Senior Legal Counsel

Senior Legal Counsel

We're Pret: proud makers of freshly made food, organic coffee, and big ideas. Across 750+ shops and 20+ countries, our teams are shaping the future of Pret through innovation, inclusion, great customer service and a shared passion for doing the right thing. We're growing fast on our mission to be the employer of choice in hospitality, everywhere we operate - so this is an exciting time to hop on board.

We Believe in Growing Good Things

Growth is at the heart of everything we do. From the freshly hand made food we create every day, to supporting our teams, we help our people grow in confidence, skills and to pursue their unique paths. Pret is where passionate, hardworking, wonderful people (like you!) find what they need to shine. And the proof is in the pudding - over 80% of our Managers started on the shop floor! So did 20% of our Support Centre teams, including our CEO, Pano.

What we're looking for

We're looking for passionate team players to bring joy to our customers every day. As Senior Legal Counsel you'll enjoy a high level of autonomy, working closely with the General Counsel on strategically important matters and serving as a pivotal advisor to all levels of management, including the Global Leadership Team. You'll be relied upon for your commercial acumen, driving legal strategy and confidently managing senior stakeholders across franchising, technology, digital, marketing, employment, governance and operations. You will be advising across borders, on matters such as real estate issues in the US, marketing materials for the Middle East, new franchise agreements Asia and supplier contracts across Europe. This is a rare opportunity to help shape Pret's future on a global scale - enabling us to achieve our strategic objectives while expertly managing legal risk, making your impact felt at every level of the organisation.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and deliver end-to-end legal support on complex, high impact projects and initiatives.
• Provide commercially focused legal advice to senior stakeholders across all functions.
• Advise on legal risk, governance and strategic options, offering clear, pragmatic and solutions focused guidance.
• Draft, review and negotiate commercial agreements, including technology, supplier goods and services and franchising contracts.
• Lead on franchise transactions and franchising arrangements, supporting both growth initiatives and ongoing franchise operations.
• Support corporate transactions and M&A activity.
• Oversee the management and protection of the company's intellectual property, including trademarks, working with external counsel on portfolio strategy, filings, renewals and enforcement.
• Manage litigation and disputes, including commercial, employment and customer matters; oversee external counsel, control cost and strategy, and support effective resolution.
• Lead policy development, review and implementation, ensuring consistency, clarity and alignment with legal and regulatory requirements.
• Proactively identify legal, regulatory and operational risks, proposing mitigation strategies and supporting the consistent application of standards across markets.
• Represent the legal view on cross functional initiatives and strategic projects, including direct engagement with the Global Leadership Team.

Experience and Skills required

• Qualified lawyer with 3 6 years PQE, ideally gained in house within a complex, fast moving commercial environment (retail, hospitality, consumer or franchising experience advantageous).
• Strong experience drafting and negotiating commercial and technology contracts.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly, influence stakeholders and drive effective outcomes.
• Strong issue spotting, risk assessment and problem solving skills, with sound commercial judgement.
• Comfortable working independently, managing competing priorities and delivering high quality advice under time pressure.
• Experience supporting technology, supplier or strategic business initiatives in a fast paced environment.
• Proven ability to work cross functionally within a large, complex or global organisation.
• Practical, solutions focused mindset with a strong understanding of business needs and operational realities.
• Be ready to handle admin tasks to assist the legal team's operations.

About you

• Be kind, honest and generous: bring genuine warmth and your authentic self to work every day.
• Bring your passion: share our passion for food and exceptional customer service.
• Spread joy every day: small acts of kindness are a big part of what makes the Pret experience special.

We offer

• £90,000 - £110,000 per annum depending on experience and 20% bonus potential.
• Gold Card: We love making people's day through our food and drinks. That goes for our teams too. That's why everyone gets a Gold Card. When you're in the office, your food and drinks are on us. And when you're not, you can use your Gold Card to get up to 5 Barista made drinks a day, and 50% off everything else (food, snacks, bottled drinks - the lot).

A few more perks

• You'll get 33 days of annual leave (including flexible Bank Holidays), increasing to 38 days the longer you're with us.
• Free private medical cover, with the option to add family or partner at an additional cost.
• 4% of your pension contribution matched by Pret, rising to 5% after 5 years.
• Life assurance at 3 annual salary.
• Loyalty award for 5, 10, 15, 20 years' service.
• Flexible Benefits Platform packed with lifestyle discounts.
• Season ticket loans.
• Healthcare cash plan.
• Financial wellbeing provisions.
• Free mortgage services.
• Sabbatical after 3 years.
• Opportunities to support our charity, The Pret Foundation.

We also offer

• Individual ways to grow: We offer lots of opportunities for learning, whether you join us for a short stint or the long game, you're good to grow with us. Including fully funded professional qualifications, leadership development and mentoring.
• Diversity and belonging: Everyone is welcome at Pret, we want you to feel confident and valued for who you are and to truly belong.
• Pace and variety: Our work is fast paced with lots of variety, you'll build a diverse skill set and learn a lot!
• Community and purpose: We're proud to make a difference through The Pret Foundation, from tackling homelessness to reducing food waste and creating positive change for people and communities.

Our values

• Happy Teams Happy Customers
• Amazing Standards Every day
• Never Standing Still
• Doing The Right Thing

The interview journey

Every interview process at Pret begins with the same two stages. First, you'll have a relaxed 30 minute conversation with our recruitment team so we can get to know you and your experience. Next, you'll be invited to a one hour, in person interview with the hiring manager at our Head Office in London Victoria.

Depending on the role and function, there may be additional stages. These could include time spent in one of our shops, completing a task, or meeting a senior leader.

Before you apply

For this role, we require the successful candidate to be able to start with us by the end of April 2026.

This role is based at Pret's Support Centre in London Victoria, where we work in a hybrid way - typically three days a week in the office.

We'd love to get to know you, not a robot, so please do not rely on AI to complete your application.

Deadline to apply for this role

17th March 2026