Senior Legal Counsel

Who we are:

Ceres is leading the way in clean energy innovation pioneering advancements in electrolysis for green hydrogen production and fuel cells for future power solutions. With our dynamic licensing model weve built powerful partnerships with major multinational companies like Bosch Doosan Shell and Weichai and our solid oxide platform is transforming energy systems delivering highefficiency green hydrogen to decarbonise some of the most emissionsheavy industries including steelmaking and future fuels.

At Ceres we foster a workplace driven by passion and purpose. We support our team to think ambitiously collaborate creatively and confront complex challenges directly. Innovation is at the core of who we are and we strive to push the boundaries of whats possible with technology.

Purpose of the role:

The Senior Legal Counsel plays a pivotal role in the Legal function supporting and enabling the companys strategy. With a complex technology licensing model at the core of the business the role offers an interesting and varied workload and demands strategic commercially focussed and practical legal advice. This is a unique opportunity to work in a highly collaborative innovative and fastpaced function and business environment.

Key Accountabilities:

Provide commercial and corporate legal support across the company always through a commercially focussed lens and offering pragmatic riskbased advice.

Support business growth plans providing legal support in crossfunctional deal teams for significant transactions and projects.

Negotiate (and where appropriate lead negotiations) draft and review a wide range of commercial contracts including technology supply chain agreements joint ventures and R&D collaborations.

Negotiate (and where appropriate lead negotiations) draft and review complex IP licensing agreements (inbound and outbound) including licensing structures and royalty frameworks.

Ensure all contracts align with the companys strategic and commercial objectives.

Identify assess and mitigate legal risks across commercial and licensing activities.

Ensure compliance with applicable laws regulations and industry standards in the U.K. and internationally.

Partner with internal functions including commercial business development technology and finance to align legal advice with business strategies.

Provide training and guidance to business functions on legal topics including IP and contractual matters.

Contribute to the legal functions transformation journey and legal operations activities.

Develop and maintain the legal functions knowledge bank and toolkits

Actively monitor and report on relevant incoming legislation and case law.

Instruct and manage external counsel to ensure optimal service and value.

Develop and implement policies processes and protocols in line with company and function strategies.

Support relevant PLC Board requirements and initiatives.

Knowledge and skills required for the role:

U.K or European qualified solicitor or lawyer with strong postqualification experience (including commercial law and IP licensing) either inhouse (preferably in a tech or software business) or in private practice

Proven record of leading or significantly contributing to the successful completion of numerous transactions/projects/matters including complex IP licensing agreements

Strong technical legal skills combined with commercial acumen and the ability to take a strategic pragmatic view to deliver businessfocused solutions

Excellent interpersonal communication and stakeholder management skills with the ability to provide concise advice on complex matters and effectively influence at all levels of the company

A proactive collaborative mindset and the ability to thrive in a fastpaced innovative environment working collaboratively within a group of experienced and motivated lawyers

Ability to successfully prioritize tasks and work under pressure

Pragmatic good judgment proactive curious excellent attention to detail openminded and low ego

Excited by technology and innovation and comfortable in an IPrich environment with colleagues who are leaders and experts in their fields

Desirable but not essential:

oExperience within a listed company or a highgrowth technologydriven business

oFamiliarity with renewable energy clean technology or environmental sustainability sectors

oKnowledge of competition law and its impact on IP licensing