Senior Legal Counsel

Newcastle (This role is based full time in Newcastle)

A high-growth consultancy operating at the intersection of finance, data, and technology is seeking a Legal Counsel to join its Legal & Compliance team. This is a hands-on, high-impact role where you’ll sit close to the business and directly enable complex commercial and technical deals.

The work is fast-moving, intellectually demanding, and commercially critical. You’ll be trusted to take ownership of key contracts from day one, working across data licensing, research arrangements, and cutting-edge technology and SaaS agreements that underpin real-time decision-making in global markets.

Key responsibilities

• Own drafting, negotiation, and execution of high-value commercial contracts across data, research, SaaS, cloud, and IT services
• Structure and negotiate market data, exchange, and alternative data agreements in a complex regulatory environment
• Provide clear, commercial advice on risk allocation, including liability, IP, confidentiality, indemnities, termination, and regulatory constraints
• Build and evolve templates, playbooks, and contracting frameworks to scale legal capability
• Improve contract lifecycle management (CLM), governance, and operational efficiency
• Partner directly with senior stakeholders across Data, Technology, and Compliance to unblock deals and drive outcomes
• Ensure contracts are robust, compliant, and aligned with internal risk appetite and regulatory expectations
• Contribute to broader strategic and legal transformation projects

Candidate profile

• Qualified solicitor (England & Wales or equivalent) with 3–6 years’ PQE
• Strong track record in negotiating technology, SaaS, or data-driven commercial contracts
• Confident, commercially minded negotiator who can move deals forward without losing control of risk
• Able to operate at pace, managing multiple live negotiations simultaneously
• High attention to detail with the ability to distil complexity into clear, practical advice
• Strong academic background (minimum 2:1 or equivalent)

Desirable experience

• Background in financial services, fintech, or investment management
• Exposure to market data, research, or alternative data licensing models
• Experience improving contracting processes, templates, or CLM systems in a scaling environment

Why join

• Immediate ownership of meaningful, business-critical work
• Exposure to sophisticated global markets and fast-evolving technology
• Close partnership with highly technical and commercial teams
• A culture that values autonomy, pace, and accountability
• The opportunity to shape how legal operates in a rapidly scaling environment