Your new role
Our legal team plays a crucial part in helping our unique brands grow and thrive while staying ahead of the curve in an ever-evolving regulatory landscape. As Group Commercial Legal Counsel, you’ll be at the heart of the action, supporting the business with expert legal advice on everything from commercial contracts to IT agreements and data protection. You’ll work across multiple teams, helping us manage risks, comply with regulations, and ensure that our contracts and policies align with DFS Groups strategic goals. This is an opportunity to join a collaborative team where your input will make a real impact on the direction of the brands.
What you'll be doing
- Commercial Contracts: Review, draft, and negotiate a wide variety of commercial contracts for the Group, including NDAs, standard terms of business, bespoke agreements, consumer contracts, manufacturing agreements, and complex IT contracts (such as SaaS and AI-based agreements).
- Legal Advice: Provide clear, concise, and commercially-focused legal advice to internal teams, helping them make informed decisions while identifying and mitigating risks.
- Procurement Support: Work closely with the Group Procurement Team, offering a solutions-focused approach from the RFP stage through to advising on contract terms, contract management, and termination.
- Consumer Law: Partner with the Group Customer Operations Director and their team, providing expert advice on consumer law to ensure the business stays compliant and customer-centric.
- Litigation Management: Manage a caseload of consumer small claims, handling each matter efficiently and commercially while working closely with customer service teams to ensure positive outcomes
- Regulatory Compliance: Keep the Group in line with the latest regulatory requirements, ensuring we anticipate and respond to changes in the regulatory environment that may impact our business.
- Policies & Processes: Lead the drafting and implementation of new policies and processes, working closely with teams to ensure these are adopted effectively.
- Precedent Management: Oversee the Group’s bank of commercial legal precedents, ensuring consistency and accuracy across the business.
- Training & Coaching: Deliver training and coaching to key stakeholders across the business, breaking down complex legal issues into clear, actionable advice.
- Emerging Risks & Trends: Stay ahead of emerging legal risks and industry trends, providing proactive advice to the business and helping to shape future strategy.
The role is for you if...
- Experience: At least 4 years’ PQE (Post-Qualification Experience) or relevant pre-qualification experience in commercial contracts.
- Financial Services: Experience in financial services is desirable.
- IT Contracts: Background in negotiating large-scale IT contracts, particularly SaaS agreements and contracts involving AI technology.
- Data Protection: Solid knowledge of data protection legislation, ensuring compliance and helping the business manage risks effectively.
- Commercial Mindset: A commercially-minded approach with the confidence to stand by your legal advice and influence others.
- Fast-Paced Environment: Comfortable working at speed and managing multiple priorities, while delivering high-quality work.
- Collaboration: Strong ability to build relationships across the Group, fostering a collaborative approach and tailoring communication to diverse audiences.
- IT Skills: Competent in using IT systems and technology to streamline work processes.
- Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, able to simplify complex legal matters for non-legal audiences.
- Organisational Skills: Highly organised with strong time management skills and the ability to prioritise urgent matters effectively.
- Commercial Awareness: Strong commercial acumen and experience advising internal stakeholders. Previous in-house experience is desirable but not essential.
- Legal Trends: An interest in trends within the legal industry, particularly around contract management technology and AI.
- Growth Mindset: A passion for growth, learning, and sharing knowledge within the team and the wider business.
Don't worry if you don't meet all of the requirements - if you feel that you have the skills and experience for this role, then we'd really welcome your application.
About DFS
Did you know a DFS sofa is in one-third of Britain’s homes?
Since 1969, we’ve been creating, marketing, and selling sofas that reflect people’s unique styles and tastes. We’ve always led the market, bringing comfort and great design to communities both online and in person.
We’re the UK’s leading sofa retail specialist, but here’s the secret to our success - it’s our people. They’re at the heart of what we do, and together, they’re crafting us towards our ambitious future.
DFS Benefits
- Company Car or Car Allowance
- Generous annual bonus based on business performance and objectives.
- Growth and Training: Learn new skills and develop your career with us.
- Leave: Enjoy a great holiday allowance, with the option to buy 5 extra days. Take advantage of our enhanced leave for Maternity, Paternity, Shared Parental, and Adoption, plus a paid volunteering day each year.
- Discounts: Get 30% off DFS and Sofology products for yourself, plus discounts for friends and family - and savings at big brands like Sainsbury’s, ASOS, and IKEA.
- Wellbeing Perks: Access healthcare services, an Employee Assistance Programme, and discounted gym memberships.
- Pension and Savings: Join our Group Pension and Sharesave schemes.
- Life Assurance & Sick Pay: Peace of mind with Life Assurance and Company Sick Pay.