Job Description:

This is an exciting opportunity to work in a fast paced international organisation undergoing significant strategic change. This will suit a bright, highly organised and ambitious individual seeking long term career progression. 

As Head of Legal in our London office for a global innovative market research agency, you will be part of a global legal and compliance team and the senior leadership team for UK, Nordics and Baltics regions, responsible for all legal matters in the UK, Nordics and Baltics regions, and providing support to other GfK locations.  You will manage a small legal team and be responsible for providing high quality and timely advice, crafting commercial contracts, collaborating with Compliance to facilitate advice on risk assessment and regulatory and privacy issues in the UK, Nordics and Baltics regions within the corporate governance framework.  You will also participate in global projects as part of the global legal and compliance team.  

Key Tasks & Responsibilities will include:

•    Providing legal guidance, advice and support to GfK on a number of commercial matters; including the drafting and negotiation of client, supplier, non-disclosure and data sharing/co-operation agreements, privacy policies and providing legal support to all lines of business, including multiple divisions across a wide variety of sectors, such as; Sales, HR, IT, Marketing and Finance
•    Providing advice on compliance with local laws, industry guidelines and GfK Group standards and guidelines with a focus on privacy and data protection laws. GfK Global Legal and Compliance departments will provide training to you on GfK Group´s standards and best practices and industry guidelines. You may provide training to staff on legal and regulatory matters and changes that may affect the business from time to time and assist with the design and implementation of GfK Group standards and corporate rules 
•    Providing legal guidance and support in all relevant corporate governance matters in close co-operation with the GfK Group Corporate Secretary, including assisting in corporate restructures, formation and striking off legal entities, preparation and documentation of board and shareholder meetings and other general corporate housekeeping matters
•    Providing support on other general matters that may arise from time to time, including for example; employment law, commercial litigation and property matters
•    Setting, controlling and administering legal budgets
•    Instructing and managing external legal counsel, where necessary

Technical Skills: 

•    Strong Communicator: Excellent verbal and written communication, collaboration, presentation and influencing skills. Able to communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders at all levels of sophistication. Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and efficiently juggle numerous concurrent responsibilities
•    Strong Collaborator: Develop and maintain productive working relationships with internal clients, peers and external legal counsel. Provide guidance and seek input from others as needed to achieve the best result possible. Capable of working and collaborating with a virtual team
•    Results Oriented: Approach tasks proactively and anticipate needs. Think quickly and prioritise multiple work streams without sacrificing quality.
•    Business Travel: Ability and willingness to travel

Typical Education and Work Experience: 

•    A solicitor or barrister licenced to practice in England and Wales with PQE of 6+ years
•    Ideally qualified at a Top 20 law firm and able to demonstrate significant in-house experience within the services sector, or otherwise possess broad commercial experience

Having choices is what makes life exciting. Make your choice today and take your future into your own hands. We value skills and talents, and will support your development within our international teams.
GfK makes your choice easy as we offer an exciting work environment that brings people together and encourages an entrepreneurial and innovative spirit. As a trusted leader in market research present in over 100 countries, we know what makes consumers’ hearts beat—globally and locally. We work on projects for successful companies in virtually every major industry.