Head of Legal

Head of Legal & Compliance - Logistics

Flexible location

The opportunity:
An exciting opportunity to join a leading European storage and logistics provider, offering tailored temperature-controlled solutions across multiple countries. The company has a strong legacy but is in an exciting phase of growth following private equity backing, making this a pivotal time to join the organisation.

As the first legal hire you will be instrumental in establishing and leading the company's legal function. Reporting directly to the CFO, the role encompasses a broad range of legal responsibilities, with a particular focus on corporate, commercial and compliance.

Key responsibilities will include:

1. Lead and manage the legal aspects of M&A activities, including the structuring, negotiation, and drafting of Sale and Purchase Agreements (SPA).
2. Oversee due diligence processes, working closely with external advisors and local counsel across EMEA.
3. Draft, review, and negotiate key commercial contracts, including substantial construction agreements, customer agreements, supplier contracts, and other operational documents crucial to the logistics business.
4. Provide strategic legal advice on employment matters, collaborating with HR on employee relations, contracts, and compliance with local employment laws across the EMEA region.
5. Establish and maintain comprehensive compliance policies and procedures, covering areas such as anti-bribery, data protection, and corporate governance.
6. Support financing activities by ensuring compliance with financial and regulatory requirements.
7. Work closely with senior leadership to align legal strategies with business objectives.
8. Manage relationships with external legal counsel in multiple jurisdictions.

About you:
Ideally you will be a UK qualified solicitor with 7-10PQE+ possessing a blended background of private practice and in-house. Experience in logistics, distribution, or Retail/FMCG is essential. You will require experience in M&A and commercial contracts, ideally across EMEA markets. You must be happy to balance being strategic with the hands-on nature of a first legal hire position. The ideal candidate is a low-ego, pragmatic and business-oriented lawyer who thrives in a dynamic, growth-focused environment.

What is on Offer:
As the first legal hire, you will have a unique opportunity to shape the legal function from the ground up and hire in the future. This is a strategic role in a rapidly growing company, offering competitive compensation, location flexibility, and the chance to contribute significantly to the company's growth and successful exit.

Location:
This role offers flexibility in terms of location, with options to work remotely and from hub offices in London or Cambridge/Norwich area. Some travel will be required.