General Counsel - defence sector

General Counsel
Defence Technology | London (hybrid) | Competitive


The Company
Our client is a UK defence contractor developing autonomous drones for military use. Founded in 2022, they have grown rapidly - securing over £50m in contracted revenue and building a substantial and expanding client base across multiple countries.

The leadership team brings together senior figures from across the defence industry, including former Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy officers, defence consultants with operational backgrounds in complex environments, and strategy executives with over two decades of experience in defence and aerospace. This depth of experience underpins both the technical credibility of the business and its ability to operate at the highest levels of government and defence procurement.

Driven by the current geopolitical landscape, the business has seen dramatic increases in demand and is scaling up its production capabilities rapidly. New contracts are being won at pace, international expansion is ongoing, and the pipeline continues to grow.

As a result of this rapid growth, the business is looking to onboard its first in-house counsel. The GC will collaborate with existing external counsel while taking ownership of regulatory matters, supply agreements, and client contracts, and will play a central role in readying the business for a future acquisition.


The Role
Our client is looking for a General Counsel to take on sole responsibility for all legal matters across the business. The immediate priority is establishing contracts with key suppliers, before moving into client contracts and the broader compliance framework as the customer base continues to grow. The GC will also support preparation for a potential acquisition, working alongside external counsel when the process is underway.

The core areas of work are:

• Supply chain - establishing framework agreements with key suppliers, including SLAs and ongoing contract management
• Export control - managing the licensing picture across multiple jurisdictions, liaising with specialist export consultants, and owning the overall export management process
• Client contracts - reviewing and negotiating agreements with defence and government customers, including liaison with local counsel in customer countries
• Corporate and governance - supporting new entity formation across jurisdictions, managing NDAs, employment contracts, and insurance
• IP and data protection - managing trademark registrations and ensuring compliance across jurisdictions
• Acquisition preparation - supporting legal readiness alongside the board, with external counsel leading the transaction when the time comes

The Candidate
Our client is looking for a qualified solicitor with a background in defence, either from an in-house role or private practice - with in-house experience preferred. Strong commercial contracts experience and a working understanding of export control are essential. Experience working in a high-growth business or through a corporate exit would also be advantageous.

The key requirements are:

• A background in defence, from either in-house or private practice (in-house preferred)
• Experience drafting and negotiating commercial contracts, ideally in a supply chain or manufacturing context
• Familiarity with export control, particularly the ECJU and UK licensing processes
• Comfortable operating as a sole lawyer, managing priorities independently with limited support infrastructure
• Sound judgement in a fast-moving environment, with the ability to build legal frameworks without slowing the business down
• Experience in a high-growth company or through a corporate exit is advantageous
• Security clearance is not required on day one

Location
London, hybrid (a few days per week in office)