Senior Legal Counsel (5+years PQE)- M&A

(Senior) Legal Counsel - Private Equity Portfolio OperationsA legal role with direct exposure to business transformation

We're looking for an experienced lawyer to join a specialist portfolio operations team within a leading international private equity investor.

Unlike a traditional in-house role focused on a single business, this position offers exposure to a diverse portfolio of companies across multiple sectors, geographies, and stages of the investment life-cycle.

You'll work closely with investment professionals, operational experts, and management teams to support strategic projects, navigate complex legal challenges, and help portfolio companies deliver their commercial objectives.

This is an opportunity for a lawyer who enjoys combining technical legal expertise with practical business problem-solving and wants to see the direct impact of their work on company performance and value creation.

The Role

As a (Senior) Legal Counsel, you will support portfolio companies on a broad range of corporate, commercial, governance, and restructuring matters. You will be a trusted adviser to management teams while collaborating closely with colleagues across investment, operations, finance, HR, and compliance functions.

The role offers significant variety, autonomy, and stakeholder exposure, with the opportunity to work on multiple projects simultaneously across different jurisdictions.

Key Responsibilities

• Advise portfolio companies on a wide range of corporate, commercial, governance, litigation, and restructuring matters.
• Support businesses throughout the investment life-cycle, including acquisitions, carve-outs, integration projects, transformation initiatives, and exits.
• Develop and implement legal policies, governance frameworks, and best-practice standards across portfolio companies.
• Partner with management teams to identify legal risks and develop practical, commercially focused solutions.
• Coordinate and manage external legal advisers across multiple jurisdictions and areas of expertise.
• Support compliance with group policies, governance requirements, and regulatory obligations.
• Contribute to the development of the legal practice through knowledge sharing, mentoring, and continuous improvement initiatives.

About You

You are a commercially minded lawyer who is comfortable operating in fast-paced environments and working closely with senior business stakeholders.

You will likely bring

• Qualification as a solicitor, attorney, or equivalent legal professional.
• At least 5 year's post-qualification experience in corporate and commercial law.
• Experience gained within a leading law firm, private equity environment, restructuring practice, or in-house legal team.
• Strong understanding of corporate governance, commercial contracting, transactions, and business transformation projects.
• The ability to balance legal risk with commercial objectives and deliver pragmatic advice.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities across different businesses and jurisdictions.

Why Join?

This role provides the opportunity to work on complex, high-impact matters across an international portfolio rather than focusing on a single organisation. You'll gain broad exposure to different industries, business challenges, and strategic initiatives while working alongside experienced investment and operational professionals.

It's an ideal opportunity for a lawyer seeking greater commercial exposure, increased responsibility, and a role where legal expertise is closely integrated with business decision-making and operational improvement.

If you're looking for a position that combines legal complexity, commercial engagement, and the opportunity to influence outcomes across a diverse portfolio of businesses, we'd welcome your application.