Commercial Lawyer - 6 month FTC

Baringa

ABOUT BARINGA  Baringa is a global consulting firm that partners with leaders to drive change and create value. With deep industry expertise, and enabled by advanced technology, the firm helps clients to deliver with greater confidence and certainty. With over 2,000 people across the UK, Europe, North America, Asia and Australia, the firm combines global insight with local understanding. The firm works across energy and resources, financial services, government and public sector, consumer products and retail, pharmaceuticals and life sciences, manufacturing, and technology, media and telecoms, with capabilities spanning strategy, transformation and operational excellence – all powered by advanced technology, data, AI and digital innovation. Clients value Baringa’s collaborative approach and the way its teams integrate seamlessly – all working with a shared understanding of what matters most. The firm is known for its kind, curious experts who listen closely and care deeply about client success as they help clients transform energy markets, modernise financial platforms, expand telecoms and digital networks through advanced data analytics, enable digital services in government, and unlock growth in consumer sectors. Certified as a Great Place to Work around the world, Baringa has been recognised by the Financial Times in 22 categories of its UK Leading Management Consultants rankings, and by Forbes for four consecutive years as one of the World’s Best Management Consulting Firms.   OUR COMMERCIAL LEGAL TEAM ARE LOOKING FOR AN EXPERIENCED SENIOR COMMERCIAL COUNSEL TO JOIN THEM FOR A 6 MONTH FTC. Commercial Legal partners with the business, providing specialised legal, commercial and risk management support to enable confident growth. Everything from shaping and negotiating client contracts, to data, technology and AI deals, partnerships and contract risk.  This role will report into the Commercial Legal Director, working closely with the Legal & Business Integrity and Baringa Enablement teams and wider firm leadership. It is a senior, team-leadership role: you will lead and line-manage a team of commercial lawyers – setting priorities, overseeing their work and supporting their development – alongside running your own caseload. We are looking for a high-energy senior commercial lawyer, with strong experience in digital contracting (data, technology delivery, AI, cloud, etc) and the ability to lead and develop a team, to join Baringa’s Commercial Legal team.   WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING * Leading and line-managing a team of commercial lawyers – allocating and overseeing work, managing performance, and supporting their development and progression.  * Acting as a senior lawyer in the Commercial Legal team, leading on complex digital deals (data, technology delivery, AI and cloud) across a broad range of commercial contracts.  * Supporting the wider Legal team and Baringa business with best practice guidance, continuous improvement and training.  * Preparing and negotiating contracts, working closely with the consultancy staff and engagement partner. These will include One-off Services Agreements, Framework Agreements, Licence Agreements, Sub-contracts, etc.  * Delivering contract risk analysis to Baringa’s senior management and arranging for escalation of higher risk contract items to Baringa’s wider Sector Lead group for approval.  * Critically evaluating, challenging and updating Baringa’s Contract Risk Scorecard positions.   * Liaising with Baringa’s insurance brokers to ensure client contract language during negotiation remains within coverage.  * Coaching, developing and supporting the lawyers in your team, helping them grow and progress their careers at Baringa.  This is a critical role in the Baringa Commercial Legal team, working directly with partners and senior leadership across the firm, and coordinating with others across Baringa Enablement (People, Finance, Data, IT, Infosec and others).   YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE *  Qualified solicitor or barrister in England & Wales or a commonwealth country, with a minimum of 6 years of post-qualification experience.  * Strong commercial law experience with deep, demonstrable expertise in digital contracting – cloud, data, AI and technology delivery and implementation. This digital experience is essential and central to the role.  * Confident negotiator with the skillset to handle complex discussions with large international clients, banks and their external law firm advisors.  * Understanding of international business practices and cultures.  * Proven ability to lead, line-manage and develop a team of lawyers, and to work effectively with senior stakeholders.  * Strong commercial risk assessment and sound, pragmatic judgement – able to identify, weigh and clearly articulate legal and commercial risk and make confident recommendations to senior stakeholders.  * Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex legal and contractual issues for non-legal audiences and to deliver clear guidance and training.  * Highly organised and resilient, able to manage a varied caseload, prioritise effectively and deliver to deadlines in a fast-paced environment while overseeing the work of the team.  * A continuous-improvement mindset, including developing precedents, playbooks and best-practice guidance; familiarity with legal technology and contract lifecycle management (CLM) tools is an advantage.  * Working knowledge of the data protection and regulatory issues relevant to data, technology and AI contracting.    WHAT A CAREER AT BARINGA WILL GIVE YOU  PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST. BARINGA IS A PEOPLE FIRST COMPANY AND WELLBEING IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF OUR CULTURE. WE RECOGNISE THE IMPORTANCE OF WORK-LIFE BALANCE AND FLEXIBLE WORKING AND PROVIDE OUR STAFF AMAZING BENEFITS. SOME OF THESE BENEFITS INCLUDE:  * Generous Annual Leave Policy: We recognise everyone needs a well-deserved break. We provide our employees with 5 weeks of annual leave, fully available at the start of each year. In addition to this, we have introduced our 5-Year Recharge benefit which allows all employees an additional 2 weeks of paid leave after 5 years continuous service.  * Flexible Working: We know that the ‘ideal’ work-life balance will vary from person to person and change at different stages of our working lives. To accommodate this, we have implemented a hybrid working policy and introduced more flexibility around taking unpaid leave.  * Corporate Responsibility Days: Our world is important to us, so all our employees get 3 every year to help social and environmental causes and increase our impact on the communities that mean the most to us.  * Wellbeing Fund: We want to encourage all employees to take charge and prioritise their own wellbeing. We’ve introduced our annual People Fund to support this by offering every individual a fund to support and manage their wellbeing through an activity of their choice.  * Profit Share Scheme: All employees participate in the Baringa Group Profit Share Scheme so everyone has a stake in the company’s success.  DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that creating an environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging is central to our culture and that diversity is paramount to driving creativity, innovation, and value for our clients and for our people.  AN AWARD-WINNING WORKPLACE You can be a part of our ‘Great Place to Work’ – with our commitment to women and well-being in the workplace for all. Click here to see some of our recent awards and how we’ve achieved this.  USING BUSINESS AS A FORCE FOR GOOD.  We maintain high standards of environmental performance and transparency, which can be seen through our commitment to Net Zero with our SBTI-verified Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions reduction targets and our support of the Better Business Act. We report our progress publicly and ensure that we are also externally assessed and scored through organisations like CDP and EcoVadis - helping us to continually identify where we can improve.  We have a long legacy of supporting the communities in which we work, and offer a variety of ways to contribute, by putting people first and creating impact that lasts. Our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) agenda is about giving back to the communities in which we live and work by sharing our skills, talent and time. In essence, we aim to empower and encourage everyone in the firm to contribute to the things we care about, and support registered charities and organisations with a clear social or environmental purpose to increase the positive impact they can have. JOIN US All applications received will be reviewed by a member of our Talent Acquisition team. We never rely solely on automated screening or AI tools to make hiring decisions. Your application will be considered for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, nationality, disability, age, faith or social background. We do not filter applications by university background and encourage those who have taken alternative educational and career paths to apply. We would like to actively encourage applications from those who identify with less represented and minority groups. We operate an inclusive recruitment process, ensuring reasonable adjustments where needed. Please contact a member of our Recruitment Team to discuss further.   BARINGA PRIVACY NOTICES For UK & EU Your personal data will be retained by Baringa for up to two years, in accordance with our UK Recruitment Privacy Notice / EU Recruitment Privacy Notice, to evaluate your application and meet our legal and reporting obligations. In line with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), you have the right to request access to, rectification, or erasure (subject to legal limitations) of your personal data. For more information, please contact us at privacy@baringa.com For the USA Your personal data may be retained by Baringa for up to two years, as outlined in our Recruitment Privacy Notice (AMER & APAC), to support the recruitment process and internal reporting requirements. Where applicable, and in accordance with relevant federal and state laws, you may have the right to request access to or correction of your personal information. For further details, please contact privacy@baringa.com For Australia & Singapore Your personal data will be retained by Baringa for up to two years, in accordance with our Recruitment Privacy Notice (AMER & APAC), to assess your application and meet applicable reporting and legal obligations. In line with the Australian Privacy Act and Singapore’s Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), you may have rights to access, correct, or request limited deletion of your personal data. For more information, please contact us at privacy@baringa.com

Baringa

ABOUT BARINGA  Baringa is a global consulting firm that partners with leaders to drive change and create value. With deep industry expertise, and enabled by advanced technology, the firm helps clients to deliver with greater confidence and certainty. With over 2,000 people across the UK, Europe, North America, Asia and Australia, the firm combines global insight with local understanding. The firm works across energy and resources, financial services, government and public sector, consumer products and retail, pharmaceuticals and life sciences, manufacturing, and technology, media and telecoms, with capabilities spanning strategy, transformation and operational excellence – all powered by advanced technology, data, AI and digital innovation. Clients value Baringa’s collaborative approach and the way its teams integrate seamlessly – all working with a shared understanding of what matters most. The firm is known for its kind, curious experts who listen closely and care deeply about client success as they help clients transform energy markets, modernise financial platforms, expand telecoms and digital networks through advanced data analytics, enable digital services in government, and unlock growth in consumer sectors. Certified as a Great Place to Work around the world, Baringa has been recognised by the Financial Times in 22 categories of its UK Leading Management Consultants rankings, and by Forbes for four consecutive years as one of the World’s Best Management Consulting Firms. OUR COMMERCIAL LEGAL TEAM ARE LOOKING FOR AN EXPERIENCED SENIOR COMMERCIAL COUNSEL TO JOIN THEM.  Commercial Legal partners with the business, providing specialised legal, commercial and risk management support to enable confident growth. Everything from shaping and negotiating client contracts, to data, technology and AI deals, partnerships and contract risk.  This role will report into the Commercial Legal Director, working closely with the Legal & Business Integrity and Baringa Enablement teams and wider firm leadership. It is a senior, team-leadership role: you will lead and line-manage a team of commercial lawyers – setting priorities, overseeing their work and supporting their development – alongside running your own caseload. We are looking for a high-energy senior commercial lawyer, with strong experience in digital contracting (data, technology delivery, AI, cloud, etc) and the ability to lead and develop a team, to join Baringa’s Commercial Legal team.   WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING * Leading and line-managing a team of commercial lawyers – allocating and overseeing work, managing performance, and supporting their development and progression.  * Acting as a senior lawyer in the Commercial Legal team, leading on complex digital deals (data, technology delivery, AI and cloud) across a broad range of commercial contracts.  * Supporting the wider Legal team and Baringa business with best practice guidance, continuous improvement and training.  * Preparing and negotiating contracts, working closely with the consultancy staff and engagement partner. These will include One-off Services Agreements, Framework Agreements, Licence Agreements, Sub-contracts, etc.  * Delivering contract risk analysis to Baringa’s senior management and arranging for escalation of higher risk contract items to Baringa’s wider Sector Lead group for approval.  * Critically evaluating, challenging and updating Baringa’s Contract Risk Scorecard positions.   * Liaising with Baringa’s insurance brokers to ensure client contract language during negotiation remains within coverage.  * Coaching, developing and supporting the lawyers in your team, helping them grow and progress their careers at Baringa.  This is a critical role in the Baringa Commercial Legal team, working directly with partners and senior leadership across the firm, and coordinating with others across Baringa Enablement (People, Finance, Data, IT, Infosec and others).   YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE *  Qualified solicitor or barrister in England & Wales or a commonwealth country, with a minimum of 6 years of post-qualification experience.  * Strong commercial law experience with deep, demonstrable expertise in digital contracting – cloud, data, AI and technology delivery and implementation. This digital experience is essential and central to the role.  * Confident negotiator with the skillset to handle complex discussions with large international clients, banks and their external law firm advisors.  * Understanding of international business practices and cultures.  * Proven ability to lead, line-manage and develop a team of lawyers, and to work effectively with senior stakeholders.  * Strong commercial risk assessment and sound, pragmatic judgement – able to identify, weigh and clearly articulate legal and commercial risk and make confident recommendations to senior stakeholders.  * Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex legal and contractual issues for non-legal audiences and to deliver clear guidance and training.  * Highly organised and resilient, able to manage a varied caseload, prioritise effectively and deliver to deadlines in a fast-paced environment while overseeing the work of the team.  * A continuous-improvement mindset, including developing precedents, playbooks and best-practice guidance; familiarity with legal technology and contract lifecycle management (CLM) tools is an advantage.  * Working knowledge of the data protection and regulatory issues relevant to data, technology and AI contracting.  WHAT A CAREER AT BARINGA WILL GIVE YOU  PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST. BARINGA IS A PEOPLE FIRST COMPANY AND WELLBEING IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF OUR CULTURE. WE RECOGNISE THE IMPORTANCE OF WORK-LIFE BALANCE AND FLEXIBLE WORKING AND PROVIDE OUR STAFF AMAZING BENEFITS. SOME OF THESE BENEFITS INCLUDE:  * Generous Annual Leave Policy: We recognise everyone needs a well-deserved break. We provide our employees with 5 weeks of annual leave, fully available at the start of each year. In addition to this, we have introduced our 5-Year Recharge benefit which allows all employees an additional 2 weeks of paid leave after 5 years continuous service.  * Flexible Working: We know that the ‘ideal’ work-life balance will vary from person to person and change at different stages of our working lives. To accommodate this, we have implemented a hybrid working policy and introduced more flexibility around taking unpaid leave.  * Corporate Responsibility Days: Our world is important to us, so all our employees get 3 every year to help social and environmental causes and increase our impact on the communities that mean the most to us.  * Wellbeing Fund: We want to encourage all employees to take charge and prioritise their own wellbeing. We’ve introduced our annual People Fund to support this by offering every individual a fund to support and manage their wellbeing through an activity of their choice.  * Profit Share Scheme: All employees participate in the Baringa Group Profit Share Scheme so everyone has a stake in the company’s success.  DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that creating an environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging is central to our culture and that diversity is paramount to driving creativity, innovation, and value for our clients and for our people.  AN AWARD-WINNING WORKPLACE You can be a part of our ‘Great Place to Work’ – with our commitment to women and well-being in the workplace for all. Click here to see some of our recent awards and how we’ve achieved this.  USING BUSINESS AS A FORCE FOR GOOD.  We maintain high standards of environmental performance and transparency, which can be seen through our commitment to Net Zero with our SBTI-verified Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions reduction targets and our support of the Better Business Act. We report our progress publicly and ensure that we are also externally assessed and scored through organisations like CDP and EcoVadis - helping us to continually identify where we can improve.  We have a long legacy of supporting the communities in which we work, and offer a variety of ways to contribute, by putting people first and creating impact that lasts. Our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) agenda is about giving back to the communities in which we live and work by sharing our skills, talent and time. In essence, we aim to empower and encourage everyone in the firm to contribute to the things we care about, and support registered charities and organisations with a clear social or environmental purpose to increase the positive impact they can have. JOIN US All applications received will be reviewed by a member of our Talent Acquisition team. We never rely solely on automated screening or AI tools to make hiring decisions. Your application will be considered for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, nationality, disability, age, faith or social background. We do not filter applications by university background and encourage those who have taken alternative educational and career paths to apply. We would like to actively encourage applications from those who identify with less represented and minority groups. We operate an inclusive recruitment process, ensuring reasonable adjustments where needed. Please contact a member of our Recruitment Team to discuss further.   BARINGA PRIVACY NOTICES For UK & EU Your personal data will be retained by Baringa for up to two years, in accordance with our UK Recruitment Privacy Notice / EU Recruitment Privacy Notice, to evaluate your application and meet our legal and reporting obligations. In line with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), you have the right to request access to, rectification, or erasure (subject to legal limitations) of your personal data. For more information, please contact us at privacy@baringa.com For the USA Your personal data may be retained by Baringa for up to two years, as outlined in our Recruitment Privacy Notice (AMER & APAC), to support the recruitment process and internal reporting requirements. Where applicable, and in accordance with relevant federal and state laws, you may have the right to request access to or correction of your personal information. For further details, please contact privacy@baringa.com For Australia & Singapore Your personal data will be retained by Baringa for up to two years, in accordance with our Recruitment Privacy Notice (AMER & APAC), to assess your application and meet applicable reporting and legal obligations. In line with the Australian Privacy Act and Singapore’s Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), you may have rights to access, correct, or request limited deletion of your personal data. For more information, please contact us at privacy@baringa.com

Financial Times

About us The Financial Times is one of the world’s leading news organisations, globally recognised for its authority, integrity and accuracy, with a mission to deliver quality information and services worldwide. At the FT, curiosity thrives and ambitious thinking is rewarded. Here, you’re given the chance to reach millions, create work that matters and deliver impartial journalism in a polarised world. In our warm, collaborative culture, you’ll connect with a diverse community of experts who support your growth, career aspirations and wellbeing. Your future at the FT will be filled with opportunities that challenge and inspire you. With no fixed path, you’ll discover new skills and forge a career that can take you anywhere. Build a newsworthy career at the FT.   Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion  We believe in the power of unique perspectives and want all voices in our organisation to be heard, respected and valued. A supportive workplace is one where employees feel they can be themselves and operate to their full potential. We are committed to removing barriers for everyone, with a focus on addressing those faced by underrepresented groups.   The Role The Financial Times is recruiting for maternity cover for one of the commercial contracts lawyer roles based at our office in Belfast, Northern Ireland OR based fully remotely anywhere in the UKThis is a three month fixed term maternity cover position, and we are looking for someone available for an immediate start. This is a salaried position.  The FT’s highly regarded in-house legal team is based across offices in both London and Belfast. The Belfast team currently comprises four commercial lawyers who report into a Senior Legal Counsel (also based in Belfast) and the FT’s deputy company secretary. The Belfast legal team provides dedicated support to important business divisions within the Financial Times, including the FT corporate subscriptions and licensing business, the Financial Times Live global conferences and events business (http://www.ft-live.com), FT’s thought leadership business, FT Longitude, and the FT Specialist range of titles. This fixed term contract provides the opportunity to work either fully remotely from anywhere in the UK, or as hybrid working based at either our Belfast or London office.    Key responsibilities  * Advising the business on contracts with clients from a wide range of industries and jurisdictions * Engaging directly in negotiating contract terms with external customers * Providing highly responsive and commercial advice  * Managing contracts which are usually based on standard templates, but can be subject to extensive negotiation * Understanding how the templates reflect the FT’s business model and updating templates as required to meet changing business needs and product developments * Delivering training to business partners * Using leading legal AI tools to develop and implement agentic solutions that streamline workflows and enhance the delivery of high-quality legal advice    Required skills and experience  Essential * Solicitor qualified in the UK. * Excellent verbal and written communication skills * Strong commercial contract drafting skills and legal knowledge, with a good understanding of copyright, licensing, indemnity and liability issues * Demonstrates commercial awareness that takes strategic objectives into account * Highly organised, flexible and with the ability to prioritise and keep colleagues and managers informed * Can build effective relationships within the legal team and wider business Desirable * Previous in-house experience. * A forward-thinking approach to legal practice, with a strong interest in—or practical experience of—utilising advanced legal AI tools to design workflows and agentic solutions that improve efficiency.    What’s in it for you? Our benefits Our benefits vary by location but we are committed to providing best-in-class perks across all our offices. These include generous annual leave, medical cover, inclusive parental leave packages, subsidised gym memberships and opportunities to give back to the community. Full details of our benefits are available here. We currently operate a hybrid model which requires staff to work onsite 50% of the time, subject to role requirements & regular review. While flexible working requests will be considered, not all patterns are suitable for all roles. We believe this balanced approach supports flexibility and protects our culture, making collaboration and communication easier, building stronger relationships and team cohesion, and supporting peer learning.  We reserve discretion on reasonable notice to change this approach either generally or for specific individuals or teams.   Accessibility We are a disability confident employer and Valuable 500 signatory. Please let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments/personalisation as part of the application process or to enable you to attend an interview. If you would like to discuss your requirements or have any questions, email talent@ft.com and a member of our team will be happy to help.   Further information At the FT, we embrace innovation and the use of technology and appreciate that individuals may leverage AI tools as part of their job application process. Whilst we are happy for you to use AI to assist with your application, it is essential that all information provided is authentic and accurately represents your skills, experience, and qualifications. Candidates should be aware that the use of AI throughout the application process may be monitored to ensure a fair and transparent hiring process for all. Please beware of fraudulent job postings and offers claiming to be from the Financial Times. All legitimate opportunities will direct you to apply through the official Financial Times careers site, and the FT will never ask for financial information, payments, or referrals to third parties during the hiring process. If you have any concerns about the legitimacy of a job posting or suspect any scam activity, please contact talent@ft.com.  Interested in the FT but don’t see the right role yet? Join our Talent Community to receive exclusive updates, featured jobs, and insights into working at the FT.   #LI-NE1