Legal Counsel
Lucy Group · Oxford
Job Purpose:
This is an opportunity to join a growing international group and work at the centre of a diverse range of commercial and operational matters. Reporting to the Lucy Group Head of Legal, you will be a trusted first point of contact for allocated businesses and Group functions, providing clear, practical and commercially focused advice that helps colleagues make informed decisions and deliver their objectives. You will take ownership of routine and lower-risk matters, including contracts, tenders, compliance and day-to-day business issues, working with appropriate independence within established Group policies, precedents, delegated authorities and risk parameters. Supported by the Group Head of Legal and senior colleagues on material, complex or unusual matters, you will build broad technical, commercial and organisational experience and have a clear opportunity to develop your career within the Group Legal team.
Business Overview:
Lucy Group is a multinational private company based in Oxford, UK. Through our various businesses, we’re on a mission to enable the global shift to electrification and make the built environment sustainable. With around 1800 people across five continents and a turnover exceeding £400m, we’re growing rapidly, both organically and through acquisition.
Job Context:
The Legal Counsel provides practical, commercially focused legal support to Lucy Group businesses and Group functions across a broad range of commercial, corporate and operational matters. The role is responsible for reviewing, drafting and negotiating contracts, advising on legal and compliance risks, and supporting effective business decision-making within established risk frameworks. Working closely with stakeholders across the organisation, the role manages legal matters through to completion, escalates higher-risk issues as appropriate, and contributes to corporate governance, compliance initiatives and strategic projects while supporting senior members of the Legal Department on complex matters.
Job Dimensions:
This role operates within a flexible hybrid working model. The successful candidate will be expected to attend the Lucy Group Head Office in Oxford and other UK business locations as required, with a minimum office presence of three days per week. Attendance on the Legal Department's designated core office day (currently Thursday) is mandatory, while the remaining office-based days will be determined by operational and business requirements rather than a fixed working pattern. Travel between UK locations may be required to support business and stakeholder needs.
Key Accountabilities:
- Act as a first-line legal adviser on routine commercial, corporate and operational matters for allocated Lucy Group businesses and Group functions.
- Review, draft and negotiate standard customer, supplier, confidentiality, and other commercial agreements within established Group positions and risk parameters.
- Support sales and procurement teams on tenders and day-to-day contractual matters, identifying key legal and commercial risks and proposing practical mitigations.
- Advise on matters including data privacy, intellectual property, licensing, compliance and disputes, with senior guidance where the matter is material, complex or outside established parameters.
- Manage an allocated workload and take ownership of matters through to completion, maintaining clear records and providing timely updates to relevant stakeholders.
- Recognise and escalate material, unusual or higher risk matters promptly to the Group Head of Legal or another senior member of the Legal Department.
- Build effective working relationships with sales, procurement, finance, operational and functional teams and develop a sound understanding of the businesses supported.
- Support corporate governance, legal policies, compliance processes, training and other Group Legal initiatives as required.
- Assist senior Legal Department members on significant transactions, disputes, projects and other complex matters.
- With supervision, instruct and manage external legal counsel where required, ensuring that advice is timely, commercially focused, cost-effective and delivered within agreed budgetary constraints.
Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience
- Must be a UK-qualified solicitor or barrister, or hold an equivalent common-law qualification, with around three years’ post-qualification experience.
- Sound grounding in commercial contract law, with the ability to review, structure, draft and negotiate clear and practical contractual terms.
- Ability to identify legal and commercial risk, distinguish routine matters from those requiring escalation, and exercise sound judgement within agreed authority and supervision arrangements.
- Ability to manage a varied workload, meet deadlines and respond effectively as priorities change in a fast-paced international business.
- Ability to communicate legal issues, risk and recommended actions clearly and concisely to non-lawyers.
- Knowledge of laws and regulations relevant to Lucy Group businesses, such as international trade, data privacy and security, electricity distribution and technology licensing, would be advantageous.
- Familiarity with AI-enabled legal tools, provided that is combined with independent judgement, the ability to work from first principles and appropriate management of confidentiality, accuracy and legal risk.
Behavioural Competencies
- A proactive, can-do approach, with a focus on providing responsive and commercially useful service to internal clients across the Group.
- Strong time-management and prioritisation skills, with a reliable and timely approach to delivery.
- Collaborative teamworking and influencing skills, with openness to guidance, feedback and continuous development.
- Acts with integrity and consistently demonstrates Lucy Group values.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, with a personable and professional approach.
- Ability to build credibility and work effectively with colleagues and business partners at different levels, while recognising when senior legal involvement is required.