Legal Counsel - Data Lawyer - Senior Manager - Permanent - London

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Legal Counsel - Data Lawyer - Senior Manager - Permanent - London

EY is a global network of professional services firms engaged in consulting, transaction, assurance and tax services with member firms in over 150 countries worldwide. The UK firm of Ernst & Young LLP has over 800 Partners and over 21,000 employees.

The UK Legal team is well established and highly regarded. Led by our General Counsel, Lisa Cameron, we comprise a team of over 40. The UK Legal team also forms part of a Global legal function.

The opportunity: a specialist role at the centre of how EY uses data

Data is one of EY's most valuable assets – in how we run our business, how we serve our clients, and in the data-driven services and products we build. We're creating a new Data Lawyer role within the Commercial Team, part of our General Counsel’s Office, to help shape how EY uses data responsibly and commercially – based at our London Bridge office.

Within our Commercial Team, which supports our entire UK business, you will be our go-to lawyer on the full lifecycle of data – from collection, governance, and protection through to using data (including client data) to build new products, insights, and service offerings. You'll advise colleagues working with global banks, technology providers, pharma, defence, and government bodies on some of the most complex and fast-moving legal questions in business today – spanning data protection and AI, data licensing, data sharing, data monetisation, and the commercial structuring of data-driven propositions. The breadth and pace of this work is hard to find anywhere else in-house. Alongside this specialism, you'll stay connected to, and will support as needed, the full range of commercial contract work handled by the wider Commercial Team, keeping your practice broad as well as deep.

We respond to business transformation and innovation, enjoying a varied and challenging workload, and support the new EY All in Strategy by showing curiosity, intelligence and energy to deliver prompt, pragmatic, adaptable and commercial legal advice to all levels within our business.

Your key responsibilities

As our Data Lawyer, you will advise at the cutting edge of how the firm uses data responsibly and commercially:

• Advise on data protection, AI, and the commercial use of data, including:
  • drafting and negotiating data, data protection and AI clauses in client and supplier contracts – from data processing and licensing terms to AI use, training and output provisions;

• advising on the use of data to develop new products and revenue streams, and on the data governance and ownership questions that come with it;
• supporting on AI-enabled products and features, and on data protection risk in international data transfers and data incidents;

• alongside this, continue to advise on, draft and negotiate the Commercial Team's broader contract portfolio, such as:
  • client and supplier contracts across the business, from Master Services Agreements, Global Framework Agreements and large complex commercial contracts (increasingly relating to data and AI) to managed services, outsourcing, subcontracting and collaboration arrangements;

• software, licensing and technology contracts (including SaaS and GenAI), and agreements with the public sector, on tenders and RFPs, and with our suppliers;
• Providing legal advice to the firm’s service lines and its other internal support functions such as real estate and facilities, procurement, finance, Talent, IT, knowledge and marketing and the opportunity to be the legal lead on firm-wide projects.

What we're looking for

• 8+ years' PQE, with a substantial proportion spent advising on data protection, AI, and/or the commercial use of data, and genuine enthusiasm for data as a strategic asset.
• Significant in-house experience, with strong academic and professional credentials and a solid foundation in UK data law.
• Demonstrated experience advising on data protection matters (UK GDPR, international transfers, data breach response), with experience of or genuine interest in AI legal advisory work, including GenAI.
• Commercially aware, with confidence making decisions and providing pragmatic advice where there is ambiguity, particularly in the fast-evolving data, AI, and regulatory landscape.
• Calm and decisive under pressure, with strong negotiation, stakeholder management, and communication skills, and a commitment to accountability, trust, and results.

Nice to have

• Additional data protection qualifications (for example CIPP/E or CIPM, or equivalent).
• Experience advising on data strategy, data commercialisation, or the development of data-driven products and services.

What working at EY offers
We offer a competitive remuneration package where you’ll be rewarded for your individual and team performance. Our comprehensive Total Rewards package includes support for flexible working and career development, and with MyReward you can select benefits that suit your needs, covering holidays, health and well-being, insurance, savings and a wide range of discounts, offers and promotions. Plus, we offer:

• Support, coaching and feedback from some of the most engaging colleagues around;
• Opportunities to develop new skills and progress your career;
• The freedom and flexibility to handle your role in a way that’s right for you.

EY is committed to being an inclusive employer and we are happy to consider flexible working arrangements. We strive to achieve the right balance for our people, enabling us to deliver excellent client service whilst allowing you to build your career without sacrificing your personal priorities. While our client-facing professionals can be required to travel regularly, and at times be based at client sites, our flexible working arrangements can help you to achieve a lifestyle balance.

About EY
As a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services, we’re using the finance products, expertise and systems we’ve developed to build a better working world. That starts with a culture that believes in giving you the training, opportunities and creative freedom to make things better. Whenever you join, however long you stay, the exceptional EY experience lasts a lifetime. And with a commitment to hiring and developing the most passionate people, we’ll make our ambition to be the best employer a reality.

If you can confidently demonstrate that you meet the criteria above, please contact us as soon as possible.

Join us in building a better working world.

EY | Building a better working world

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