Counsel, EMEA
Added 11 Sept · still live
Possible
Sponsorship likelihood
This employer issued few or no visas recently
Not disclosed
Salary
Not disclosed by employer
£41,700
Going rate
Skilled Worker going rate
This role likely qualifies for a Skilled Worker visa
SOC 2419 (85% match) is an eligible occupation, with a going rate of £41,700, and Emerald is a licensed sponsor. That is our reading of the rules. Whether they issue a Certificate of Sponsorship is still their call.
This could also be SOC 2412 (Solicitors and lawyers, Qualified solicitor doing commercial contract work could be coded as solicitor). We read the code off the advert, so it is our best guess, not the employer's.
Your salary route
New graduate or PhD holder? Pick one of the lower rates.
What each route needs for this job
| Occupation code | New entrant 70% of going rate | STEM PhD 80% of going rate | Relevant PhD 90% of going rate | Standard rate 100% of going rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2419 Legal professionals not elsewhere classified Most likely code | £33,400 | £33,400 | £37,500 | £41,700 |
2412 Solicitors and lawyers Also possible | £36,100 | £41,300 | £46,500 | £51,600 |
We use the lowest threshold across the plausible codes. Likelihood is Possible at most when the pay clears only a lower rate, or only under a less likely code. How the Home Office picks the code
About the role
Emerald is seeking a talented and proactive Legal Counsel – EMEA to serve as our primary in-house legal resource across the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region. Reporting directly to the Deputy General Counsel, you will manage end to-end commercial contract review, oversee regional intellectual property filings, and assist with regulatory compliance and investigations.
This role is 100% remote, based out of either the United Kingdom or Germany. You will partner closely with cross-functional commercial, operations, marketing, and IT teams to deliver practical, business-aligned legal advice across Emerald’s expanding EMEA footprint and integrated business operations (including Questex properties).
Key Responsibilities
Commercial Contracting & Business Support
This role is 100% remote, based out of either the United Kingdom or Germany. You will partner closely with cross-functional commercial, operations, marketing, and IT teams to deliver practical, business-aligned legal advice across Emerald’s expanding EMEA footprint and integrated business operations (including Questex properties).
Key Responsibilities
Commercial Contracting & Business Support
- Draft, review, negotiate, and manage a high volume of commercial agreements across EMEA, including venue contracts, vendor agreements, event sponsorship deals, digital media contracts, Master Services Agreements (MSAs), and
- Serve as the primary regional legal partner absorbing day-to-day EMEA commercial work and driving contracting efficiency.
- Standardize regional contract templates, playbook guidelines, and fallback terms to streamline commercial operations.
- Assist the Deputy General Counsel with monitoring, assessing, and maintaining compliance with applicable UK and EU regulatory frameworks, including GDPR/ePrivacy, cross-border data transfer mechanisms, consumer protection, and emerging digital technology regulations (e.g., EU AI Act, UK Online Safety Act, NIS2).
- Support internal compliance reviews, risk assessments, and responses to regulatory inquiries or investigations under the direction and supervision of the Deputy General Counsel.
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- Manage regional trademark and intellectual property matters, including supervising outside counsel for UK/EU trademark filings, maintenance, enforcement, and portfolio prosecution.
Education & Licensing
- Legal Qualification: Fully licensed solicitor/lawyer qualified to practice law in the United Kingdom (England & Wales) and/or Germany (Volljurist / 2. Staatsexamen or equivalent EU qualification). Dual qualification across UK and EU law is highly preferred.
- Must be legally authorized to work remotely on a full-time basis from either the United Kingdom or Germany.
- 3–6+ years of post-qualification legal experience (PQE) gained within an in-house corporate legal department or reputable law firm.
- Proven track record drafting and negotiating complex commercial contracts independently in a fast-paced environment.
- Solid working knowledge of UK GDPR, EU GDPR, cross-border transfer mechanisms, and general European regulatory compliance principles.
- Experience or familiarity with managing trademark portfolios and brand enforcement in the UK/EU.
- Excellent legal and commercial judgment with the ability to balance business objectives against legal exposure.
- Outstanding written and verbal communication in English (fluency in German is a plus).
- Competitive base salary and performance-based bonus structure.
- Comprehensive health, pension, and country-specific employee benefits.
- Flexible, fully remote work configuration (UK or Germany).
At Emerald, we strive to foster a diverse and inclusive community. We actively recruit and champion candidates who bring new perspectives from varied professional backgrounds and experiences, and we are intentional about ensuring a positive hiring experience for everyone. Our job postings don’t contain experience inflation, and most don’t require college degrees. Instead, they’re crafted to focus on outcomes and transferable experiences that are assessed in a structured interview process carried out by trained hiring teams.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
Target Compensation:
Please note that this range reflects a reasonable estimate of the target compensation for this position. This range may ultimately vary based on a candidate’s qualifications and may be higher where required by applicable law.
We offer a competitive benefits package designed to strengthen our employees’ physical and mental health, including unlimited vacation for exempt employees, flexible working locations, 401(k) plan with a company match, medical/dental/vision coverage with inclusive provisions including transgender services and fertility benefits, parental and caregiver leave, dependent, commuter and FSA benefits, professional development programs like Toastmasters, and mental wellness tools.
If you need accommodation in our application process or have questions about our posted salary range, please email our Talent Acquisition team at [email protected].
About Emerald
Emerald’s talented and experienced teams grow our customers’ businesses 365 days a year with products that create connections, deliver content, and drive commerce. We produce over 140 annual events, create and deliver content through print and digital channels, and power commerce through our seamlessly integrated in-person and digital platforms and channels. For more information, please visit http://www.emeraldx.com.
This description is the source posting as it read when we added it. We are not affiliated with Emerald, so check their own site for the current details.
Where this offer sits in the market
Legal professionals not elsewhere classified (SOC 2419) · UK · ONS ASHE 2025 · basic pay · ~79k in sampleSOC 2419
- Middle half £26,624–~41,496
- Median £34,060
- Going rate £41,700
- Threshold £41,700
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Browse more sponsored jobs at EmeraldAbout sponsorship for this role
Does this job guarantee visa sponsorship?
Not necessarily. Emerald holds a sponsor licence, but sponsorship for a specific hire is always the employer's decision. Be upfront in your application that you'll require it.
What salary is needed for this role to be eligible?
The offer must clear both the general threshold and the SOC 2419 going rate of £41,700. New-entrant and shortage discounts can lower it.