Senior Legal Counsel, Corporate and M&A

Company Description

We're Entain. Our vision is to be a leading player in the global betting and gaming sector to deliver entertaining experiences and our purpose is to deliver the most entertaining customer experience supported by market-leading player protection. We're home to a global family of more than 30 well-known brands, with a focus on sustainability and growth.



Job Description

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Senior Legal Counsel to join our Group Corporate Legal team. This role will deliver an important contribution to the business in providing legal advice and support on a broad range of corporate and strategic legal matters. The successful candidate will have a strong background in corporate law, exceptional analytical skills and will have the ability and desire to turn their hands to a diverse variety of projects. The candidate will be able to build strong relationships across a large group of internal stakeholders and manage complex projects in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

Key responsibilities include:

• Advise in relation to listed company matters, including in relation to assessing and monitoring compliance with the Listing Rules, DTRs and Market Abuse Regulation
• Provide legal support as required to Entain's Group Investor Relations and Group Tax, Treasury & Finance functions (including in relation to group re-organisations, restructurings, and intragroup financing arrangements)
• With support, provide legal oversight on group financing projects, including the raising of new, and the refinancing of existing, term loan and revolving credit facilities and, as required, other ECM/ DCM projects
• Manage the execution of M&A and other strategic corporate transactions, including acquisitions, disposals, and joint ventures (the majority of which will be international in nature)
• Support in relation to such other complex, high profile and “high stakes” legal matters as arise across the group from time to time
• Drive the design and implementation of best-in-class corporate governance initiatives which are appropriate for a listed business operating in a highly regulated sector
• Deliver presentations to senior stakeholders, including our Group General Counsel and Entain Investment Committee and prepare presentations for the Entain Group Executive Committee and PLC board of directors.
• Support initiatives to contribute to the learning and development of junior members of the wider Entain legal team

Qualifications

Essential:

• A UK-qualified lawyer with a transactional corporate background and around 5 years' post qualification experience at a City law firm or in a similar in-house environment
• Knowledge and experience of advising on general corporate matters, including negotiating, and executing M&A transactions
• A willingness to engage with and evaluate commercial proposals, working with team members to devise alternative approaches that add value/ reduce risk
• Able to communicate effectively with internal, cross-functional teams

Desirable

• In-house or secondment experience of managing external counsel and partnering with internal, cross-functional teams
• International transactional experience
• Public company advisory work, including familiarity with the Listing Rules, DTRs and Market Abuse Regulation
• Prior experience working for, or on behalf of, consumer-led, technology driven and/or regulated businesses

Key competencies / behaviours include:

• Strong commercial acumen and excellent legal analytical skills
• A desire to learn about the sector and Entain's business, including its regulatory, compliance, operational, competitive, fiscal & tax, strategic, public affairs & social responsibility backdrop
• Excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to forge and develop strong working relationships
• A desire to build a best-in-class in-house Corporate Legal function and a willingness to contribute to and, where appropriate, lead, initiatives which support the functioning/ development of the wider Entain Governance function
• Strong teamworking skills and an ability to uphold and drive Entain's success and champion Entain's core values

Additional Information

As a global employer, Entain is committed to providing a safe, fun and inclusive culture where our people feel like they truly belong.  We are a multicultural business that values, celebrates and respects individual differences, so whatever your sexuality, gender, gender identity, ability, age, race, religion, or belief, you will have a voice here, and the space to do your best work.  Our diverse internal networks provide the support for you to express your views and make a positive difference, all for the good of entertainment.

Candidates will be expected to work in the Farringdon office two days per week. 

At Entain, we do what's right. It's one of our core values and that's why we're taking the lead when it comes to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive future - for our people, and the wider global sports betting and gaming sector. However you identify, our ambition is to ensure our people across the globe feel valued, respected and their individuality celebrated.