Head of Legal / Sole Counsel Location: LondonA highly respected and fast-growing provider within the healthcare sector is now looking to recruit their first legal hire. Following recent investment from a leading private equity firm with an exceptional track record, the organisation is entering an exciting phase of expansion, transformation and strategic development. As they continue to scale, they are seeking a Head of Legal / Sole Counsel to establish, lead and mature the legal andpliance function. As mentioned, this will be the first legal hire within the organisation,reporting to the Chief Financial Officer and working closely with the CEO and wider C‑suite. You will operate as an executive and trusted adviser and play a pivotal role in shaping thepany’s legal strategy, safeguarding its regulatorypliance, and supporting itsmercial and corporate ambitions. This is a highly visible, hands‑on role in a dynamic, fast‑paced environment.
The RoleAs Head of Legal, you will act as the organisation’s primary adviser on all legal, corporate, regulatory andpliance matters. You will develop and implement a legal andpliance framework aligned with thepany's strategic objectives, whilst proactively monitoring legal developments, and advising the business on risk.You will provide support across a broad range of areas includingmercial contracts, corporate,pliance, data protection, insurance, andpany secretarial duties, and be a key decision maker within the organisation. This may well result in a team build. Key responsibilities include:
1. Ensurepliance with all applicable laws, regulations, GDPR and sector‑specific standards.
2. Develop and maintain a robust ethics andpliance programme, including policies, training and whistleblowing frameworks.
3. Oversee data privacypliance, including GDPR, dataernance, and incident response processes.
4. Work with internal teams to assess and manage legal, regulatory and operational risks across the organisation.
5. Supportpliance activities relating to corporateernance, AML, sanctions regimes,petition law, ESG and interactions with thepany’s private equity stakeholders.
6. Draft, review and negotiate a wide range ofmercial agreements, including NDAs, supply and procurement contracts, service agreements, consultancy arrangements, IT and technology contracts.
7. Lead negotiations with suppliers, partners and external stakeholders, ensuring optimalmercial oues and legal protection.
8. Provide strategic input on contract structures, risk allocation andmercial strategy.
9. Support claims, disputes and litigation management where required.
Corporate,pany Secretarial & M&A
10. Act as the primary point of contact for all corporate matters.
11. Support M&A activity, including due diligence, deal structuring, documentation and integration.
12. Manage corporate housekeeping andernance across the group, ensuringpliance with statutory obligations.
13. Overseepany secretarial duties, including board support, preparation of materials and drafting of minutes.
Insurance & Litigation
14. Manage the group’s insurance programme (Property, Business Interruption, Liability, D&O, Crime) in collaboration with brokers and insurers.
15. Support insurance‑related projects, including risk‑mitigation initiatives such as cyber resilience and operational safety improvements.
16. Advise the business on insurance coverage, claims and risk exposure.
17. You will be responsible for support with claims and litigation.
Qualifications & Experience
18. England & Wales (ormonwealth) qualified lawyer with PQE (guideline only).
19. Experience advising senior stakeholders and managing external counsel.
20. Ideally, experience within healthcare, healthcare services, pharma, manufacturing or retail, as well as being within a PE environment. However, they are open to all industries.
21. Strong background in corporate,mercial,pliance, technology and data privacy.
22. Experience in a fast‑paced, high‑growth or PE‑backed environment.
23. Demonstrable experience managingplex legal matters and providing strategic, pragmatic advice.
24. Highly organised, delivery‑focused and solutions‑driven, with the ability to implement effective processes and improvements.
25. Familiarity with cross‑border transactions and international legal frameworks is advantageous.
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now. If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.
#4768098 - Hannah East