Head of Legal and Company Secretary

Job Details
  • Location: Support Office, LE19 1SU
  • Type of Role: Full - Time
  • Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday - Friday
  • Salary: up to £120,000 basic DOE plus bonus of up to 30%, Car/Car allowance and benefits

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We are currently looking for a Head of Legal/Company Secretary to join us! 

You will be a solicitor / barrister qualified to practice in England & Wales and have at least 10 years' PQE, preferably with some prior in-house experience both in a legal capacity and as Company Secretary (or exposure to Company Secretarial functions) at PLC and subsidiary company level.

The opportunity suits someone with a commercial approach who is looking for a position with a varied workload and the opportunity to provide a Legal and Company Secretariat function within a FTSE listed business.  The role requires regular interaction with the PLC Board, the Executive Committee and other Group functions, as well as liaison with external lawyers on specific legal matters affecting the Group.

Legal Role

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer this broad Corporate/Commercial role offers exposure to a number of practice areas and will involve providing legal support to the Executive team, Heads of Departments and other colleagues within the organisation and will involve:-

  • Providing timely and commercial legal advice and support on a range of retail and consumer issues including areas such as data protection, product liability, competition law, marketing, advertising and promotions, e-commerce, intellectual property, and ad hoc consumer and business queries that affect the business. For clarity, property law and employment are outsourced, and specialist corporate lawyers are retained.
  • Assisting in the negotiation and drafting of commercial contracts for goods and services, distribution, agency, consultancy, supply standard terms and conditions, procurement and IT agreements and IP agreements including licences.
  • Providing support and advice to the Customer Services Department.
  • Assisting the business in interpreting and complying with commercial legal agreements and legal requirements.
  • Effectively manage the resolution of contract terminations and commercial disputes.
  • Assisting the business in the protection and enforcement of its intellectual property rights.
  • Maintaining business awareness of legal requirements and developments, providing regular business updates and internal training in the key areas of consumer law, competition, data protection, Company Law, IP and other areas where appropriate.
  • Where appropriate, instruct and liaise with external lawyers and report internally in particular in relation to company refinancing ,restructures ,M&A activity and Competition law.
  • Leading the Company’s processes and responses regarding GDPR.

Company Secretary Role

  • Provide sufficient resource and support to Board Meetings, Board Committee Meetings (including minute taking and recording decisions).
  • Provide appropriate support to the Chair of the Board, Chairs of the Committees and to Non- Executive Directors as required.
  • Regularly review and make recommendations and ensure compliance with Board and Committee procedures and Terms of Reference
  • Organise and prepare agendas and papers for board meetings, committees and annual general meetings (AGMs)
  • Ensure that actions arising from Board and Committee meetings are appropriately followed up.
  • Lodge required forms and annual returns with regulatory bodies in relation to PLC and Group Companies.
  • Liaise with the Chairman of the Board , relevant Committee Chairs and other Board members  to produce the Directors’ Report and Corporate Governance Statement, and support with the creation of the Remuneration Report and where appropriate Remuneration Policy for the Annual Report.
  • Contribute to meeting discussions as and when required, and advise members of the legal, governance, the implications of proposed policies and resolutions.
  • Ensure compliance with Statutory reporting requirements including MAR. Regularly review and maintain Insider Lists and the Company’s Share Dealing Policy.
  • Liaise with Company’s Brokers to ensure all regulatory announcements are made via relevant bodies.
  • Monitor changes in relevant legislation and the regulatory, corporate governance and best practice environment and report to relevant Board members and assist in taking appropriate action including the review of corporate policies and governance processes.
  • Liaise with external regulators and Company advisers.
  • Develop and oversee systems that ensure the company complies with all applicable codes, in addition to its legal and statutory requirements.
  • In conjunction with other relevant departments, manage share option schemes.
  • Take a role in share issues, mergers and takeovers.
  • Monitor and update the Investor Section of the corporate website.

You will need to have:

  • Good verbal and written communication skills.
  • A diplomatic approach and the confidence to provide support to high-profile company staff and board members and the interpersonal skills and the ability to work well with people at all levels.
  • Integrity and discretion when handling confidential information sound grasp of corporate governance issues.
  • Attention to detail and a well-organised approach to work.
  • The ability to prioritise work and to work well under pressure.
  • The capability to work with numerical information, plus analytical and problem-solving skills.

For further information please contact beth.sutton@toppstiles.co.uk

Closing Date
Saturday 28 May 2022

Rewards

A competitive salary.

Bonus and uncapped commission schemes (dependent on your role) that run four times a year, helping you to share in our success.

A generous staff discount scheme allows you to make purchases from our stores at below market price.

Enhanced maternity/adoption and paternity pay, and childcare vouchers.

A ShareSave scheme that allows you to invest in us and share our success.

Pension & Life Assurance schemes with company contributions available to help you provide for your retirement.

A wide range of discounts with selected companies including discounts on insurance, holidays and retail vouchers.

Holiday entitlement that increases with length of service.