Legal Counsel
Derby (Three days Derby / hybrid)
Full time
Position Summary
An exciting opportunity exists for a Legal Counsel – Commercial Aviation Contracting to join the team in Derby. This role will support a variety of activities, as required, across the Commercial Aviation Contracting team as part of the General Counsel team. In this role you will provide legal support to Customer and Business Development Team in Civil Aerospace working as part of General Counsel in Civil Aerospace. The Commercial Aviation Contracting team comprises of three areas: Sales & Contracting, Engine Leasing and Future Programmes.
The Sales & Contracting team works to support the contracting of new business opportunities with our commercial airline customers across the globe. The Engine Leasing team supports leasing of engines to customers and engine financing and exchange activity across the business. The Future Programmes team is involved in a broad range of business development and contracting opportunities for new engine programmes and opportunities with aircraft manufacturers.
What You Will Be Doing
- Transaction support: Provide contract and commercial legal subject matter and business partner support and expertise for Customer Team activities across the Commercial Aviation Contracting team. This will include a degree of international travel, sometimes at short notice to support customer negotiations.
- Legal advice: Deliver timely, cost effective, pro-active, and technically correct legal advice in a user friendly and decisive manner.
- Risk management: At all phases of our transactions, identify and assess potential risks and liabilities proposing and negotiating solutions to manage, minimise or mitigate such risks or liabilities whilst achieving the expected financial returns.
- Tools development: Assist the team in the development of new precedent documents, fallback positions, and playbooks to assist in the efficient deployment of our products and services to customers.
- Training and learning: Develop and implement training and knowledge management, deploying best practice and actively sharing knowledge with colleagues in the legal function and the business.
- External law firm management: Secure support from and manage interaction, as appropriate, with our external law firms in a cost-efficient manner.
- Relationship building: Work closely with internal clients, building and maintaining strong and collaborative relationships across all businesses and functions.
Preferred Requirements
- Qualified and practising lawyer. Ideally 5+ years PQE.
- Technical legal knowledge and practical experience of contracting ideally in Civil Aerospace customer-facing environment.
- Well-developed interpersonal, diplomacy, communication, influencing and negotiation skills.
- Flexible, innovative, and fast-paced working environment.
- Ability to solve complex problems while maintaining customer focus.
- Highly motivated and capable of working under own initiative.
- Sound commercial judgement and business acumen.
- Ability to prioritise workloads to meet demanding deadlines under pressure.
- Experience of influencing both at a functional and task level, as well as at senior levels of the organisation.
Regional Benefits
- Generous Annual Leave
- Retirement Savings through the Rolls-Royce Retirement Savings Trust
- Group Life Assurance provides a lump sum benefit if you die whilst employed by Rolls-Royce
- Group Income Protection provides an income in the event that you are unable to work due to illness or injury
- Your Shares: Matched is a simple way to own Rolls-Royce shares and invest in our future, together. Buy one share, get one free!
- Digital GP provides a convenient way for you to access GP consultations
Equal Employment Opportunity
Rolls-Royce are committed to being a respectful, inclusive, and non-discriminatory workplace where individuality is valued, diverse perspectives fuel innovation, and everyone can thrive.
Closing Date
24.06.2026
