Who We Are:
Since 1906, New Balance has empowered people through sport and craftsmanship to create positive change in communities around the world. We innovate fearlessly, guided by our core values and driven by the belief that conventions were meant to be challenged. We foster a culture in which every associate feels welcomed and respected, where leaders and creatives are inspired to shape the world of tomorrow by taking bold action today.
JOB MISSION:
The Legal Counsel will be responsible for supporting the New Balance EMEA Team with day to day legal support to New Balance’s European business. We are looking for an individual who demonstrates technical skill, commercial acumen and a passion for the brand. Reporting into the Senior Legal Counsel and working alongside global legal specialists (US based), you will be a key part of the EMEA Team, offering support across a wide range of legal areas.
The core focus of this role will focus on regulatory/compliance matters, commercial and oversight of managing our retail property portfolio. You will have key responsibility over discrete legal matters relating to New Balance’s European wholesale and direct-to-consumer business, with areas of responsibility for legal work across the region.
This is a 12-month FTC , based in our EMEA Head Office in Warrington. We offer hybrid working and a flexibility to working hours to accommodate for a healthy work life balance. Ideal candidates should be able to start around February 2027.
MAJOR ACCOUNTABILITIES:
Provide legal advice on New Balance’s compliance with applicable worldwide legal developments in areas including sustainability (comprising climate action and circularity), corporate responsibility, trade & customs, digitization, product safety and competition law and any other matters relevant to the Sporting Goods Industry.
Attend certain cross industry groups (FESI, WFSGI) and seminars delivered by external counsel/industry specialists to ascertain best practice on key regulatory and compliance matters.
Provide training where necessary (using insight gained from the above) to disseminate information to the EMEA and US business teams, most particularly the Design, Marketing, IT, Sourcing, Operations and Logistics teams, on the key regulatory and compliance matters set out above.
Work collaboratively with the Global Compliance team, coordinating the relevant EMEA and US teams to ensure successful and timely implementation of the compliance related projects within the EMEA region.
Draft and provide legal/commercial assistance in relation to a broad range of commercial and operational agreements and dealing with the administration related to the New Balance contractual portfolio.
Support the Senior Legal Counsel in the provision of day to day legal support across the European based business functions including but not limited to: Retail; Ecommerce; IT; Operations; Finance/Corporate; Marketing; HR; and Customer Services.
Support the Senior Legal Counsel in advising the European Senior Leadership Team (SLT), providing legal insight and expertise across a broad range of other ad hoc matters.
Manage, with the assistance of external legal counsel from across Europe, the portfolio of New Balance property documentation including the negotiation of new leases and extensions to leases for New Balance retail property.
Liaise with external counsel on specific matters, where necessary.
REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCCESS:
Solicitor or barrister with several years post qualification experience within industry.
Knowledge of the worldwide regulatory and compliance developments affecting the European retail and/or sporting goods industry.
Good knowledge of commercial law, ideally in a retail environment, with ability to draft contracts with minimal supervision.
Experience of advising on a broad range of legal issues to either clients or in an in-house environment.
Able to manage a varied workload across multiple areas of law.
Able to work independently and in a…