Senior Legal Counsel, Riverlane

• We're looking for a self-starter who is confident leading on complex high value matters and able to shape the legal frameworks that support our continued growth, whilst operating as part of a close-knit team
• The role will suit a confident and pragmatic solicitor with significant experience in commercial contracts and cross-functional advisory work, who thrives working in a team and is comfortable making judgement calls at speed
• 6+ years’ post-qualification experience (PQE) as a solicitor (England & Wales or equivalent), with significant experience in-house
• A proven track record of leading high-value, complex commercial transactions and strategic legal projects from inception to completion
• Deep expertise in commercial contract law
• Strong business acumen, with the ability to balance legal risk against commercial objectives and influence decision-making at senior levels
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the capability to present to and advise senior-level stakeholders
• Demonstrated leadership and mentoring skills, including uplifting capability in junior legal team members and non-legal colleagues
• Highly organised and self-sufficient, with the ability to prioritise effectively in a fast-paced, scaling environment without close supervision
• The ability to act as a trusted advisor, with the confidence to build relationships with executives, regulators, and external counsel
• A proactive and solutions-oriented approach, with a track record of driving process improvements and legal innovation
• Women and other underrepresented groups may be less likely to apply for a role unless they meet all or nearly all of the requirements. If this applies to you, we still encourage you to apply - you may be a great fit, even if you don’t meet every single qualification. We’d love to hear from you

Desirable

• We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced, commercially minded lawyer to take on a senior, strategic role in our legal function
• As Senior Legal Counsel, you will act as a trusted advisor to the General Counsel and senior leadership, owning significant transactions, managing high-risk legal issues, and driving strategic legal projects across the business
• You’ll work directly with senior stakeholders in R&D, Operations, Commercial, and HR, helping to balance legal risk with commercial opportunity in a fast-moving, science-led environment
• You will also play a key role in building the future of our legal operations – designing scalable processes, developing risk frameworks, and introducing tools and training that empower teams to handle day-to-day matters more efficiently
• You’ll combine excellent legal knowledge and technical skills with strong business acumen and have the credibility to influence decision-making at the highest levels
• Lead negotiation and risk allocation on complex, high-value commercial agreements, including strategic partnerships, Government funded projects, IP licensing, and enterprise-level customer/supplier contracts
• Devise bespoke arrangements tailored to the evolving quantum ecosystem, utilising your knowledge of black letter law to draft contracts and templates from scratch where required
• Develop the business’s legal risk & prioritisation framework
• Design the legal intake & self-serve model, including strategic oversight of template suites and contract automation tools, to reduce dependency on General Counsel
• Monitor legal and regulatory trends, translating them into actionable strategies for the business
• Devise and deliver internal training programs to upskill the business and to manage legal and regulatory risks
• Lead complex, strategic cross-functional initiatives with internal R&D, Operations, Commercial, and HR teams
• Lead high-impact legal and operational projects aligned with business growth and risk appetite
• Own complex, high-value transactions end-to-end, negotiating directly with senior counterparts
• Lead compliance initiatives, for example data, export control & AI governance projects