Legal Counsel (Italy & Nordics)

THE GOAL

The company is looking for a full-time in-house lawyer to be based in London or Milan. The role provides commercial and pragmatic legal advice for an international FMCG and supports the business to achieve company goals, including corporate projects.

Working Relationships

• Department: Legal Team
• Reporting to: General Counsel
• Working with: Legal Team, Italy and Nordics team

Responsibilities

• Act as first point of contact for Italy and Nordics legal matters.
• Draft and negotiate commercial contracts including retailer agreements, franchise agreements, service agreements, supply and distributor contracts, and confidentiality agreements.
• Provide advice to commercial teams on contract interpretation.
• Support clients in negotiations with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Draft legal correspondence, including warning letters, termination notices, and other documents related to franchise operations.
• Act as the primary legal and compliance advisor for Italy and the Nordics (Sweden and Finland), ensuring alignment with local regulatory requirements.
• General office administration duties, including managing contract signings and filing on the shared drive.
• Oversee corporate governance requirements, including board minutes, statutory filings, and regulatory documentation for Italy and the Nordics.
• Conduct legal research using Practical Law, LexisNexis, and leverage GenAI tools available within the organisation.
• Create and maintain relationships with external lawyers in Italy and the Nordics.

Environment

• Legal Team of 6 people working across 12 jurisdictions.

Qualifications

• At least 6‑year PQE.
• Qualified as a solicitor in Italy with a minimum of 4 years’ experience as an in‑house lawyer (FMCG experience is a plus).
• Fluent in Italian and English; familiarity with Swedish or Finnish is beneficial but not essential.
• Strong generalist lawyer with experience aligned to commercial contracting, regulatory compliance, and corporate governance.
• Strong experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial contracts.
• Comfortable navigating regulatory frameworks relevant to food, retail, and consumer-facing businesses.
• Strong communication skills and ability to build effective partnerships with multiple stakeholders across different countries.
• Comfortable using legal research tools and GenAI‑enabled platforms to support efficient, high‑quality work.
• Exercise sound judgment and balance requirements with strategic and commercial objectives.
• Thrives in a fast‑paced, multicultural environment and is a team player with a proactive, business‑oriented mindset.

Benefits

• Sushi allowance.
• Wellbeing allowance.
• Birthday off.
• 26 days annual leave (excluding national holidays).
• Late starts & early finish x6 of each.
• Health insurance.
• Hybrid working 2/3 split.