Legal Counsel

Legal Counsel

In‑house commercial and IP counsel responsible for reviewing, drafting, negotiating, and closing a broad range of commercial contracts to support business growth and innovation while effectively managing legal and operational risk, and assisting the VP, Head of Legal on various compliance and legal matters as needed. In particular, the candidate will work closely with our IP Services Business Unit which offers the industry’s highest quality patent translations, a seamless global patent filing experience and a wide range of cutting‑edge IP research and protection services.

This new role will also advise on the Group’s portfolio of patents, trademarks, and other forms of intellectual property. The successful candidate will be part of a growing, proactive and energetic global legal team, reporting directly into VP, Head of Legal.

In joining RWS’s Legal and Professional Advisory team you will play an instrumental part in supporting the world’s leading provider of technology‑enabled language, content, and intellectual property services. RWS has growing revenues of over £750m through a combination of value accretive acquisitions and organic growth and a current market capitalization of £1.3bn. The Legal and Professional Advisory team is led by our General Counsel and Company Secretary, Jane Hyde, and includes the Legal, Company Secretarial, Data Privacy and ESG functions which provide critical business partnering to our Divisional operations and help drive the Group’s risk management, regulatory, governance and sustainability agendas.

You will be part of a diverse and international team working across our global operations which span a footprint of over 100 legal entities in 43 different countries worldwide. It’s a very exciting time to join RWS for an individual who enjoys driving change and making an impact in a dynamic environment. As part of the overall RWS business strategy we are making a significant investment in upgrading our systems and processes to deliver enhanced reporting and control and strengthening our risk and governance frameworks.

• Review, revise, draft, and negotiate a broad range of contracts and third‑party agreements with customers, vendors, and partners worldwide. Contracts include patent services agreements, technology agreements, SaaS, software licensing, data processing agreements, and procurement agreements. Emphasis is on providing timely, high‑quality analysis and pragmatic solutions and legal advice on all contract negotiations.
• Advise on IP ownership, licensing, and rights in data, algorithms, and AI model outputs.
• Support business development and procurement teams in structuring compliant and commercially sound AI collaborations.
• Provide advice on the Group’s intellectual property portfolio, including patents, trademarks, and copyright. Collaborate with the product and development teams to identify patentable inventions. Advise on the intellectual property aspects of contracts and agreements. Liaise with external counsel and patent and trademark attorneys.
• Advise the Group on any disputes or legal proceedings related to its intellectual property.
• Collaborate with, and provide strategic and legal advice to, various cross‑functional teams, including Sales, Operations, Finance, Marketing, Procurement, Data Privacy, Security, IT/Procurement, Product & Development, and Delivery.
• Shepherd deals through the sales cycle and internal approval processes while partnering with the appropriate cross‑functional teams.
• Effectively prioritize and manage additional ad‑hoc requests and responsibilities across a spectrum of complex business, legal, and strategic issues.

• UK qualified solicitor or barrister, or equivalent qualification from another common law jurisdiction.
• Minimum 3 years’ post‑qualification experience, preferably including an in‑house role.
• A proactive, business‑minded attorney who acts as a true partner to the business, balancing innovation and risk with a disciplined approach to execution and deadlines.
• Ability to combine commercial insight with legal expertise, delivering timely, solution‑oriented counsel that…