Job Overview

Job Title: Commercial Lawyer

Contract: Fixed Term - 12 month maternity cover. 

Salary: £70,000 - £75,000 (depending on experience)

Location: 90 Whitfield Street, London - Hybrid

Application Closing Date: Friday 5th September 2025

Job Overview

In this hybrid role, you will support colleagues from across the business by responding to contract related requests and answering legal queries. With the help of a supportive legal team, you will handle a wide range of legal matters including contract review and drafting, advising on intellectual property matters, AI licensing and responding to a variety of legal and commercial queries. You will be asked to draft a range of contracts for customers, suppliers and software providers, some based on templates, others requiring bespoke drafting. 

Responsibilities

• Provide a full range of legal services to BMJ and its subsidiary companies (based in India, the US and China).

• Draft and advise on all forms of legal matters and commercial contracts both in the UK and worldwide (particularly USA) including: publishing agreements, content licences, agency and distributor agreements, IP protection and infringement, GDPR, patient consent, modern slavery, AI, SaaS and software licences, event management contracts, joint venture and sponsorship agreements, subscription ts&cs, author licensing, website terms (accessibility), prize and competition terms, heads of terms, MOUs, NDAs, and customer facing disclaimers. Support the business on public procurement tenders and contracts.

• Provide ad hoc advice in response to one-off queries on a range of legal queries and provide support to the risk function of the business.

• Report to the Senior Lawyer but work with relative autonomy on day to day matters within a small supportive legal team.

Skills, Experience & Qualifications

• UK qualified solicitor with at least two years’ post qualification experience in commercial contracts, intellectual property, licensing, technology agreements including AI, data protection and general commercial work.

• Enthusiastic, personable and keen to work in a fast paced, broad and challenging in-house role.

• Be able to relay complex legal issues in a concise manner that can be readily understood by non-lawyers.

• Manage a high volume of complex work involving a diverse range of products and services.

• Suggest commercially practicable solutions to ensure BMJ goals are met, and risks contained.

• Deal with the complexities that arise with international contracts and in foreign jurisdictions - overcome legal and cultural obstacles to reach agreement.

• Ideally, have experience in house and/or in academic publishing.

Why work for us

Help us create a healthier world. We are a global healthcare knowledge provider. We publish The BMJ, one of the world’s most impactful medical journals and over 70 influential speciality journals. We offer digital tools to help health professionals worldwide tackle critical healthcare challenges. Find out more about us here.

Flexible Work and Workplace Perks

• We’re committed to flexible working that supports both your needs and the requirements of the role.

Generous benefits

• Generous double-matching employer pension contribution, up to 12%

• Discounted dental and travel insurance

• Seven x salary life assurance cover and a generous income protection package

• Discounted gym membership, cycle-to-work and season ticket loan

• Discounts for retail and leisure products through yourReward 

Work-life balance and wellbeing

• Twenty-five days holiday + bank holidays + a BMJ Day off.

• Additional holiday through long service; buy up to 5 additional days 

• Leave for moving house, volunteering or getting married

• Concierge service Seniorcare by Lottie

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

• Equity, Diversity and Inclusion are not buzzwords to us, but fundamental company priorities

• We believe that a diverse workforce brings unique strengths and insights, enabling us to better serve our customers and drive positive change in our industry. 

• If you are from an under-represented or historically marginalised community, we are particularly interested in hearing from you. 

• Join our employee-led networks focusing on Gender, Race and Cultural Diversity, Sexual Orientation, Mental Health and Well-being, Parents and Carers and Age.

• Disability Confident Committed employer

Learning & Development

• Personal development plan 

• Mentoring scheme

• Career Coaching

• Opportunities to pursue professional development

• Strengths-based development