Legal Director, Hethel, Norfolk

Lotus Cars Ltd, headquartered in Hethel, is seeking an accomplished Legal Director to lead our legal function in the fast-paced and dynamic automotive industry. This pivotal role offers the opportunity to oversee and mentor a team of 4-6 legal professionals, ensuring the delivery of high-quality legal support across the organization.

As the Legal Director, you will report directly to the CEO and MD/VP, providing expert legal advice to the executive team, senior management, and business units. You will play a critical role in shaping the company’s legal landscape, ensuring compliance with all relevant laws and regulations, and mitigating legal risks. With your leadership, you will help define the long-term legal strategy to support business objectives.

This executive position requires a leader who has substantial experience in legal risk management, strategic issue resolution, and the development of legal professionals. Previous experience as part of a core executive team is highly desirable.

What you'll do:

Leadership & Strategy:

• Develop and implement legal strategies aligned with the company’s objectives, with meticulous attention to detail.
• Lead, mentor, and manage the in-house legal team to foster growth and ensure exceptional service delivery.
• Collaborate globally to ensure consistent legal practices and strategies.

Legal Advisory & Compliance:

• Provide expert legal counsel to executives and senior management, helping them understand the legal risks and implications of their decisions.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, particularly in areas of corporate governance and industry standards.

Risk Management & Disputes:

• Proactively identify and mitigate legal risks.
• Oversee litigation management and engage with external counsel when needed to resolve complex legal disputes.
• Contracts & Negotiations
• Manage and advise on high-value contract negotiations and related legal matters.
• Intellectual Property Protection
• Safeguard the company’s intellectual property, including trademarks, patents, and copyrights.
• Mergers & Acquisitions.
• Lead due diligence and provide legal support for mergers, acquisitions, and other strategic initiatives.

Desirable:

• Being able to speak Mandarin is preferred for this position
• Although this role is hybrid, we would prefer an onsite presence at Hethel at least 3 days a week if possible   

What we offer:

• We provide a Company car to make your commute smoother than a freshly waxed sports car. 
• 25 Vacation Days + Bank Holidays: Recharge, explore, or binge-watch your favorite series with plenty of time to relax and enjoy life outside of work.
• Performance Bonus: Get rewarded for your hard work with an exciting, non-contractual bonus scheme—because great effort deserves great perks.
• Future-Proof Pension: Plan for your tomorrow while thriving today with a solid pension scheme to keep your future bright.
• Private Healthcare: Stay healthy and stress-free with premium healthcare coverage tailored to keep you at your best.
• We work hybrid, meaning you will be in the office when necessary and you can work from home when you're needed there.

Additional Information:

• This role will be working from our Hethel plant within our flexible working policy

Our Company:

Group Lotus is a leading sports car manufacturer with a 75-year long history of iconic designs, groundbreaking engineering and legendary victories on the F1 track. Today we are transforming into a truly global performance car brand focused on the electrical future. In 2022 we launched the Eletre, the world’s first all-electric hyper-SUV, and in 2023 our fully-electric Hyper-GT, Emeya.  

As part of the Lotus team, you push boundaries. Those of the car industry and of your own. Every member of the Lotus family has some of the pioneering mindset of founder Colin Chapman in them. 

Hethel, Norfolk, England has been the home of Lotus for over 60 years, ever since Colin Chapman, our founder, started making championship-winning racing cars. In conjunction with production facilities in Norwich, and research facilities near Warwick, our UK sites offer a wide breadth of roles for all disciplines.

We're not just a car company; we're a diverse mix of talent from all walks of life. At Group Lotus, we firmly believe that diversity and inclusion are not just buzzwords but essential pillars of a thriving and successful organisation. Read more here: Equity, Diversity & Inclusion in Lotus Cars.

Do you want to know what Sophisticated, Rebellious and Pioneering mean for Lotus Cars Limited? Come and take a look at our career site and join the incredible adventure: https://lotusukmanufacturing.teamtailor.com/