Methods is currently recruiting for an In-house Legal Counsel (Contracts) to join our team on a permanent basis. This role will be based in Farringdon London, with hybrid remote working available.
Now part of the ALTEN group, Methods is an established 100m+ professional services organisation, which over the last 33 years has provided a range of innovative business and digital technology services, primarily to organisations in the UK public sector. We have over 50 active clients many of which have been working with us for more than 10 years. Public sector clients represent 95% of turnover.
We focus on making a demonstrable positive difference to the Public Sector, generally through the experience of our people and the use of appropriate information technology and data. People, technology, and data are at the heart of who we are and deploying these to public good is what we believe in. We work to enable the public sector to function better: both for those who work in it and citizens who interact with it, at all levels.
This role will play a crucial role in ensuring the success of our projects and engagements by effectively managing contractual obligations, negotiations, and compliance. Your expertise in legal contract drafting, negotiating ,and management will be pivotal in supporting our consultancy's growth, minimising risks, and fostering strong relationships with clients, partners, and vendors. There is the potential for expansion of this role into other legal areas based on performance and project demands.
Requirements
- Delivery of positive outcomes on contract negotiations under the Crown Commercial Services’ (CCS), and other, framework agreements, on a timely basis, achieving all internal and external related SLAs.
- Ensuring any contractual exposures, liabilities, risks, and such like are negotiated and resolved at levels acceptable to the Company, and at worst in line with industry norms.
- The timely review and guidance on any contractual terms and conditions proposed within new bid documents or framework agreements, with commercially viable recommendations where required.
- The cataloguing, categorising, and storage of all contractual documents
- Creation and maintenance of a contracts’ management system, to provide the business with pertinent commercial intelligence and insight.
- Drafting, negotiating, and concluding supplier contracts, with a specific focus on Personal Services Companies, mindful of IR35 legal requirements.
- Being the Company’s GDPR legislation and practice expert and guru.
- Other ad hoc legal work and advice as required.
Qualifactions and Skills:
- Bachelor's degree in Law, Business Administration, or a related field.
- Proven experience as Legal Counsel , or a similar role, within the consulting or technology industry.
- Demonstrable knowledge of Crown Commercial Services’ Frameworks, contract law, negotiations, and risk management.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a keen eye for detail.
- Excellent communication and negotiation abilities, with the capability to interact confidently with stakeholders at various levels.
- Demonstrable experience and in-depth knowledge of IR35, PSCs, and the IT contractor marketplace.
- Proven success in a stand-alone/in-house role, though with some line management experience looking to the future.
- Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining a high level of accuracy and efficiency.
- Proficiency in contract management software and Microsoft Office suite.
Key Areas:
Contract Review and Analysis:
- Carefully review and analyse contract terms and conditions (mainly under CCS Framework agreements) to identify potential risks, obligations, and deliverables.
- Ensure contracts adhere to relevant laws, regulations, and internal policies.
- Advise project teams on contractual rights and obligations and provide guidance to resolve any discrepancies or ambiguities.
Contract Negotiations:
- Engage in negotiations with clients, vendors, and partners to finalise mutually beneficial contract terms and pricing.
- Strive to secure favourable contract provisions while maintaining positive relationships with all parties involved.
- Work closely with internal stakeholders to ensure alignment on contract terms, scope, and objectives.
Risk Management:
- Proactively identify potential risks and vulnerabilities in contracts, proposing mitigation strategies and solutions.
- Monitor external factors that could impact contract performance and adjust strategies accordingly.