Informa is a leading academic publishing, business intelligence, knowledge and events business, creating unique content and connectivity for customers all over the world. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a member of the FTSE 100.
Taylor & Francis Group operates globally and produces high quality, peer reviewed books and journals. We produce unique, trusted content by expert authors, spreading knowledge and promoting discovery globally. We aim to broaden thinking and advance understanding, providing academics and professionals with a platform to share ideas and realize their individual potential.
Our purpose is to foster human progress through knowledge. We strongly believe that this requires us to encourage and examine different ideas and voices, so that any work that meets our exacting levels of quality deserves to be included in our publications.
Job Description
We are currently recruiting for a talented Senior Legal Counsel to join the Taylor & Francis legal team (maternity cover for up to 12 months). This is an exciting opportunity to become a valued business partner to a global content business, and to be part of a collegiate and supportive legal team.
Reporting directly into the General Counsel for Taylor & Francis, you will be responsible for supporting Taylor & Francis on all legal matters, with particular focus on the Researcher Services (Journals) business. In this business-facing role, you will work closely with senior management and other key stakeholders, including in the Editorial, Production, Marketing, Commercial and Product / Technology functions.
The Taylor & Francis legal team is a highly respected and valued business partner to Taylor & Francis, with lawyers based in the UK, US and Singapore. The team combines technical legal expertise with commercial insight and an appreciation for the business’ objectives to provide constructive, balanced and effective advice.
Responsibilities are expected to include :
- Taking a lead on the legal team’s support to the Researcher Services (Journals) business, for example including :
Proactively building effective working relationships with senior leadership in the business and representing the legal team at management meetings contributing expertise and influencing
Identifying and managing projects end to end to mitigate any identified areas of legal riskIdentifying and then leading support to the Researcher Services business on upcoming changes to legislation or policies that might impact its operationsRepresenting Taylor & Francis at external events, trade body meetings and industry initiatives as appropriateOversee work of junior Legal Team members if requiredIP / copyright / commercialLeading support to the business on complex IP / copyright-related matters, including for example advising on rights in a licensing context or IP policy developments
Drafting, negotiating and advising senior leaders on a wide range of commercial contracts, including customer contracts, publishing agreements, author / editor contracts, distribution and agency agreements, supplier agreements and IT / technology contractsAdvising on content-related issues and disputes, both pre- and post-publication, including issues related to copyright, defamation and privacyTaking a lead on managing and resolving third party disputesInstructing external counsel where necessary and managing external legal costsCollaborating effectively with the other lawyers in the Taylor & Francis legal team (based in the US, UK and Singapore) to ensure a consistent and effective approach to managing legal risk across the business globallyQualifications
Knowledge and experience required
A qualified lawyer with around 6 years plus post-qualification experience (PQE is given as a guide only. This will not be a determining factor of suitability and applicants of other levels of PQE may apply).Prior experience of building effective working relationships with senior commercial stakeholders in a business.A robust understanding of intellectual property / copyright law and demonstrable experience of advising clients on, and finding pragmatic solutions to, complex copyright and licensing issues, ideally within a content industry.A professional qualification in IP would be helpful but not essential.Demonstrable experience of managing and resolving legal disputes to an effective solution.Prior experience of instructing external counsel and managing external legal costs is desirable but not essential.Prior inhouse experience and / or experience of the publishing industry is desirable but not essential.What makes you stand out
Strongly commercial thinker able to find pragmatic and workable solutions.Evidence of ability to exercise commercial judgment and balance business needs with legal risk in a commercial, constructive and business-sympathetic way.Excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to work cooperatively and build strong relationships with others, including within the legal team and with internal senior business stakeholders.Ability to take ownership and work independently, and to take a lead and own issues and projects within the role’s remit.An enthusiastic and proactive approach to work, with an ability to prioritise effectively.Excellent written and verbal communication skills including an ability to explain complex legal issues in a clear and simple manner to a non-legally trained audience.Additional Information
Location : The successful candidate will be able to utilise our balanced working model. We ask that candidates live within a commutable distance to ensure that as a balanced worker they can make it to our office locations to collaborate as required.
Closing Date : Applications will close on 10 / 3 / 2025
What we offer in return :
An excellent work / life balance with a fantastic, flexible working culture25 days annual leave per year plus a day off for your birthday3 additional discretionary days off during the holiday season at the end of the year4 paid volunteering days each yearCompany funded single cover private medical insuranceEmployee assistance programme – offering 24 / 7 well-being supportShare Match – Plan that matches every share purchased with two free sharesLife assurance, plus optical and medical careJ-18808-Ljbffr
