Senior Legal Counsel

Senior Legal Counsel

13 month FTC

Based in St Albans/Hybrid WFH

October 2025 start date

We are looking for an experienced and commercially astute Senior Legal Counsel to join our legal team within a leading FMCG organization. This role is critical in supporting the business across a wide range of legal matters, with a strong focus on commercial contracts, advertising and marketing law, supply chain, and consumer protection. You will work closely with senior stakeholders to enable business growth while managing legal risk in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.

What we need from you?

• Qualified lawyer with a current practicing certificate in England and Wales.
• 7–10+ years of post-qualification experience, ideally with a mix of private practice and in-house roles in the FMCG or retail sector.
• Strong knowledge of commercial law, consumer protection, advertising regulations, and supply chain legal issues.
• Understanding of food and product safety regulations is highly desirable.
• Proven ability to manage complex legal issues in a fast-moving, commercially driven environment.
• Excellent drafting, negotiation, and communication skills.
• Business-oriented mindset with the ability to balance legal risk with commercial objectives.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Proactive, pragmatic, and solutions-focused approach.
• Comfortable working independently and as part of a cross-functional team.

What you'll be doing?

• Provide strategic legal advice on commercial, regulatory, and operational matters across the FMCG value chain.
• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of contracts including supply, distribution, co-manufacturing, marketing, and licensing agreements.
• Advise on advertising, promotions, and product claims to ensure compliance with consumer protection and advertising standards.
• Support product development and innovation teams with regulatory compliance, including labelling, packaging, and sustainability claims.
• Manage legal aspects of relationships with retailers, suppliers, and third-party service providers.
• Monitor and interpret changes in laws and regulations affecting the FMCG sector, including advertising, environmental, and competition law.
• Handle disputes, litigation, and regulatory investigations in collaboration with external counsel.
• Deliver training and guidance to internal teams on legal and compliance matters.
• Contribute to the development of legal policies, templates, and best practices.
• Coach and mentor other junior members of the Legal team.

A great British food company 

Premier Foods is one of Britain’s biggest listed food companies, employing over 4,000 colleagues at 13 manufacturing sites and offices up and down the country.

Many of our brands have been part of UK life for more than a century and you’ll find them in 90% of British households.

At Premier foods we believe in inclusion, authenticity and individuality. We aim to ensure all existing and future colleagues are given equitable opportunities and are respected, valued and encouraged to bring their true authentic selves to work no matter who they are, what they look like, who they love or what they believe in. Our culture is one where everyone is welcome.