Job Description

About Freshfields

Freshfields is a global law firm with a long-standing reputation for delivering exceptional legal advice on the most complex and strategically important matters. Behind that success is a commitment to effective risk management, regulatory compliance and operational excellence.

Our Legal Department plays a critical role in protecting and supporting the firm. Made up of both lawyers and non-lawyers, the team provides expert guidance on legal, regulatory, compliance and information security matters, helping the firm manage risk while enabling the business to grow and innovate.

We are now looking for an experienced Commercial Lawyer to join our high-performing Commercial Team.

The Opportunity

This is an exciting opportunity to join a trusted and highly respected in-house legal team at the heart of a leading global law firm.

Working alongside experienced commercial lawyers, you will advise on a broad range of commercial, technology and procurement matters, supporting colleagues across our international network of offices. You will provide practical, solutions-focused advice that helps the firm meet its strategic objectives while effectively managing legal and commercial risk.

The role offers significant variety, exposure to senior stakeholders and the opportunity to work on high-profile projects that directly support the future growth and development of the firm.

What You'll Be Doing

As a Commercial Lawyer within the Legal Department, you will:

• Provide pragmatic, commercially focused legal advice to stakeholders across the firm.
• Review, draft and negotiate a wide range of client-facing commercial agreements.
• Advise on procurement and supplier arrangements, helping the firm secure effective and commercially appropriate outcomes.
• Support strategic departmental and firmwide initiatives and transformation projects.
• Develop guidance, templates and best practice resources to support colleagues across the business.
• Deliver training and awareness sessions to both legal and business services teams.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the Legal Department to identify and mitigate risk.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels, acting as a trusted adviser and business partner.

About You

We're looking for a collaborative and commercially minded lawyer who enjoys working in a fast-paced, international environment.

You will be a qualified lawyer with demonstrable post-qualification experience and have experience advising on commercial matters gained within a law firm, professional services environment, international organisation or in-house legal team.

You will also bring:

• Strong experience of advising on commercial contracts (such as master services agreements, joint ventures, co-operation agreements, consultancy agreements), and/or tech contracts (such as AI, cloud computing, Agile software development) and/or procurement contracts (such as outsource/managed services, facilities management)
• Excellent drafting, negotiation and analytical skills.
• The ability to balance legal risk with commercial objectives.
• A proactive, solutions-oriented approach.
• Confidence building relationships and influencing stakeholders across different functions and seniority levels.
• The ability to manage a varied workload and prioritise effectively.
• Outstanding attention to detail and sound professional judgement.

What We're Looking For

The successful candidate will be:

• A strong team player who enjoys collaborating with others.
• Calm and resilient under pressure.
• Comfortable taking ownership and driving matters forward independently.
• Commercially astute and able to deliver practical solutions.
• Passionate about delivering an exceptional internal client experience.
• Adaptable, curious and keen to contribute to the continued success and development of the team.

Why Join Us?

This role offers the opportunity to:

• Join a highly regarded global legal team.
• Advise on a diverse and interesting range of commercial, technology and procurement matters.
• Work closely with stakeholders across the firm's international network.
• Contribute to strategic projects that help shape the future of the business.
• Develop your expertise within a collaborative, supportive and intellectually stimulating environment.

If you are a commercially focused lawyer looking for a varied and impactful in-house role within a leading international law firm, we would love to hear from you.

Inclusion

Freshfields is an equal opportunities employer and all applications received by the firm will be considered by the firm on the basis of their merit alone and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of background. All offers of employment will be conditional on the candidate having/securing the right to work in the UK and providing the firm with evidence of that right (as required by the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006) prior to employment commencing.

Freshfields is a Ban the Box employer. We ask applicants to disclose criminal convictions only when a conditional job offer is made. A conviction does not automatically lead to withdrawal of the offer: we make decisions on a case by case basis and take a number of factors into account (eg the role you are applying for and the circumstances of the offence). You would have the opportunity to discuss the matter with us before we make a decision.