calm, controlled and resilient in a demanding environment<spa