Legal jobs in Bury St. Edmunds

General Counsel (Part-Time)

Position: General Counsel (Part-Time)
Location: Hybrid, Newmarket, Suffolk / Remote
Commitment: Approximately 1 to 2 days per month, with flexibility as required
Reporting to: Chief Executive Officer

About ETZ

ETZ is a UK software company focused on the design and development of enterprise SaaS solutions for the recruitment and staffing sector. Our business combines deep sector expertise with significant investment in research and development across artificial intelligence, workflow automation, cloud infrastructure and modern software engineering.

We are a technology-led organisation with ambitious growth plans and are seeking an experienced commercial lawyer to become our General Counsel.

This is an opportunity for an experienced in-house lawyer looking for a strategic advisory role with a growing software business.

The Role

Reporting directly to the CEO, you will act as the company's principal legal adviser, providing pragmatic commercial legal support across the business.

This is a broad commercial role suited to someone who enjoys working closely with senior management and helping technology businesses grow whilst managing legal risk proportionately.

The position is intentionally part-time and designed around approximately one to two days per month, although occasional flexibility may be required depending on business needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic legal advice to the Board and senior management.
• Draft, negotiate and review commercial contracts.
• Advise on SaaS agreements, software licensing and subscription arrangements.
• Support customer contract negotiations and renewals.
• Advise on supplier agreements and procurement.
• Manage external solicitors and specialist advisers where appropriate.
• Advise on commercial dispute resolution and litigation strategy.
• Provide employment law advice on recruitment, disciplinary matters and terminations.
• Advise on intellectual property protection and licensing.
• Support data protection compliance, including UK GDPR.
• Advise on AI governance, emerging regulation and responsible AI deployment.
• Review and develop company legal policies and governance documentation.
• Identify legal risks and recommend commercially appropriate solutions.
• Assist with corporate projects, acquisitions, restructurings and strategic initiatives as required.

Experience

The successful candidate is likely to have:

• Qualified solicitor in England & Wales (or equivalent common law jurisdiction).
• Significant post-qualification experience.
• Experience working as in-house counsel or General Counsel within a commercial organisation.
• Strong commercial contract drafting and negotiation skills.
• Experience advising software, SaaS or technology businesses.
• Good understanding of corporate and commercial law.
• Experience of dispute resolution and managing external litigation.
• Working knowledge of employment law.
• Experience advising on UK GDPR and data protection.
• Understanding of intellectual property in software businesses.
• Awareness of legal issues surrounding artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.

Experience in any of the following would also be advantageous:

• Technology licensing.
• Cloud services.
• Cyber security.
• Open-source software licensing.
• Software development projects.
• Venture capital or private company governance.
• International commercial contracts.

Personal Attributes

We are looking for someone who:

• Exercises sound commercial judgement.
• Communicates clearly with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Is pragmatic, solutions-focused and commercially minded.
• Can work independently with minimal supervision.
• Enjoys building trusted relationships with senior management.
• Is comfortable operating within a fast-moving technology business.
• Takes ownership of legal issues and provides practical advice rather than theoretical analysis.

What We Offer

• A flexible part-time role with significant autonomy.
• The opportunity to work closely with an innovative software company investing heavily in R&D and AI.
• Exposure to a broad range of commercial and technology legal matters.
• Hybrid working with flexibility around office attendance.
• The opportunity to help shape the legal function of a growing technology business.

Role Summary

This position would suit an experienced commercial technology lawyer or General Counsel who enjoys strategic advisory work and is looking for a flexible portfolio role within an ambitious, R&D-led software company.

The successful candidate will become a trusted adviser to the CEO and senior management team, helping the business navigate complex commercial, technology and regulatory issues while supporting long-term growth.

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Newmarket (Suffolk, East of England Region, England)