Reed
Hiring Alert: Legal Counsel – Global Trade & Logistics Organisation
Essex | Hybrid working – (Primary office-based role with flexibility, including occasional London working)
I’m working with a large, internationally operating trade and logistics business to recruit a Legal Counsel as they expand their UK legal team.
This is a broad, hands-on in-house role supporting complex UK operations within a fast-moving, asset-heavy environment. The role offers genuine autonomy, close exposure to senior stakeholders, and the opportunity to play a key role in the legal support of critical infrastructure and logistics operations.
The Role
Reporting into senior legal leadership, you’ll act as a trusted legal partner to the business, providing commercial, pragmatic advice across a wide-ranging portfolio of work.
Key responsibilities will include:
- Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating a broad range of commercial agreements, including logistics, procurement, technology/SaaS, property, construction, and services contracts.
- Advising on legal risk, contractual frameworks, and regulatory obligations across operational and corporate functions.
- Supporting significant procurement and tender processes, including those with public-sector or regulated elements.
- Advising on projects involving operational change, TUPE considerations, and risk allocation.
- Supporting UK GDPR and data protection matters, including data processing agreements, DPIAs, and governance forums.
- Managing and instructing external legal advisers, ensuring quality, consistency, and cost control.
- Attending management and project meetings, contributing legal insight to both strategic and day-to-day decision-making.
- Monitoring legal and regulatory developments and delivering clear, practical guidance to stakeholders.
About You
- Qualified Solicitor (England & Wales) with around 4–6 years’ PQE (flexible depending on experience).
- Strong background in general commercial contracting, gained either in-house or within private practice.
- Comfortable operating in operational, infrastructure-led, or regulated environments.
- Commercially minded, pragmatic, and confident advising senior non-legal stakeholders.
- Able to work autonomously while collaborating effectively across the business.
- Exposure to sectors such as logistics, transport, ports, infrastructure, construction, energy, or technology would be advantageous but is not essential.
Why This Role?
This is an opportunity to join a high-performing in-house legal team within a globally connected organisation operating at the heart of international trade and logistics.
The role offers meaningful responsibility, strong visibility within the business, and the chance to make a tangible impact beyond pure contract support.
Interested?
For a confidential discussion, please send your CV or LinkedIn profile to Sophie Clarke – Reed (Norwich) or call
To apply for this job please visit www.reed.co.uk.
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