Born in 1971, the roots of Mulberry are in Somerset, England. For more than fifty years, Mulberry has been a British lifestyle brand, internationally acclaimed for quality and design capturing the Mulberry Spirit.
Sustainability has been part of the Mulberry ethos since the brand's inception, in recognition of our purpose-driven approach, in 2024 we proudly achieved B Corp Certification.
Today, we are a global brand, but our values remain the same; we are committed to improving our impact on people and the planet. To do this our people are honest, dynamic, and community spirited.
If these are values you share, we would love you to join our team.
Scope of the Role:
Reporting to the CFO, the Director of Legal, Compliance and Co-Sec will be responsible for leading our global legal and corporate governance matters. This is a complex and critical role upholding exemplary legal advice and processes across our global operations. A key requirement will be ensuring the legal function is business enabling, building robust stakeholder relationships and acting as a trusted advisor. The Company Secretary element of the role is supported by an Assistant Co Sec and vital for compliant and clear operation of the Board.
They will also be responsible for all aspects of Health & Safety with a dedicated Health & Safety Manager.
A deep understanding of business risks in the macro climate as well as specific legal and contract risks will be necessary, as the department looks to develop an enterprise risk approach.
Duties & Responsibilities:
Legal:
- Serve as the principal legal advisor to the business on all legal matters.
- Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements, including supplier, distribution, franchising, IP, marketing, e-commerce & SAAS contracts.
- Advise on international regulatory frameworks including consumer protection, employment, and trade compliance.
- Lead the resolution of performance or other contractual issues arising from ongoing supplier arrangements including resolving contentious matters
- Oversee dispute resolution, litigation, and manage external counsel relationships globally.
- Maintain a database of contracts and summary of terms, and look to develop a central hub of contracts, lease agreements and other key documentation for the business
- Undertake research, horizon scanning and identification of issues which may impact the business, ensuring projects align with regulatory requirements
- Identify key legal risks, advising on their implications for the Group and supporting the business by providing clear, pragmatic, solution-focused advice
- Lead the development of an Enterprise Risk Framework for the business.
Compliance:
- Develop, implement, and oversee the global compliance framework, ensuring adherence to legal, regulatory, and ethical standards.
- Manage policies and training on anti-bribery & corruption, anti-money laundering, data protection (GDPR), ESG regulations, and whistleblowing.
- Monitor changes in laws and regulations across jurisdictions to assess impact and ensure proactive compliance.
Co-Sec / Governance:
- Oversee the Company Secretary for the Board and its Committees, ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements.
- Ensure the organisation of Board and Committee meetings and preparation of agendas, minutes, resolutions, and maintain corporate records.
- Ensure timely filings and regulatory submissions across global jurisdictions.
- Oversee and support to advise Board members on governance matters, directors' duties, and corporate structure.
- Oversee the management of subsidiary governance and legal entity management globally.
Culture:
- Embrace and demonstrate the Mulberry values and behaviours: honesty, dynamism, and a community-oriented spirit.
- Support Mulberry to deliver an inclusive culture, through behaving in a way that is open-minded and respectful towards others, and understanding that your views, opinions, and experiences may not always be shared by your colleagues.
- Act as an ambassador for Mulberry and communicate positively about the brand.
Sustainability:
- As a certified B Corp, we are committed to using business as a force for good. You’ll be encouraged to incorporate environmentally and socially responsible practices into your work, supporting our Made to Last strategy across Climate, Circularity, and Community.
- Help foster a culture where diversity is celebrated and every individual feels valued, respected, and included. Champion equity, empathy, and understanding in all interactions - internally and externally.
Skills and Experience Required:
- UK Qualified Solicitor with significant in-house legal experience at Director of Legal, Legal Director or General Counsel level.
- Experience working in a UK listed business, with multiple entities.
- Corporate governance expertise.
- Excellent track record of managing legal risk and compliance.
- Strong influencing and stakeholder management skills, prior experience with Board level exposure.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build robust stakeholder and peer relationships to foster collaboration and team spirit.
- Excellent team leadership skills.
- Flexibility to work 3-4 days per week on-site in London with regular travel to our Somerset site.