Contracts (Technology) Lawyer

Pinsent Masons

1mo ago

Job
Full-time
Senior Level
Legal
Birmingham

AI generated summary

You need 5+ years' PQE in IT/commercial law, strong contract drafting skills, experience with tech and AI contracts, and excellent communication and problem-solving abilities.
You will draft, review, and negotiate technology contracts, support sourcing activities, provide strategic legal advice, and maintain supplier relationships while ensuring compliance and training.

Requirements

Strong academic background
5 years’+ PQE in an IT / Commercial role is preferable, either in-house or private practice in a substantial, well-established organisation, but we will consider those with less or more experience if otherwise ideally suited for the role
Experience dealing with technology, commercial and AI related contracts, including experience of issues relating to intellectual property rights, data protection, confidentiality and information security
Experience of contracts relating to licensing, software as a service, platform as a service, managed services and subcontracting would be beneficial
We are particularly keen to hear from individuals from a diverse background
Technical excellence in contract drafting and amending and ability to apply skills to a wide range of commercial contracts for services and equipment
Experience dealing with all legal aspects of commercial agreements. In particular, experience of IT, IP and AI related aspects highly desirable
Ability to formulate and draft service requirements and service level agreements based on input from the wider business
Commercial awareness and ability to prioritise and make sound judgements on contract issues and level of acceptable risk
Enthusiastic and proactive
Solution driven - ability to solve problems creatively and effectively
Ability to take responsibility and act autonomously – with appropriate supervision
'Team player' with strong (internal) client focussed approach
Excellent communication skills, both written and oral
Ability to plan, organise and prioritise tasks and projects
Confident in dealing with senior and junior staff alike
Ability to remain calm, controlled and resilient in a demanding environment
Strong Word skills and Good Excel and/or e-procurement/contract database skills advantageous

Responsibilities

Review, draft, amend and negotiate technology contracts from low to high value for all the business operations that CPC supports (as indicated above) handling the legal aspects in an autonomous fashion and seeking input from the senior lawyers in the team where required.
Apply a pragmatic, commercial and, in some cases, risk management approach to all contract work, often against tight deadlines. Work with members of CPC and the Buying Community to understand and reflect business and commercial requirements into contracts and recognise key issues and priorities.
Support sourcing activities and projects undertaken by CPC and/or the buying community in relation to contract work eg drafting term sheets and/or contracts for inclusion in Requests for Proposals issued to suppliers, and evaluating suppliers’ responses.
Work as a member of project teams established for larger sourcing projects to provide contract support (as above) and advice.
Assist with reports required from CPC eg monthly update report to Business Operations Directors.
Offering strategic legal advice on technology-related matters, including digital transformation projects, technology procurement, and innovation initiatives.
Supporting Business Operations by providing practical legal solutions and facilitating business growth through technology.
Assist with contract and commercial queries raised by CPC and buying community members and provide ad hoc contract advice as required.
Input to supplier exit strategies.
Provide strategic contract advice and guidance to assist with resolution of supplier issues.
Building and maintaining strong relationships with the Buying Community, understanding their business needs, and providing tailored legal support.
Assisting with bids and pitch presentations for new clients, demonstrating commercial awareness and technical expertise.
Be familiar with and proactively guide members of the buying community on use of the firm's procurement gateway and e-procurement tool and compliance with procurement policy.
Work with other members of CPC and the buying community to ensure that the supplier contract database is kept up to date, and all new contracts are recorded in the database.
Get involved in the promotion of CPC and its processes and tools within the firm, and the development and maintenance of templates, tools and precedents.
Dealing with supplier aspects of client tender submissions and client audit questionnaires.
Working with the CPC team on CPC annual and quarterly objectives aligned with firmwide strategy.
Understanding of the technology sector, including emerging trends such as artificial intelligence.
Keeping up-to-date with industry developments to provide relevant and forward-thinking legal advice.
Deliver contract training to the firm’s Buyers and CPC Team.

FAQs

What is the minimum experience required for the Contracts (Technology) Lawyer position?

The minimum experience required is 5 years' PQE in an IT/Commercial role.

Where are the primary locations for this job?

The primary locations for this job are Glasgow and Birmingham, although applications from other locations will also be considered.

Is this position full-time or part-time?

This is primarily a full-time position, but applicants wishing to work part-time (4 days per week) are also encouraged to apply.

What kind of contracts will the Contracts (Technology) Lawyer be dealing with?

The Contracts (Technology) Lawyer will draft, review, negotiate, and advise on a wide range of commercial contracts with a technology focus, including software licensing, SaaS, PaaS, and managed services.

What are the key skills and abilities required for this role?

Key skills include technical excellence in contract drafting, commercial awareness, problem-solving abilities, strong communication skills, and the ability to work autonomously and as part of a team.

What will be the primary duties of this role?

Primary duties include reviewing and negotiating contracts, supporting sourcing projects, providing strategic legal advice, assisting in supplier management, and maintaining strong relationships with the Buying Community.

Is experience in the technology sector important for this role?

Yes, understanding the technology sector and emerging trends, particularly regarding AI, is important for providing relevant legal advice.

How does the firm support the professional development of its team members?

The firm invests in its team by providing access to first-class training and resources, regular legal check-ins, wellbeing discussions, and appraisals.

Will I be working independently or as part of a team?

You will work as part of a dynamic team while also having the responsibility to manage your tasks autonomously with appropriate supervision.

What kind of contracts training will I be involved in?

You will deliver contract training to the firm's Buyers and CPC Team, ensuring team members are well-equipped to handle contract-related queries.

Pinsent Masons

Multinational law firm with offices across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia

Law

Industry

1001-5000

Employees

1796

Founded Year

Mission & Purpose

Pinsent Masons is a multinational law firm with a reputation for delivering high-quality legal advice rooted in its deep understanding of the sectors and geographies in which our clients operate. Our expertise is recognised globally. In recent years we have achieved more tier 1 rankings in The Legal 500 UK guide than any other firm, and been counted among the most innovative law firms in Europe and Asia Pacific by the Financial Times. With over 1,500 lawyers operating from 27 locations throughout Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, we are well-placed to advise on complex multi-jurisdictional matters across a full range of legal disciplines. The firm has significant international credentials in the global energy, infrastructure, financial services, real estate and technology, science and industry sectors. Pinsent Masons looks at your business needs differently. This means we don't just apply lawyers to solve clients' problems; we deploy a wider range of professional disciplines, enabled by people, process and technology, to deliver a global professional service with law at its core.