Hybrid Senior Legal Associate – 12-Month Fixed Term Contract

at Jones Knowles Ritchie

• Job title: Senior Legal Associate – 12-Month Fixed Term Contract
• Job type: Full Time
• Experience level: Senior
• Salary: Not specified
• Degree requirement: Professional Certificate
• Location requirements: Hybrid, London, United Kingdom

About the role

• Senior Legal Associate handling legal responsibilities across commercial, IP, and data protection for global branding agency JKR. Working in a creative environment with diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead, with oversight from the GCLO, on the review, mark-up and negotiation of Client Master Services Agreements (MSAs) on both client and JKR paper.
• Advise stakeholders on contractual risk areas.
• Coordinate approvals for any deviations from JKR’s contractual guardrails.
• Oversee and manage contract renewals with relevant business leads.
• Review and negotiate corporate and project-specific NDAs.
• Provide clear, solution-focused advice on copyright, ownership and infringement risks across creative outputs.
• Advise on the intersection between AI-generated content and IP risk.
• Support initial trademark reviews and related advice.
• Collaborate with Creative Services teams on licensing queries, copyright issues and template updates.
• Maintain and update licensing and copyright assignment templates.
• Play an active role in supporting the rollout and maintenance of JKR’s AI initiative, advising on legal and strategic considerations of AI tools, platforms and processes.
• Participate in the AI Taskforce and execute assigned actions and deliverables.
• Review and update internal and external AI policies and draft new documentation where required.
• Review AI platform terms and conditions in collaboration with the global IT team and present risk analyses and mitigation strategies.
• Advise creative and account teams on client AI policies, procurement of AI stock imagery and internal AI-generated content development.
• Prepare playbook updates and concise summaries of client AI requirements for account teams.
• Review and mark up Data Processing Agreements and related data protection clauses.
• Complete and file internal DPIAs where required.
• Advise on data protection risks relating to internal projects.
• Support the execution of JKR’s annual data protection review process.
• Coordinate with external counsel on employment and commercial disputes.
• Review external advice and draft documents.
• Liaise with insurers to confirm coverage and ensure ongoing alignment.
• Create and update contract templates and internal documentation in response to regulatory or process changes.
• Draft and amend internal and external policy documents.
• Develop engaging contract summaries and deliver training sessions to account and creative teams.
• Respond to ad hoc legal queries across both UK and US studios.
• Alert the GCLO where there is a risk of legal or regulatory breach.
• Provide independent and impartial advice, free from personal or external conflicts of interest.
• Maintain confidentiality of JKR’s affairs unless disclosure is required or permitted by law.
• Develop a strong understanding of JKR’s business to ensure legal advice is aligned with organisational strategy and values.

Requirements

• UK qualified Solicitor approximately 5–8 years’ PQE, with strong experience in commercial contracts and IP advice legal support.
• Experience within a consultancy, agency or creative business environment highly desirable.
• Strong working knowledge of UK commercial contracting, intellectual property compliance and data privacy. Experience advising on AI-related risk or emerging technology advantageous.
• Confident managing litigation processes with oversight of external counsel.
• Commercially astute, pragmatic and comfortable operating within areas of legal nuance.
• Excellent communication skills, able to translate complex legal concepts into clear, business-oriented advice.
• Calm under pressure, highly organised and able to prioritise effectively across multiple concurrent matters.
• Comfortable knowing when to escalate to the GCLO and when to provide confident, independent guidance.
• Personable and collaborative; with the ability to build strong working relationships across senior executives, creative teams and corporate functions.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Lively Shoreditch studio location
• Hybrid working policy, minimum 2 days pw in the studio
• Bupa Healthcare, including dental option
• Income protection & life insurance
• Classpass credits
• Group personal pension
• 25 days holiday + time given at Christmas and new year
• Summer Fridays x 2
• Birthday day off
• After probation:
• Season ticket loan
• Cycle to work scheme
• Enhanced parental leave policies
• Referral scheme for new hires
• 2 weeks work from anywhere, by agreement with line manager