Overview

Assistant General Counsel (Hybrid – London). This is a key role in Cornerstone Research’s Office of the General Counsel. You’ll provide internal legal support across all areas of the firm, advising on legal and contractual matters related to our global business engagements.

We are a global firm operating at the intersection of law and business, with key operations in the US, UK, and Belgium. You’ll join a small, highly collaborative legal team and interact with colleagues at all levels, from associates to executives.

Responsibilities

• Provide proactive and pragmatic guidance on legal matters; anticipate, mitigate, and advise on potential legal issues arising from UK and EU law across the company and on client engagements.
• Ensure the company conducts its business in compliance with all applicable UK and EU laws and regulations.
• Oversee, review, draft, and negotiate a wide range of commercial contracts, including client engagement letters, Master Services Agreements, and other client-facing documents governed by UK and EU law.
• Draft, review, and negotiate supplier and third-party contracts, including consultancy agreements, vendor agreements, subscription agreements, and NDAs.
• Ensure compliance with UK and EU data protection laws (UK GDPR and EU GDPR), and review and negotiate Data Processing Agreements (DPAs) for cross-border data transfers.
• Advise on cross-border legal issues impacting contracts and operations between the US, UK and the EU.
• Instruct and manage external counsel in the UK and Europe and oversee legal budgets effectively.
• Collaborate with the Finance team on UK and international debt recovery matters.
• Advise and partner with HR on UK and Belgian employment law matters and provide support on employment issues where applicable.
• Coordinate with IT on client confidentiality, data protection, and cybersecurity in line with UK and EU standards.
• Draft and review internal company policies and procedures for UK and European operations.
• Respond to regulatory notices, court orders, or other formal inquiries from UK and EU government agencies or authorities.
• Establish and manage information barriers and litigation holds as required.
• Develop and maintain the company’s UK and Belgium contract templates and assist in implementing contract management systems.
• Supervise junior legal staff in the UK or EU, as the team grows.
• Design and deliver legal training sessions for employees on relevant topics.
• Assist and advise on any US related matters as needed.

Essential

What You'll Need to Be Successful:

• Qualified solicitor in England and Wales with a current SRA practicing certificate.
• Minimum of 8 years' Post-Qualification Experience (PQE).
• Experience advising on UK and EU commercial law, including drafting and negotiating cross-border contracts.
• Experience as a solicitor at a Magic Circle firm with US presence, or in an in-house role with multi-jurisdictional responsibilities.
• Experience in litigation or formal dispute resolution in the UK and ideally the US, or experience working on multi-jurisdictional cases in the UK and US.
• A strong academic record with a high-achieving undergraduate degree in law.

Desirable

• Prior experience advising a business with significant operations across the UK and the EU.
• Experience working on US litigation matters.
• Familiarity with UK and EU data protection law, including UK GDPR and EU GDPR.

Compensation and Benefits

Cornerstone Research is offering a competitive market base salary plus a competitive total compensation package that includes an annual discretionary performance bonus and comprehensive benefits such as private medical insurance, income protection, wellness reimbursement, and an enhanced pension scheme. Relocation assistance is not offered for this position.

Who We Are

Cornerstone Research provides economic and financial analysis and expert testimony in all phases of commercial litigation and regulatory proceedings. We work with a broad network of testifying experts and offer opportunities for professional growth within a collegial, collaborative culture.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Cornerstone Research provides Equal Employment Opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to age, sex, gender, gender identity, race, color, creed/religious belief, medical condition, disability, marital status, pregnancy status, military status, veteran status, arrest or conviction record (where permitted by law), sexual orientation, ethnicity, citizen status, national origin, or any other protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law.