Head of Legal - 6 month FTC

About the role

Lifeways is seeking an experienced Head of Legal to join us on a 6 month fixed term basis, covering a planned period of leave. The contract includes structured handovers either side to ensure continuity, stability and effective knowledge transfer.

This role is critical to maintaining the Group’s growth momentum, ensuring that legal support is enabling schemes already in progress or and new opportunities coming forward during the leave period.

Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer, you will lead the Group’s in house legal function, while continuing to provide hands-on, pragmatic property and commercial legal advice across our UK operations. The role has a strong emphasis on property related matters, alongside selected commercial contract and strategic work. You will be working on commercial leases and licences, nomination (void) agreements for new-build property schemes, service level agreements and other commercial contracts – all of which play a critical role in managing legal risk while enabling Lifeways to deliver high quality, person centred care. You will be closely supported by the CFO, with direct access for escalation and decision‑making to ensure pace, clarity and continuity.

This is a senior, visible role, working closely with the Executive Leadership Team and Board, in a dynamic, accountable and fast paced environment. Lifeways operates within a highly regulated, multi‑site environment, with complex and nuanced property and contractual arrangements. The role requires a lawyer who can rapidly understand context, apply judgement and operate pragmatically

Position Duration

Permanent

Role Type

Finance

County

Remote Working

Company

Lifeways Group

Salary / rate of pay

Competitve daily rate

Post Code

Remote

Town or City

Remote

Ref No

12872

Job Description

What you’ll be responsible for

Leading and overseeing the delivery of in house legal support across the Lifeways Group
Providing day to day legal advice and transactional support in relation to new and existing:
- Leases, licences and other property interests (including offices and residential tenancies)
- Nomination (void) agreements
- Service Level Agreements
- Management Agreements
- Other commercial contracts as they arise – such as confidentiality agreements or software contracts
- Acting as a trusted adviser to senior stakeholders, delivering clear and commercially focused guidance
- Drafting, reviewing and negotiating a wide range of legal documents
- Identifying legal risks and determining when matters require escalation to Directors or the Executive Leadership Team
- Supporting strategic decision making, including defining and maintaining clear “red lines” for new agreements
- Proactively working with internal functions including Property, Operations, Finance, HR, Health & Safety and GDPR to manage and mitigate risk
- Supporting the resolution of contractual claims and disputes, managing and instructing external legal advisers where appropriate
- Maintaining continuity of legal knowledge, including oversight of existing contract and property registers.
- Line managing and supporting members of the in house legal team, setting priorities and maintaining consistent legal standards
- Ensuring strong collaboration, continuity and effective knowledge sharing throughout the maternity cover period

What success looks like in this role

Continuity of high quality, responsive legal support across the business
Confident, pragmatic legal advice to Executive and Board level stakeholders
Effective prioritisation and support of the in house legal team
A smooth, well structured handover at the end of the fixed term contract

About you

UK qualified solicitor with significant post-qualification experience (normally 7+ years)
Strong experience in property / real estate law, ideally within a regulated, multi site or complex operating environment
Additional experience advising on commercial contracts
Confident stepping quickly into a senior leadership role and operating at pace
Commercially minded, solutions focused and comfortable balancing legal risk with pragmatism
Able to provide clear, plain English legal advice to non legal colleagues
Credible and trusted when working with Executive leaders and senior stakeholders
Collaborative, approachable and confident leading a small in house legal function
Strong organisational, analytical and problem solving skills
Comfortable using technology and systems

This role would suit an experienced Legal Director or Head of Legal seeking a high - impact interim assignment or an experienced Senior Legal Counsel/In House Solicitor looking for the step up into a first Head of Legal role.

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