Principal Lawyer

Job Description

Your Impact

Join Leonardo at Yeovil as our Principal Lawyer – Play a Key Role in Powering the Future of Helicopter Innovation!

Are you a seasoned legal expert ready to soar to new heights? Step into a dynamic role where your expertise will directly support cutting-edge helicopter technology and global aerospace excellence. At Leonardo, your legal acumen will navigate complex challenges, enabling breakthrough innovations that keep us flying ahead.

Location – Yeovil, with occasional travel to other UK sites.

What you’ll do as a Principal Lawyer;

Reporting into the Chief Lawyer, and indirectly to VP Legal firstly and Leonardo UK’s General Counsel ultimately, you will provide legal support to designated lines of business, programmes or campaigns;

• Providing commercially focused and pragmatic legal advice and services to internal stakeholders;
• Reviewing and drafting a broad range of complex, international agreements with a diverse range of customers, partners and suppliers, including collaboration agreements, terms and conditions of sale and IP licences;
• Working collaboratively as a recognised legal expert integrated in a multi-disciplinary team, including liaising with and advising senior management;
• Actively contributing to direct contract negotiations, ensuring robust protection for the company while supporting business winning and retention;
• Supporting tender activities;
• Assessing, leading, and managing claims and dispute resolution processes;
• Providing support and guidance on the protection, exploitation and enforcement of the company's intellectual property rights;
• Monitoring and keeping up to date with legislative changes and relevant case law and being responsible for communicating bespoke and practical advice to colleagues both within the Legal team, and to colleagues within the business as applicable;
• Leading and assisting with wider business and ad-hoc legal activities as required; and
• Deputising for the Chief Lawyer within that division as required.
  
  

Key Responsibilities

• Leading the provision of legal support to designated lines of business, programmes or campaigns;
• Providing commercially focused legal support to the Helicopters Division at its UK site in Yeovil;
• Contributing to the function development and strategy.
  
  

What You Will Bring

• English Qualified Lawyer; we are looking for candidates with approximately 6+ years of post-qualification experience (PQE);
• Experience working within a Commercial Legal Team environment;
• Demonstrated ability to analyse complex legal and regulatory issues, assess risks, and provide practical solutions that align with business goals.
• In-house experience is beneficial
• Familiarity with Defence, Aviation, Manufacturing or Technology is advantageous
  
  

Due to the nature of the role you must be able to achieve full security clearance without caveats, therefore only UK nationals can be considered for this opportunity. For more information and guidance please visit https //www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels

Security Clearance

This role is subject to pre-employment screening in line with the UK Government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). An additional range of Personnel Security Controls referred to as National Security Vetting (NSV) may apply, this could include meeting the eligibility requirements for The Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV). For more information and guidance please visit https //careers.uk.leonardo.com/gb/en/security-and-vetting

Why join us

At Leonardo, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We offer a comprehensive, company-funded benefits package that supports your wellbeing, career development, and work–life balance. Whether you're looking to grow professionally, care for your health, or plan for the future, we’re here to help you thrive.

• Time to Recharge Enjoy generous leave with the opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexi-days each year.
• Secure your Future Benefit from our award-winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution.
• Your Wellbeing Matters Free access to mental health support, financial advice, and employee-led networks championing inclusion and diversity (Enable, Pride, Equalise, Armed Forces, Carers, Wellbeing and Ethnicity).
• Rewarding Performance All employees at management level and below are eligible for our bonus scheme.
• Never Stop Learning Free access to 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.
• Refer a friend Receive a financial reward through our referral programme.
• Tailored Perks Spend up to £500 annually on flexible benefits including private healthcare, dental, family cover, tech & lifestyle discounts, gym memberships and more.
• Flexible working Flexible hours with hybrid working options. For part time opportunities, please talk to us about what might be possible for this role.
  
  

For a full list of our company benefits please visit our website.

Leonardo is a global leader in Aerospace, Defence, and Security. Headquartered in Italy, we employ over 53,000 people worldwide including 8,500 across 9 sites in the UK. Our employees are not just part of a team—they are key contributors to shaping innovation, advancing technology, and enhancing global safety.

At Leonardo we are committed to building an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming workplace. We believe that a diverse workforce sparks creativity, drives innovation, and leads to better outcomes for our people and our customers. If you have any accessibility requirements to support you during the recruitment process, just let us know.

Be part of something bigger - apply now!

Primary Location

GB - Yeovil - Lysander Rd

Contract Type

Employee-Permanent

Hybrid Working

Hybrid