JOB PURPOSE:
We are looking for a corporate solicitor to provide maternity cover from September 2025.
The role is Senior Legal Counsel in our in-house legal team. Reporting directly to the Group General Counsel, this is an important and hands-on role, which will primarily be focused on delivering venture investments by funds managed by Mercia into existing portfolio assets and providing advice to the investment team on a variety of matters arising from those investments. There will also be opportunities to provide legal advice to the wider Mercia business and support company secretarial activities for Mercia Asset Management PLC and the Northern VCTs.
JOB PROFILE (Key Features):
The Senior Legal Counsel will:
- Prepare and negotiate heads of agreement, investment agreements, articles of association, board minutes, shareholder resolutions and other documents relevant to investment deals made by Mercia investment teams;
- Prepare and negotiate loan note instruments, simple loan agreements and security documentation;
- Provide advice to the investment and debt teams in connection with the enforcement of investment rights and security;
- Provide detailed legal advice in relation to corporate governance and corporate finance;
- Provide high level advice in relation to insolvency, intellectual property, commercial agreements, data protection and employment matters;
- Supervise and support a junior paralegal;
- Instruct external legal counsel as appropriate and manage matters that have been outsourced;
- Assist in the preparation and delivery of internal legal training.
JOB HOLDER (Typical Qualifications & Experience):
Our desired candidate will:
- Have 5-8 years post-qualification experience (whether private practice or in-house).
- Be adept in leading corporate transactional work, including but not limited to venture capital and private equity investments and mergers and acquisitions. Experience dealing in particular with EIS and VCT qualifying investments is desirable.
- Have a good understanding and experience of dealing with different corporate structures, particularly limited partner fund structures and have the ability to provide advice in relation to KYC, PSC and UBO queries.
- Have experience advising on corporate governance and company secretarial matters.
- Be able to commercially apply legal principles in a business setting across a range of commercial matters, including the drafting of commercial contracts and negotiations.
- Be motivated, confident and have the skills to lead on deals.
- Possess good organisational and time management skills.
- Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively and effectively with employees at all levels.
- Have good computer skills, including a good working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and database use.
- The ability to travel for this role. The role may require travel to other Mercia office locations.
- Have the right to work in the UK.
Please apply with a covering letter and your latest CV to the peopleteam@mercia.co.uk