Senior Commercial Legal Counsel

Job description

This is an opportunity to play a key role at the heart of Sage's commercial growth, providing pragmatic legal guidance to our Growth, Revenue and Platform business areas.

You'll partner with senior commercial teams on strategic go-to-market initiatives spanning fintech, financial services, partner ecosystems, embedded services, SaaS and emerging technologies. From shaping new commercial models to negotiating complex technology agreements, you'll help us move at pace while managing legal and regulatory risk.

You'll combine strong commercial judgement with legal expertise, helping turn complex challenges into clear, scalable solutions that enable the business to grow with confidence.

Overview of the team
You'll be part of a collaborative legal function working closely across Commercial Legal and specialist legal teams including Privacy, Compliance and IP.

The role has significant exposure across the business. You'll partner with colleagues in Strategic Partnerships, Embedded Services, Fintech and Growth, as well as regional and corporate legal teams. Together, you'll ensure our commercial initiatives can be delivered consistently across different markets and jurisdictions.

It's a highly collaborative environment where you'll have the opportunity to influence the design of go-to-market programmes, rather than simply advise once decisions have been made.

Office location
Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
Hybrid Working - 3 days per week in our Newcastle office and 2 days from home.

Key responsibilities

Key accountabilities and decision ownership:
• Close collaboration with Commercial leadership (in particular, commercial design, partner ecosystem, (inc Fintech partners) professional services, Embedded Services, Pricing and Growth) to support the design and compliant end-to-end execution of commercial initiatives alongside BU and Region.
• Provide best in class commercially focussed legal advice on complex commercial legal projects and initiatives.
• Ensure Fintech partnerships and initiatives are brought to market compliantly and within risk appetite.
• Draft, review and negotiate commercial legal agreements and standard templates (including complex technology focussed agreements and ancillary documentation relating to customers and partners) engaging Corporate legal input as appropriate.
• Engage and coordinate with legal SMEs on multi-disciplinary / jurisdiction GTM projects and initiatives and ensure consistent execution of legal outcomes.
• Contribute to the design, implementation and maintenance of scalable GTM systems, tools and initiatives under the control and oversight of Growth, Revenue or the BUs.
• Ensure appropriate Regional implementation of GTM processes and tools by collaborating closely with Regional legal colleagues to ensure Regional legal, regulatory and market requirements are properly considered.
• Collaborate closely with Corporate legal centres of excellence (e.g. Compliance, P&T Privacy and IP) to ensure GTM propositions are legally compliant for their markets and that services and features are properly understood so that legal risk is managed appropriately (e.g. AI/ML and platform services) and sales, partner and marketing teams are appropriately enabled with clear legal guidance.

We're looking for a qualified solicitor, admitted attorney or equivalent who combines excellent commercial legal skills with an understanding of the technology landscape.

You'll bring:
• Advanced commercial legal experience gained in-house, in private practice, or through a combination of both.
• Strong drafting and negotiation skills, including experience with complex technology, customer and partner agreements.
• Commercial legal experience across areas such as SaaS, platforms and services, professional services, channel partnerships, fintech and ISVs.
• A solid understanding of emerging technologies, including AI and machine learning, and the legal considerations they create.
• Advanced knowledge and practical experience of data privacy matters.
• The ability to navigate complex, multi-jurisdictional projects and collaborate effectively across legal specialisms and business functions.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving and communication skills, with the confidence to provide clear guidance to senior stakeholders.
• The ability to work effectively at pace, navigate ambiguity and manage competing priorities.
• Experience in fintech or financial services, including compliance, would be particularly valuable, as would additional experience across IP, privacy, AI/ML or SaaS.
• Above all, you'll be a commercially minded legal partner who can build trusted relationships, understand what the business is trying to achieve and find practical ways to make it happen while appropriately managing risk.

Benefits? We have plenty...
• Generous bonuses and pension scheme: Up to 8% matched pension contribution plus 2% top‑up by Sage.
• 25 days of paid annual leave with the option to buy up to another 5 days.
• 8 bank holiday days.
• Paid 5 days yearly to volunteer through our Sage Foundation.
• 50% income protection.
• Holiday buy + sell.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage.
• Work away scheme for up to 10 weeks a year.
• Ongoing training and professional development.
• Hybrid working.
• Healthy Mind app membership.
• Access to various helpful memberships for finances, health and wellbeing.

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About the company

Working at Sage means you're supporting millions of small and mid-sized businesses globally with technology to work smarter and move faster. We build software that reduces busywork so customers can spend less time on admin and more time building their business.

Our colleagues are high-performers who prioritise growth, make bold choices, and focus and galvanise to get things done. They work on meaningful, market-shaping initiatives that stretch their skills, sharpen their craft, and create real customer impact.

Explore our culture and benefits: sage.com/careers/working-at-sage

We celebrate individuality and welcome you to join us if you embrace all backgrounds, identities, beliefs, and ways of working. We're a Disability Confident employer - if you're applying through this scheme or need adjustments at any stage, contact careers@sage.com.