Senior Client Contracts Lawyer (Birmingham, Manchester or London)

Pinsent Masons is recruiting a Senior Client Contracts Lawyer to join its Client Contracts & Commercial Team within the General Counsel's Office.

The role focuses on client-facing contracts and provides an opportunity to advise on commercially significant matters that directly affect the firm's risk profile and client relationships. The successful candidate will work closely with colleagues across the firm's practice groups to ensure that contracts are legally compliant, commercially robust and aligned with the firm's wider risk and strategic objectives.

The role also provides exposure to commercial contracts, technology, artificial intelligence and legal technology, making it suited to a solicitor who is interested in both commercial legal work and the development of modern contracting practices.

The Client Contracts & Commercial Team

The Client Contracts & Commercial Team plays a central role in supporting client engagement across Pinsent Masons.

Working within the General Counsel's Office, the team advises on the contractual arrangements that underpin relationships with the firm's clients. It works across the business to identify and manage legal and commercial risks, develop appropriate contractual approaches and improve contracting processes.

Key Responsibilities

The Senior Client Contracts Lawyer will:

• Review, draft and negotiate a broad range of client-facing contracts.

• Advise on complex commercial, technology and AI-related arrangements.

• Provide clear and commercially focused legal advice to internal stakeholders.

• Ensure contractual arrangements comply with legal, regulatory and internal policy requirements.

• Identify, assess and mitigate legal and commercial risks.

• Work with colleagues across the General Counsel's Office and wider firm on contractual matters.

• Escalate matters appropriately in accordance with internal governance processes.

• Support projects across the General Counsel's Office, including process improvements and policy development.

• Champion the use of legal technology and contract-management tools.

• Identify opportunities to streamline contracting processes and embed best practice.

• Contribute to the development of the firm's client engagement and commercial strategy.

Candidate Requirements

Applicants should have a strong academic background and qualification as a solicitor, with typically 3+ years' PQE, although candidates with other relevant experience will also be considered.

Experience reviewing and negotiating commercial contracts is essential. In-house law firm experience is desirable, particularly experience working closely with business stakeholders and advising on commercial risk.

The role requires strong analytical skills and the ability to provide practical and accessible legal advice. Candidates should be comfortable working in unfamiliar or complex areas and able to exercise sound judgement when dealing with new issues.

Candidates should also demonstrate:

• Strong people management experience.

• Excellent organisation and time-management skills.

• The ability to manage multiple matters in a fast-paced environment.

• Resilience and sound professional judgement.

• A calm and measured approach under pressure.

• Excellent communication, negotiation and influencing skills.

• The ability to work collaboratively while also operating independently.

• An interest in legal technology and improving contracting processes.

Legal Technology and AI

The role provides particular exposure to the changing technology landscape within legal services. The Senior Client Contracts Lawyer will work on technology and AI-related contractual arrangements and help identify opportunities to use legal technology and contract-management tools more effectively.

The successful candidate will also contribute to improving contracting processes and embedding more efficient and consistent approaches across the firm.

Career Development

The position provides an opportunity to develop a career within a high-performing General Counsel's Office while working on matters with direct commercial and strategic importance to the firm.

The role offers exposure to senior decision-making, cross-firm projects and a diverse range of contractual issues. Pinsent Masons also provides opportunities for professional development and progression within a supportive and collaborative environment.

Working Arrangements

The role is based in Birmingham, Manchester or London, with other UK Pinsent Masons offices potentially considered.

The position operates on a hybrid basis, with three days per week in the office. The firm's PM Working approach supports flexible and agile working arrangements.