Commercial Associate

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We will offer you a place where you can be yourself and where there are no limits on what you can achieve. With us, you can take ownership of your career and have honest conversations throughout. You would join an ambitious firm with a clear strategy for profitable growth where you can get early responsibility and early involvement in growing the business. Here you can expect a competitive and fair reward as well as recognition based on all round performance. This forms part of our internal promise to you, The Deal, between the firm and its employees.

We are seeking a junior associate to join Stephenson Harwood’s highly regarded Commercial, Data and Technology team, led by partners Naomi Leach and Dan Holland. The team is recognised by Legal 500 and Chambers for its expertise in advising UK and international clients on complex, business-critical commercial contracts and projects. Clients span sectors including Life Sciences, Technology, Financial Services, Hotels & Leisure, and Consumer brands. The team is praised for its commercial awareness, sector knowledge, and ability to deliver practical, business-focused solutions.

The team regularly handles a broad range of agreements, including supply and manufacturing, service agreements, distribution, agency, franchising, sponsorship, outsourcing arrangements (including tech transformation projects), software licensing and strategic alliances.

• Acting for Oxford Biomedica on critical supply arrangements for gene therapy products, developing tailored contract templates, and advising on clinical and commercial supply agreements.
• Acting for AI drug discovery company Isomorphic Labs on a variety of data licences for training  its AI platform.
• Advising Swiss lifestyle brand On, in relation to brand partnerships, sponsorship, supply arrangements, joint development, distribution, and marketing agreements.
• Advising the Mandarin Oriental hotel chain on various commercial contracts including business service outsourcings, restaurant management arrangements and brand collaboration agreements.
• Supporting City Sightseeing with franchise agreements across the globe, ensuring compliance with local laws and protecting the brand’s commercial interests.
• Advising a large energy group on a 10 year procurement of a bespoke build, operate and maintain IT solution to manage supply chain for one of the UK's largest infrastructure projects.

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide variety of commercial contracts, including master services agreements, supply, distribution, manufacturing, agency and franchising agreements.
• Advise on technology-related contracts such as software licensing, outsourcing, and tech transformation projects, alongside data protection advice.
• Work with our corporate finance and private equity teams supporting on commercial, data and technology ancillary agreements and due diligence.
• Support clients on day-to-day commercial arrangements and provide clear, pragmatic legal advice, with a focus on risk allocation, regulatory issues, and compliance.
• Conduct legal research using internal and external knowledge management resources and develop sector-related expertise including upskilling on new areas of legal regulation such as AI.
• Work collaboratively with partners and other team members on multi-jurisdictional and cross-practice matters.
• Assist with the management of client relationships and help deliver commercially focused, business-critical solutions.
• Contribute to business development activities, including attending client meetings, networking events, and supporting pitches and proposals.

• Qualified lawyer with excellent academic and professional qualifications and legal experience in commercial contracts gained post-qualification.
• Experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating a broad range of commercial agreements, including supply, manufacturing, service agreements, distribution, agency, franchising, and outsourcing agreements.
• Exposure to technology contracts (such as software licensing, outsourcing, or digital transformation) is desirable.
• Life sciences sector experience is advantageous but not essential.
• Ability to take ownership of matters, showing technical expertise, strong client service, and effective project management.
• Strong technical and analytical skills, with a keen attention to detail.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Organised, able to prioritise and meet strict deadlines, with good file management and prompt time recording.
• Commercially minded, with the ability to provide practical, business-focused advice and solutions.
• Collaborative and proactive approach, with a willingness to support colleagues and contribute to team success.
• Ambitious and willing to be proactive in business development, with a desire to identify and pursue new opportunities.
• Able to leverage and develop a strong internal and external network, and build excellent working relationships at all levels.
• Resilient and able to handle setbacks and pressure; a self-starter who works well independently and as part of a team.
• Cooperative, collaborative, and professional, with an understanding of the firm’s market position and how its services stand out.

Stephenson Harwood is an international law firm, and we're committed to creating 'positive partnerships' with our clients. We represent listed and private companies, institutions and individuals, building lasting relationships to help them succeed in a complex and ever-changing world.

Our focus is on five core sectors: Energy Transition, Life Sciences and Healthcare, Private Capital and Funds, Technology, and Transportation and Trade.

With more than 1,500 people, including 220+ partners, across ten offices in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, we combine deep legal capabilities and broad commercial expertise. We have also forged close ties with high quality law firms around the world, blending local knowledge with global savvy for clients in over 100 countries.

We understand the power of diversity in delivering that high calibre advice to our clients. We want to attract diverse talent and we particularly encourage applications from underrepresented demographics.

• 220+ PARTNERS
• 11 OFFICES
• 45+ LANGUAGES SPOKEN BY OUR PEOPLE

Offices in Al Khobar, Athens, Dubai, Hong Kong, London, Madrid, Paris, Riyadh, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore and associated office in Guangzhou.

Our brand strengths:

GO FAR, GO TOGETHER

EXPERTS IN MORE THAN LAW

CAN DO PERSONALITIES

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