General Counsel (Fractional)

Location: Hybrid (London-based preferred)

Level:  IC5

Reporting to: CEO

Type: Part-time

Salary: £100K-£120K (Pro-rated, hours dependant)

About Native

At native, we’re building the ecosystem for student events and experiences. Our platform connects brands, Students’ Unions, and students powering everything from freshers fairs to major brand activations. As we scale across the UK and beyond, we’re looking for a commercially minded, pragmatic General Counsel to help us navigate the legal landscape and protect what we’re building.

The Role

As General Counsel, you’ll be native’s first inhouse legal hire. You’ll be the go-to for all things legal balancing risk, enabling growth, and helping teams make sound decisions. From commercial contracts and data protection to employment law and investor matters, you’ll play a key role in shaping how we scale.

What You’ll Be Responsible For

Legal & Commercial

• Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating a wide range of commercial contracts (client, supplier, partnership, IP, licensing)
• Acting as a thought partner to the commercial team on contract structures, risk, and compliance
• Supporting ad hoc legal queries across all functions

Corporate & Governance

• Advising the CEO and exec team on corporate structuring, governance, and fundraising
• Overseeing cap table, share schemes, and investor reporting from a legal perspective
• Managing relationships with external counsel

Risk & Compliance

• Managing data protection and privacy obligations (GDPR, ICO)
• Ensuring contracts and business processes align with regulatory and legal requirements
• Helping build lightweight, scalable policies to support a growing business

What We’re Looking For

• Qualified solicitor (UK or common law jurisdiction) with 5+ years’ PQE
• Background in top-tier private practice and/or fast-growth in-house legal role
• Commercial, pragmatic mindset you enable, not block
• Experience across contracts, corporate law, employment, and data protection
• Comfortable working autonomously and prioritising in a fast-paced environment
• Strong communicator who builds trust across levels and functions

Nice to Haves

• Experience in tech, media, events, or platform businesses
• Understanding of startup equity, funding rounds, and international expansion
• Experience working with or within VC-backed companies