Head of Legal (Commercial)

• Qualified solicitor in England & Wales with approximately 5-7 years PQE in commercial law or a related field
• Experience drafting and negotiating commercial contracts across various types
• Demonstrable experience of government and public sector procurement, including the Procurement Act 2023 gained in private practice or in-house

Department:Legal and Compliance
Reports to:General Counsel
Location:Hybrid working with some office presence in London
Terms:Permanent / Full time

About the role

We seek an experienced commercial lawyer, approximately 5–7 years PQE, to lead our commercial legal function. Reporting to the General Counsel, you will take day-to-day ownership of Cera’s commercial and public sector contracting and will have line management responsibility for a Commercial Legal Counsel and for our Immigration Team. You will advise on a diverse range of matters, including government and public sector procurement, IT and software licensing, intellectual property, commercial contracts, data protection, M&A, fundraising, regulatory and general commercial law advisory work.

Responsibilities

Lead and develop Cera’s commercial legal and immigration capability, including:

• Line managing, supervising and developing a Commercial Legal Counsel – allocating work, reviewing output and providing technical support
• Line managing the Immigration Team, with oversight of the company’s sponsor licence and right to work compliance and escalation of material risks to the General Counsel
• Acting as the principal commercial legal point of contact for the business and deputising for the General Counsel where required

Draft, review, negotiate, and advise on a variety of commercial agreements, including:

• Service agreements with local authorities (e.g. Block and spot contracts)
• Supplier and subcontractor agreements
• Framework agreements and tender documentation
• Employment agency contracts for temporary staff
• Client care contracts for private service users

Lead on government and public sector procurement, including:

• Advising bid teams on tenders and framework competitions run by local authorities and the NHS
• Advising on compliance with the Procurement Act 2023 and legacy procurement rules, including transparency and contract change notices, conflicts of interest, exclusion grounds and permitted contract modifications
• Handling clarification questions, standstill periods, debriefs and procurement challenges, and liaising with contracting authorities on award and mobilisation

Advise on data protection and privacy in collaboration with the Cera DPO, including:

• Ensuring compliance with GDPR and UK data protection laws when handling sensitive personal data (e.g. Client health records)
• Drafting and reviewing privacy policies, data processing agreements, and data‑sharing arrangements
• Responding to Data Subject Access Requests

Protect and commercialise the company’s intellectual property and technology assets, including:

• Reviewing and advising on trademarks, copyrights, and branding materials
• Drafting IP clauses in contracts to secure ownership of work created by third parties
• Reviewing and advising on IT services contracts, SaaS, and IP licensing agreements
• Drafting and negotiating IT and software licensing agreements, including SaaS, cloud, hosting, data licensing, reseller and development agreements, together with support, security and service level terms
• Advising on the licensing‑in and licensing‑out of Cera’s proprietary technology, including licences to public sector bodies and third party businesses

Ensure compliance with industry regulations, including:

• Working with the Quality Team to meet Care Quality Commission standards and safeguarding obligations
• Addressing Procurement Act 2023 requirements
• Managing disputes with suppliers or customers by providing litigation advice
• Liaising with external counsel when necessary

Qualifications and Skills

• Qualified solicitor in England & Wales with approximately 5-7 years PQE in commercial law or a related field (strong candidates with other levels of experience will be considered).
• Experience drafting and negotiating commercial contracts across various types.
• Demonstrable experience of government and public sector procurement, including the Procurement Act 2023 gained in private practice or in-house.
• Experience of supervising, mentoring or line managing others, or demonstrable readiness to take on line management responsibility.
• General understanding of TUPE.
• Knowledge of GDPR/data protection regulations and their practical application in a business setting.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
• Excellent communication skills to engage with stakeholders at all levels of the business.
• Ability to manage and liaise with external counsel.
• Proactive, detail‑oriented approach to work.
• A team player with excellent interpersonal skills.

Desirable, though not essential:

• Previous experience in the health or social care.
• Understanding of employment law or regulatory frameworks affecting domiciliary care businesses.
• Experience drafting and negotiating IT, software and SaaS licensing agreements, including IP ownership, data, security and service level provisions.
• Working knowledge of intellectual property law, including the protection, licensing and commercialisation of software and brand assets.
• Experience gained in-house in a fast‑growth, multi‑site or regulated business.