Legal Counsel (Sales)

Opportunity Overview: Legal Counsel (Sales) at SmartestEnergy

SmartestEnergy is seeking a commercially minded Legal Counsel (Sales) to join its Legal Department in London. This full-time, mid-senior level position offers an exciting opportunity for a proactive legal professional to provide dedicated legal support to the company's Sales and Commercial teams. The role reports directly to the General Counsel & Company Secretary, with a dotted-line reporting relationship to the Vice President of Sales.

SmartestEnergy is a dynamic, globally-minded energy company with offices in the UK, US, and Australia. The company is actively working to digitize, decarbonize, and localize the future of energy, making this an impactful role for those interested in the utilities and renewable energy sectors.

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in driving the company's commercial objectives while managing and mitigating legal risks. Primary duties include:

• Reviewing, drafting, and negotiating a diverse range of commercial agreements, including power purchase agreements (PPAs), electricity supply agreements, and related ancillary contracts.
• Providing pragmatic, timely, and commercial legal advice to the Sales & Commercial teams.
• Developing, updating, and maintaining standard contract templates to streamline business operations.
• Managing relationships with external legal advisers and ensuring cost-effective service delivery.
• Contributing to the continuous improvement of internal legal processes, governance frameworks, and compliance protocols.
• Supporting cross-functional corporate projects and delivering training to non-legal colleagues on key contractual risks.

Eligibility & Requirements

To be successful in this role, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Qualification: Must be a Qualified Solicitor (Newly Qualified (NQ) or with Post-Qualified Experience (PQE)).
• Skills: Strong ability to identify critical business issues, negotiate major commercial contracts, and structure collaborative business enterprises.
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a proven ability to persuade and negotiate effectively.
• Legal Knowledge: A solid understanding of corporate and commercial law, along with a broad knowledge of contracting structures.
• Leadership: Capability to lead teams of internal executives and collaborate with external professionals.

What Sets SmartestEnergy Apart

SmartestEnergy offers a highly supportive and progressive work environment, featuring:

• Flexible Working: Employees enjoy the freedom to work from anywhere in the world for up to 30 days a year, promoting a healthy work-life balance.
• Diversity & Inclusion: The company celebrates a diverse culture and values individuals irrespective of background, disability, religion, gender identity, sexuality, or ethnicity.
• Global Reach: Opportunities to collaborate with international teams across the UK, US, and Australia.

Application & Selection Process

The selection process is designed to be transparent and human-centric, typically taking 2 to 3 weeks. It generally involves:

• Initial Review: Applications are reviewed manually by the recruitment team (no automated bots).
• Interview Stages: Typically consists of two stages of video interviews conducted via Microsoft Teams. Depending on the role, a face-to-face meeting may also be requested.
• Adjustments: Reasonable adjustments can be made to accommodate candidates' needs during the application process.