Legal Counsel

About Us

The FT has an uncompromising mission: delivering independent, quality information, news and services to individuals and companies around the globe. It’s the cornerstone of our reputation and the heart of our ambitions for the future. But for our people, the FT offers so much more than what we do. FT people come from all kinds of backgrounds and work across a huge range of disciplines and locations, and find an empowering, warm and welcoming culture that values curiosity and rewards smart, ambitious thinking. Those who are willing to unite around our mission and live our values will find plenty to challenge, inspire and interest them. Like the audiences we serve, no two FT people are the same; but together we help our audience be better informed and understand the world around them. It’s a job that’s never mattered more, and a career that can take you anywhere you want to go.

 

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace

At the FT, we aim for employees across all regions to have a voice so that diverse perspectives are heard and valued. We believe that a supportive workplace is one where employees feel they can be themselves at work and have the flexibility they need to meet their personal needs. We'll continue to remove barriers for all, and in particular barriers facing employees from underrepresented groups.

The Role 

You will be a key contact within the legal team for several business areas, including Product & Technology, Ad Tech and Payment Processing, responsible for understanding their commercial and operational needs, providing legal advice, and reviewing and negotiating a wide range of commercial agreements with a technology focus (including software licences, SaaS agreements, software development agreements, service level agreements and data processing agreements). 

The role will involve daily interactions with your business partners in these areas, including senior management, and colleagues in the Procurement, Compliance and Cyber teams. 

 

Required Skills / Experience

Essential

• Qualified to practise in English law, with at least two years’ PQE.
• A genuine interest in working for a leading business news and information organisation.
• Excellent understanding of commercial law and contract law principles.
• Strong experience in drafting and negotiating commercial contracts, particularly technology contracts (including software licences, SaaS agreements, software development agreements and service level agreements). 
• Strong knowledge of data protection laws (including GDPR) and experience drafting and negotiating data processing agreements, including in the context of Ad Tech, cookies and similar technologies. 
• Able to handle the demands of a fast-paced in-house role.
• Confident, articulate, credible and commercially-minded, with excellent interpersonal skills.

Desirable

• Trained at a leading UK law firm.
• Some in-house experience.
• Experience, or a genuine interest in, advising on the legal risks related to the use of generative AI.

What’s in it for you? Our Benefits

Our benefits vary depending on location, but we are committed to providing best in class perks across all our offices as well as an inclusive environment to develop your career. Examples of our benefits include; generous annual leave allowances, flexible working (including working from home), medical cover, enhanced parental packages, subsidised gym memberships and Giving Back opportunities. Full details of our benefits can be found here.

 

Further Information

The FT is committed to providing an inclusive working environment for all. We are an equal opportunities employer who seeks to recruit and appoint the best talent regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. We also promote flexible working and will consider specific requests around flexibility for all roles where it can be accommodated. Please let us know if you require any adjustments as part of the application process or to enable you to attend an interview. If you would like to discuss your requirements, or have any questions, talent@ft.com and a member of our team will be happy to help.

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