Commercial Contracts Lawyer

Are you a Qualified Solicitor or Trainee Solicitor working towards NQ and practicing certificate or ILEX equivalent (Fellow) who is looking to gain valuable, commercial experience within a FTSE 100 organisation?

Join Howdens as a Commercial Contracts Lawyer on a 12 month FTC based at our office in Raunds, Northamptonshire with some home working, where we have an exceptional opportunity for you to develop your commercial contracts career as part of our Credit Control Legal and Debt Recovery Team.  This position goes beyond compliance, involving relationship building and providing comprehensive, commercial legal advice on a variety of commercial matters.

This is an ideal Commercial Contracts Lawyer role for someone looking to transition out of practice or build a broader skillset from previous employment in-house to understand how the contracts team feeds into the wider business.  This role involves liaising with Supply and Fit contractors, suppliers, and customers in respect of contract details and amendments, and you will also deal with SAR requests from our customers.  Whatever your background, you must have a passion for delivering an excellent service and be able to confidently communicate and work with your stakeholders to protect our business and reputation. 

What will I be doing as a Commercial Contracts Lawyer?

• Reporting to the In-House Solicitor and assisting them with any litigation or legal matter.
• Negotiating a wide range of commercial arrangements.
• Managing and maintain the contract database.
• Reviewing contracts, identifying, summarising, and presenting recommendations to ensure that we are protecting the business from risk.
• Providing legal advice and support to the business.
• Promoting and co-ordinating communication exercises and training to ensure that business employees at all levels are aware of the impact of relevant legislation and legal issues.
• Providing legal reports to senior management.
• Liaising with external Solicitors when needed.

What do I need to qualify for this Commercial Contracts Lawyer role?

• Qualified Solicitor or trainee working towards NQ and practising certificate or ILEX equivalent (Fellow)
• Experience in commercial contracts in private practice or as part of an in-house legal team.
• Competent and diplomatic in all situations with the ability to focus on priority issues.
• Strong negotiator with the ability to confidently communicate with stakeholders.
• Able to use positive language and adapt to audience without reverting to jargon or complicated legal terms.
• Self-starter and commercially astute.
• Flexible, team player who enjoys adapting to changing priorities.
• Advanced knowledge of Word, Excel, Outlook.

About Howdens:

As the UK’s leading trade kitchen supplier, Howdens proudly supports over 460,000 trade professionals through our network of 850+ depots. As a constituent of the FTSE 100 and with sales of £2.3 billion in 2024, we continue to expand, offering exciting opportunities for growth in a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment. 

What we can offer you: 

• Competitive salary 
• Excellent pension scheme (company contribution of up to 12%) 
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays
• Staff Discount 
• Employee Assistance Programme 
• Exceptional Reward and Recognition events 

How to apply:  

If Howdens sounds like the kind of place where you can build and develop your career then we’re keen to hear from you.  

When you apply, you will need to attach a CV.  Good luck with your application.

Howdens is founded on the principle of being Worthwhile for ALL concerned. We’re working hard to ensure we provide an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome. We will do everything we can to support you during your application. If you need us to make any adjustments to our recruitment process, please email recruitmentteam@howdens.com with the job title and location, and we will be happy to help you.  

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