Senior Legal Counsel

Senior Legal Counsel In the Crick's Legal Team.

Part of Crick Operations.

Senior Legal Counsel

Reporting to: Jennifer Bowers, Deputy General Counsel

Department: Legal & Governance

Contract term: This is a part-time, permanent position on Crick terms and conditions of employment.

Salary for this Role: Competitive with benefits, subject to skills and experience.

About us

The Francis Crick Institute is Europe’s largest biomedical research institute under one roof. Our world-class scientists and staff collaborate on vital research to help prevent, diagnose and treat illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, infectious diseases and neurodegenerative conditions.

The Crick is a place for collaboration, innovation and exploration across many disciplines. A space where the brightest minds can pursue big and bold ideas and discover answers to crucial scientific questions. We support them in a dynamic environment which fosters excellence with state-of-the-art infrastructure, cutting-edge facilities, and a creative and curious culture. We’ve removed traditional boundaries of departments, divisions and disciplines and instead have an open approach that supports every researcher.

This gives us the freedom to take risks and carry out high-quality, pioneering research. Creating a space for discovery without boundaries helps us to turn our science into benefits for human health and the economy.

About the role

Looking for a senior legal role that combines complex corporate and commercial work with meaningful impact? Join the Francis Crick Institute as Senior Legal Counsel and bring your expertise to an organisation helping to transform our understanding of human health.

You will join a friendly, collegiate and purpose-driven Legal & Governance team, taking on varied and intellectually stimulating work with a strong corporate and commercial focus, including M&A, investments, strategic transactions and complex agreements.

You do not need to come from a charity, research or life sciences background and biomedical or extensive IP experience would be desirable but not essential. We are looking for someone who can quickly get to grips with complex matters, enjoys working collaboratively and is excited by the opportunity to use their legal expertise somewhere it can make a meaningful difference.

This is a part-time role that offers a high impact opportunity with reduced hours and could suit someone looking for greater flexibility, returning to work, or interested in bringing their corporate and commercial experience to a purpose-led life sciences organisation. We envisage the role being worked over four days a week, including Friday, but we are open to considering fewer hours and other flexible working patterns that suit your individual circumstances while meeting the needs of the role.

We are keen to hear from a diverse range of applicants and professional backgrounds, so if the opportunity interests you and you meet the essential requirements, we encourage you to apply.

What you will be doing

You will be responsible for:

• Drafting, negotiating and advising on a broad range of corporate and commercial matters, including corporate agreements (including shareholder agreements and investment documentation), partnership arrangements, complex commercial contracts and strategic transactions.
• Providing pragmatic, commercially focused legal advice to teams across the Crick.
• Building trusted relationships with stakeholders across science and operations.
• Sharing your corporate and commercial expertise to develop capability across the Legal & Governance team.
• Supporting improvements to legal processes, ways of working and technology.
• Mentoring colleagues and contributing to a positive team culture.

About you

Technical expertise is important, but how you work is equally important to us.

You will be collegiate, curious and collaborative, with a genuine interest in the organisation you are supporting and the people you work alongside. You will enjoy sharing your expertise rather than working in a silo, be comfortable navigating unfamiliar territory and be motivated by the opportunity to use your legal skills in an organisation with a clear social purpose.

You will have:

(Minimum criteria *)

Essential:

• A solicitor or barrister admitted in England & Wales (or other common law jurisdiction) with a current practicing certificate, and with significant post qualification experience (or equivalent).*
• Corporate and transactional experience, ideally in a fast paced industry…