In-House Legal News with Adam Z: Issue 2 (Festive December Edition)

Welcome to the second issue of the imaginatively titled In-House Legal News with Adam Z! Thank you so much for the interest and comments last time around.

We now have 1,655 subscribers on LinkedIn. Here we go again!

Trends and Issues

Are in-house solicitors still moving jobs? Yes. The pace of in-house legal moves in the Northwest shows no sign of slowing. There is still some real appetite to make job moves out there. We're now in a situation where lots of candidates who haven't thought of making a move for a long time, and who are actually generally happy with or even love their sector/job, are suddenly electing to see what is out there for financial reasons - the cost of everything going up is motivating them to find something with greater reward. We see this particularly in sectors which have some financial pressures, like in local authorities or universities for instance.

Job volume. We're still seeing the same volume of new jobs being created, or replacements for movers needed, as in my last update. Legal teams are still in the main content to wait for their perfect candidate, and will readvertise several times before settling or giving up to try again at some future point. Note to team heads - it is really useful to contact an external recruiter right at the start, rather than once you've directly advertised and gone through the motions a few times with direct resourcing teams - even if you can't instruct us just yet! You will get quicker results and access to another quality of candidate. The later we get to it, the worse the perception of the role is in the market, and the harder it gets to recruit great in-house lawyers.

Employment Counsel Jobs. An interesting trend which has taken me a bit by surprise... I haven't had the opportunity to do any counting or look at the data in detail but there have been a weirdly high number of employment solicitors moving into specific employment counsel roles. These are mostly first employment lawyer appointments in an existing team without this speciality, and are sometimes bulking out teams supporting a more senior employment counsel. I don't have much of a clue why apart from the usual reasons - comparing the cost of doing it in-house versus instructing external law firms, having a bit more control of the way you deal with HR matters/employment claims in the workplace and being preventative, maybe gearing up for any potential redundancy consultations on the short to mid-term horizon? Would anyone like to let me know any other reasons!?

Outsourced legal businesses. There have been lots of moves, and interest in future moves, to more flexible working arrangements away from being employed by just one company. More in-house (and private practice) solicitors have moved away from mainstream in-house to outsourced legal businesses (such as those owned by law firms, like Konexo or Pinsent Masons Vario ) operating on a consultancy basis and being loaned out to different companies. This can work well for people who have their life and financials in order and feel able to take on something that is potentially a bit more risky due to the potential gaps in employment. The work can pay extremely well - it's big money for these businesses and candidates can also take a healthy chunk. We've seen a few really interesting arrangements out there, like people who are electing to work part-time employed for circa 3 days a week for one company, and then work on a daily rate for other companies/individuals for the rest of the week - more of a portfolio approach and an ability to tap in and out as needed.

New year ahead. December can be a bit chewy in legal recruitment - Christmas parties and deadlines for work that needs to be completed before the end of year can push recruitment to one side, although some clients also want to push on and select their chosen candidate by the end of year. Some clients are starting to hunker down for Christmas and push recruitment decisions and new processes into next year. This can be frustrating for recruiters but we understand it too and it gives everything a nice clean break going into the new year. There are some great new roles on the horizon in 2023.

Salary and Economic Pressures. This is the really tough bit. In-house still lags behind private practice in terms of base salary and businesses are squeezed... (but remember it's not easy for law firms either, particularly for more senior solicitors who feel underpaid when comparing their salary review increases to NQs). Candidates are still asking for more money, pointing to inflation and the cost of living, and businesses are doing their best to meet these demands. So far, businesses have mostly been able to stump up some extra cash to keep people and/or recruit new people within their in-house legal teams - a response to the skills gap - the shortage of lawyers and high number of jobs creates lots of competition for those lawyers.

The impending recession or whatever we are going to have to endure next year has not so far meant a flood of new legal candidates on the market, and the same upwards salary pressures carry on. Although this is nice for lawyers it doesn't feel healthy in the round, particularly when you are setting salaries for more junior lawyers. Qualified solicitors are sometimes unaffordable for fast-growing entrepreneurial businesses without legal functions, and for smaller in-house teams. One of the main challenges for 2023 is likely to be attracting talent without being able to or needing to pay huge amounts for legal people. It makes my head hurt.

Movers, Promotions and Qualifiers!

I will miss things, and I'm looking forward (ish) to being told about it - but please be gentle. The breadth of these opportunities and variety of sectors shows just how strong the in-house scene is in the Northwest. This includes beyond the Northwest to an extent - I've limited these moves to my main area of focus, plus any NW lawyers moving to remote roles headquartered in other locations.

NQs

Eleanor J. has just qualified as a Solicitor after training at global recruitment firm NES Fircroft . Molson Coors Beverage Company have taken on Charlotte Clayton as Junior Legal Counsel on her qualification at Co-op Legal Services . Owen Medlicott is now Solicitor at Verastar after 3.5 years as a paralegal and lots of hard work doing exams and part-time study at the same time.

Promotions

Libby Reed has been promoted to Principal Legal Counsel at 西门子能源 . Leyna Stewart is now Head of Commercial Law at Sellafield Ltd . Helena Dale-Martin has been promoted to Legal Counsel at MAC Clinical Research , working with Sarah Gwyndaf Roberts . Emma Deighan returned from maternity leave to a new role as Legal and Compliance Manager within Hilti Great Britain 's Northern Europe legal team. Amy Nokes (née Seddon) is now Corporate Counsel at IGT .

First in-house appointments

Parkingeye took on David Keenan as Senior Commercial Solicitor - this is David's first in-house role after a private practice career at Hill Dickinson LLP , Freeths and Bermans . Congratulations to Andrew Higham who has started his first in-house role at Post Office Ltd . It was good to see WEALTH at work recruit Olivia Blundell into an In-House Corporate Solicitor role. Handelsbanken secures Fabian Ashurst who makes his first in-house move as Legal Advisor working on Commercial and Procurement for them. Jordan Withers joins Andrew Vickerstaff 's team at gaming software developers IGT - his first post-qualification in-house role although he has previously worked at Victrex . Abigail Dwyer makes a great first in-house move to 英国兰卡斯特大学 . sarah cave has joined The Fragrance Shop in her first in-house job and she will work with team head Bhavisha Mistry . Alexandra Hampshire starts her first in-house legal role at the BBC .

Big ones - Head of Legal, General Counsel and equivalent

The big news ones: I missed Anthony Farrell 's excellent move to Booking.com as Director Legal - he moved after spending 4 years at Boohoo Group PLC and from what I know is greatly missed! Karlyn Kerr swaps cinema for biotech and takes a new Director of Legal role at Waters Corporation after almost 10 years culminating in a Head of Legal role at ODEON Cinemas Group swapping cinema for biotech. Laura Hewitt has also joined Waters as Senior Commercial Counsel after over 6 years at Advanced Medical Solutions . Vital Energi Utilities Limited have appointed Dan Crayford as their Head of Legal from Squire Patton Boggs - he spent some time on secondment with this client during his time at Squires, again proving that this is a great way to make a first in-house move. Helen Auty moves from Quint Group to Stretchline Holdings Ltd. (an elastics manufacturing group!). Ian Wood is the new GC at Sellafield Ltd . Elspeth Doyle is now interim Deputy GC at global CEO advisory firm Teneo . Christel Banks took an excellent new General Counsel role at retirement finance experts Key Group . David Eames is now Legal Director at TalkTalk after 8 years with the group. It was great to see Fiona Johnston take a General Counsel and Company Secretary role with Waterstones even if it isn't based in the Northwest! Rosalind Leahy is now Sole Counsel at Seatriever International Holdings Limited , the home of illooms??LED light up balloons.

Other great moves!

Kris Scales moves away from the Co-op and to a Senior Counsel job at electric car subscription business Onto . Chetwood Financial Limited have taken on Sonya G. as Senior Legal Counsel who joins from Studio Retail Limited . Alexandra Wood is another great ex-Studio Retail lawyer who has taken a job as Legal Counsel responsible for the Eastern Hemisphere at engineering company Tensar, a division of CMC .

Steph Pe?a has joined venue/event company ASM Global (they manage the AO Arena) as Legal Counsel. Samantha Croker took on a Legal Counsel role at Nuclear Transport Solutions . Materials science company Milliken & Company has taken on Jason Landa as Legal Counsel from the BBC . María P. Ulloa makes a great move to 新百伦 as EMEA Legal Counsel - an impressive brand to be part of. Quint Group gains Nikki Ellison , an experienced commercial solicitor and very nice individual too.

Fruugo.com (sounds like a frozen yoghurt brand but is actually a trendy name for a global marketplace connecting customers with retailers globally) took on Claire Dyball from The Very Group as Legal Counsel. Chris Benn leaves JD Sports Fashion to join Booking.com on a contract role. NEC Software Solutions takes on Antonio Arellano from EY Riverview Law. Olivia Baden joins THG from Brabners in a Senior Legal Counsel capacity. Millie Kayley joins Keri Devine 's team at B&M Retail from JD Sports Fashion - she has some great retail and fashion experience having trained at Missguided initially.

Global medical aesthetics company Sinclair has appointed Beth Sutcliffe to a Legal Counsel role, a return to in-house for her after starting her legal career at Mamas & Papas . Keeping with the pharma theme, Jessica Drake made a move to 阿斯利康 . Biotech drug discovery company Healx took on Ben Lock from Red Bull Racing & Red Bull Technology . Ruth Carins-Shaw has been made Senior Solicitor at Kier Group .

Alicia Brooks has started a Tutor role at The University of Law after some excellent in-house roles at GBG Plc , Liverpool John Moores University and Princes Limited - I hope the students know how lucky they are to be taught by her. Yodel (Yodel Delivery Network Ltd) have taken on Rachael Mellers as Legal Counsel. Karlis Rullis is now Legal Counsel at Transport for Greater Manchester .

Employment counsel movers

Some of the specialist employment counsel moves that I was talking about earlier: Joanna Walker joins 印孚瑟斯 as Senior Legal Counsel (Employment). Danielle Fitton makes a move to 索迪斯 as EMEA Legal Counsel - Employment. There are more moves for employment counsel on the horizon but it wouldn't be right to announce them just yet.

Real estate movers

The excellent Claire Slinger joined Muse in Manchester (an absolutely lovely company to work with) where she will work on high quality urban regeneration in the North West and Midlands. She joins after 10 years at Liverpool City Council where she worked on real estate development and investment in the city. Helen Brierley moves to a Company Solicitor role at Redrow from Countryside Partnerships .

Phew.

Featured Job

Could you be suited to a job like this? It's geared towards commercial solicitors with 1 or 2 years PQE, or an experienced paralegal or legal executive. A terrific business with PE backing and huge growth potential.

DA Languages - First In-House Counsel

DA Languages offers language services to organisations within the public and private sector. With a dedicated team and an ever-expanding customer base, they are considered as one of the most trusted and reliable language service providers in the sector.

Based in Stretford in Manchester, it is a successful private equity growth story with a new investment cycle which is off to a very strong start. The company has so far grown organically, and M&A is now on the agenda over the next 12 months.

Recruitment of an In-House Legal Counsel

The company is looking to appoint its first in-house counsel in 2023, and the role is likely to be suited to a junior commercial solicitor or an experienced commercial contracts paralegal or legal executive.

Your job will focus on providing legal advice and support to the business, working as a trusted business partner, interacting with senior stakeholders and will include: providing high quality legal advice and solutions, ensuring good governance, drafting and negotiating contracts with customers and suppliers, and advising on procurement contracts.

Applications are sought from those with previous experience of reviewing, drafting, and amending a wide range of commercial contracts. Excellent communication skills and strong commercial acumen are key.

Although some previous in-house experience would be welcomed, it is not essential. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a rapidly growing business as its first in-house counsel, with ongoing support from a senior legal counsel who is well known to the business and advises as external legal consultant. The business uses external law firms for areas such as corporate and employment, so your focus will be able to square nicely within commercial contracts.

The salary is competitive, and full details are available on request. Please contact Adam Zdravkovic at Think Legal for a copy of the job description and for a confidential chat about the role and company. Think Legal Recruitment is working as retained recruitment firm for this opportunity – direct and third-party applications will be forwarded to Think Legal for consideration.

I love my job - it's a privilege to assist people with their careers and indeed to be involved in helping organisations grow with the best legal talent. My very best wishes to you, your family and friends for the festive season ahead. Let's see what 2023 has in store for us. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Adam