Overview

Legal Counsel - Global Travel Retail (6 months' FTC)

Location: Chiswick, London. Hybrid working with attendance required of 10 days per month. Your manager is Alexander Smiley; team: Legal, Global Travel Retail. You will be part of Pernod Ricard, a leading company in the global spirits industry, with a focus on Global Travel Retail in the UK. The UK organisation consists of four businesses: Global Travel Retail, Pernod Ricard UK, Chivas Brothers, and The Absolut Group. The group employs around 2,000 people in the UK.

Responsibilities

• Legal support for the 2 business units (Europe and America) and collaboration with marketing, commercial, supply chain, procurement, IT, HR and finance teams in those units. Typical work includes contract negotiation, advice on alcohol rules for certain markets, preparing and delivering training, compliance work, dispute resolution, corporate matters, research on other jurisdictions, and general commercial legal advice.
• Legal approval of marketing materials (images such as VAPs and billboards, videos, media content, competitions, etc.).
• Advice on competition issues.
• Advice on digital campaigns involving processing of consumer personal data to ensure compliance with data protection legislation.
• Maintaining databases of laws governing the sale and advertising of alcohol and other applicable laws affecting the business.
• Implementing the data protection programme, identifying gaps, and applying remedies.
• Managing day-to-day corporate matters (board minutes, powers of attorney, document signatures, corporate governance).
• Providing legal training for GTR employees (e.g., Code of Business Conduct, competition law, data protection).
• Supporting compliance programme implementation.
• Assisting the GTR Legal Director with coordination and implementation of global projects, including:
• Creating PowerPoint presentations for senior management
• Drafting legal advice notes tailored to business stakeholders
• Drafting corporate authorisations
• Handling other day-to-day legal matters
• Supporting the launch of IT tools developed by the legal department
• Using the Group's technology software to manage legal risk across the global business.
• Liaising and working closely with external lawyers on all legal assignments.
• Collaborating with internal lawyers across the Group globally.
• Performing routine administrative legal tasks.
• 0-3 years' post-qualification experience in private practice or in-house with experience of commercial contracts, corporate, IP/IT, data protection, TMT, projects, or litigation.
• Experience in dealing with and understanding foreign laws, particularly US rules on alcohol.
• Experience in dealing with complexity and the ability to handle multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• The confidence, general knowledge and curiosity to advise in multiple practice areas across varied areas of the business.
• Experience of operating in a fast-paced environment, turning around drafting and reviewing of commercial contracts and requests for marketing and advertising advice in a timely manner.
• Experience and understanding of consumer-focused business, especially in FMCG or alcohol markets or for a luxury brand company.
• Ability to make decisions and work independently, with support from the GTR Legal Director and the wider UK legal team as needed.
• Excellent commercial awareness and understanding of business needs.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and interpersonal skills; ability to communicate with teams worldwide and instruct external counsel.
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and follow-up.
• Flexible, proactive and collaborative approach; ability to adapt quickly to different challenges and priorities.

Qualifications and Experience

• As above in the responsibilities section (0-3 years PQE, relevant practice areas).
• Experience dealing with foreign laws, especially US alcohol regulations.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced, multi-jurisdictional environment.

About the Role and Company Culture

We are Pernod Ricard; we value conviviality and a commitment to care, diversity and inclusion. We promote flexible working arrangements and support accommodations or adjustments in the application process. This role forms part of the Global Travel Retail legal team and reports to the GTR Legal Director. We publish details about our benefits, including private medical insurance, pension, share incentive plan and staff discounts, and we encourage a collaborative, inclusive work environment.