Senior Legal Counsel

Level Up Your Career!   At Kwalee, you’ll join a gaming powerhouse that boasts a mobile empire with 1.5 billion+ downloads alongside a thriving PC & Console division that has achieved numerous global chart-topping releases across Steam, Consoles, and Amazon, driving millions of Wishlists. Most recently publishing breakout hits such as The Precinct and Town to City. It’s a unique chance to bring your expertise to a global studio that dominates both the mobile, and the indie PC and Console space.   At Kwalee, as well as a competitive salary we also offer; Private Medical Insurance, Dental Insurance, Life Assurance, Royal London Pension, a Free On-site Gym, Dog-friendly Office, LinkedIn Learning, 25 holiday days + bank holidays, and 1 day extra holiday for each year of service capped at 5.
Kwalee's Legal team are looking for a Senior Legal Counsel to lead the commercial legal function and provide pragmatic, commercially focused legal support across the business.   Reporting directly to the Group Finance Director, you'll oversee legal operations across our UK and India businesses, lead a small in-house legal team and supporting some of the company's most commercially significant agreements with software providers, advertising networks and strategic technology partners.   This role is based in our Leamington Spa studio working onsite 5 days per week, where our daily in-office collaboration fuels creativity and innovation.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the commercial contracts function, drafting, reviewing and negotiating a broad range of
  commercial agreements.
• Manage software licensing agreements, SaaS renewals and enterprise software contracts.
• Drafting and reviewing Statements of Work (SOWs), Master Services Agreements (MSAs) and supplier agreements relating to game development, including localisation, translation, QA, art, audio, consultancy and external development services.
• Support negotiations for key commercial agreements with advertising networks, user acquisition partners, technology providers and strategic service partners.
• Partner with Finance, Technology, and operational stakeholders on strategic software renewals, advertising platform agreements and procurement activities.
• Act as a trusted adviser to senior stakeholders, balancing legal risk with commercial opportunity.
• Oversee legal work-streams across the UK and India.
• Manage, mentor and develop two Legal Counsels.
• Work with external legal counsel on specialist matters, including publishing agreements where required.
• Support the company's data protection framework alongside the external Data Protection Officer.
• Manage the company's Intellectual Property register.
• Manage copyright infringement matters for published games, including takedown processes.
• Support compliance with the UK Online Safety Act and other applicable legislation.
• Develop and maintain commercial contract templates, negotiation playbooks, policies and practical legal guidance to improve consistency, streamline legal processes, reduce legal risk and enable the business to operate more efficiently.
• Manage external legal advisers and continuously improve legal processes.

Requirements:

• Qualified Solicitor or Barrister (England & Wales or equivalent).
• Minimum 7 years' PQE.
• Extensive commercial contracts experience.
• Strong software licensing, SaaS and technology contracts experience.
• Experience with SOWs, procurement and supplier agreements.
• Experience negotiating with technology providers and advertising networks.
• Good working knowledge of UK GDPR.
• Experience managing external legal advisers.
• Previous people management or mentoring experience.
• Excellent commercial judgement and stakeholder management skills

Why Kwalee?

• Generous Holiday: Start with 25 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays. You'll also earn an extra day for every year of service, up to 5 years!
• Flexible Working: We offer core hours that allow you to work flexibly around your life, and a bank of 'Work From Home' days to use when you need them.
• Health Cover: Private medical cover, life assurance, a solid pension plan, and cover for dental and optical care.
• Recharge: Take advantage of our on-site gym and a supportive atmosphere that prioritises your wellbeing.
• Free Food & Drink: Fuel your day with unlimited free snacks and drinks.
• Gaming Goodies: Receive Steam codes for all our game releases!
• Dog-Friendly Office: Bring your furry friend to our vibrant, fun office.
• Office Location: Leamington Spa office location, with free parking and electric charging stations.
• Merch & Events: Get exclusive Kwalee merch, enjoy fun seasonal events, and stay informed with regular town halls.
• Growth & Learning: Full access to LinkedIn Learning to support your continuous professional development.

  Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion   At Kwalee, we take pride in being an equal opportunity employer, where we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential to driving creativity. We are committed to creating a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment where everyone can thrive.   Our culture is built on celebrating the diverse voices of our team members, fuelling innovation and strengthening our connection to our players. We are dedicated to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion across all areas of life, including age, disability, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.   We recognise the importance of self-development, career progression, and well-being in retaining our talented team. At Kwalee, we celebrate individuality and encourage everyone to bring their authentic selves to work.