Director, Strategic and Transitional Services

We’re looking for a Senior Legal Counsel, Commercial Legal in London, UK

To offer first class general and specialist business and legal support as part of the Commercial Legal team on all aspects of its strategic services work including working closely as a key business partner to the M&A, Liberty Technology, Ventures and Liberty Financial Services teams on a wide range of M&A transactional and integration activity including high profile M&A, joint ventures, venture capital and start-up investments and related legal projects and contracts, within the UK and international operating company markets and high growth ventures of the Liberty Global Group (“Liberty Global”).  The role will have a particular focus on strategic, commercial and technology focused legal advice and leadership to senior management stakeholders (including at Vice President level and above).

You will play a meaningful role in the delivery of key initiatives across a broad range of matters as further set out below.

Key Accountabilities

• Working collaboratively in large, multi-jurisdictional teams involving experts in a wide range of Liberty Global functions (notably, Technology, M&A/Ventures, Regulatory, Content, Tax, Treasury, Finance, People as well as operational business teams) and responsibility for providing accurate timely, business focused advice to senior management with Liberty Technology, M&A and Ventures teams (as well as the above mentioned Liberty Global operational business teams).
• Responsibility for managing the legal aspects of transactional activity involving transitional services agreements, master services agreements, bespoke commercial agreements  and other technology and corporate services documentation required in connection with Liberty Global’s core M&A and Ventures transactions (including structuring of deals, negotiation of documents and managing external counsel and other professional advisers as well as internal presentation of critical points up to executive level).
• Ensuring quality of service and work output is maintained to the highest standards, with a strong emphasis on successful project execution, often within challenging timescales.
• Acting as a leader and role model within the wider Liberty Global Legal team, working alongside other high calibre specialist legal colleagues covering areas such as regulatory/antitrust, leveraged finance, commercial/technology and real estate.
• The Senior Legal Counsel role will work alongside other lawyers to ensure that such support is provided on a timely and efficient basis.
• Project manage legal aspects of commercial transactions to ensure execution within the required timescales and budget.
• Provide legal assistance in resolving disputes and conflicts, and to co-ordinate the involvement of external lawyers in the event of legal proceedings being taken.
• To keep abreast at all times of relevant legal developments, and also developments in the telecom, infrastructure and technology business arena and across Liberty Global’s business team areas, so as to be able to maximize the quality of support provided to the management of those units.
• Contribute to the improvement in quality of legal services across Liberty Global, by (e.g.) providing transaction information, leadership, and training the business on legal developments and key legal issues.

Knowledge & Experience

• Top tier law firm trained, with a minimum of 7 years PQE (gained in private practice and/or inhouse).
• Deep experience in telecoms, infrastructure and/or technology sectors, transitional / long-term services arrangements. Some M&A and/or telecoms infrastructure carve out experience a bonus.
• Outstanding communication skills, both internal and external.
• Ability to work effectively cross discipline with multiple senior stakeholders and external counsel if required.
• Able to thrive in a dynamic and fast paced environment.
• Ability to work under pressure, lead major projects and transaction related work autonomously, unsupervised and to tight deadlines.
• Must be a self-starter, proactive and able to build strong and lasting relationships.
• Experience working with multiple jurisdictions across Europe preferred.
• Knowledge of commercial law topics (including IT, IP, outsourcing and data privacy law).
• Experience in reviewing and drafting standard legal documentation (framework agreements, statements of work and purchase agreements, etc).
• Excellent academics.
• Holder of at least one legal degree or post-graduate legal qualification.
• Strong communication and project management skills.
• Team player and capable of working with different cultures.
• Excellent writing and drafting skills, for expressing matters, contracts, reports, etc, in legal terms accurately, pragmatically and inventively.
• Word and Powerpoint expertise.
• Strong ethics and strength of conviction.
• Ability to manage upwards and sideways, keeping lawyers in the team informed about important issues, able to present clearly and precisely to stakeholders, enabling others to understand the key facts and issues.
• Ability to seek feedback from the business, external partners or clients to ensure quality of service and work output is maintained to the highest standards.
• Keen to share knowledge with the legal department as a whole, taking an active role in departmental educational opportunities, periodic departmental meetings and other initiatives.
• Strong commercial acumen.
• Fluency in English.

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary + Bonus
• 25 days annual leave with the option to purchase 5 more
• Access to wellbeing and mental health benefits such as the Calm app, personal medical, critical illness cover and dental insurance
• Matched pension contribution up to 10%
• Access to our car benefit scheme
• Access to our online learning platform to continue to develop and grow your career with us
• The chance to join an innovative, fast-paced and passionate team

Who are we?

We’re building Tomorrow’s Connections Today, bringing people together through the power of our technology.

Liberty Global is a world leader in converged broadband, video and mobile communications and an active investor in cutting-edge infrastructure, content and technology ventures.

With our investments in fibre-based and 5G networks we play a vital role in society, currently providing over 85 million fixed and mobile connections and rolling out the next generation of products and services, while readying our networks for 10 Gbps and beyond.

We’re creating national champions, combining the best broadband and mobile networks under brands such as Virgin Media-02 in the UK, VodafoneZiggo in The Netherlands, Telenet in Belgium, Sunrise in Switzerland, Virgin Media in Ireland and UPC in Slovakia.

Liberty Global Ventures, our global investment arm, has a portfolio of more than 75 companies and funds across content, technology and infrastructure, including strategic stakes in ITV, Univision, Plume, Lionsgate and the Formula E racing series.

Our scale enables us to transfer knowledge and expertise across our operations and investments, creating a dynamic family of brands united in the pursuit of innovation and excellence.

And we’re prioritising diversity, equity and inclusion in our workplace and communities, while reducing our impact on the environment. We are using technology as a force for good; for our people, our partners and the planet.

Liberty Global is an equal opportunity employer. We embrace diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for our people. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process. We’re 100% committed to having a workforce that represents every part of our society. So we’re keen to hear from candidates of all background and circumstances.