Job Title - Lead Specialist, Legal Counsel

Description - Support Pearson's enterprise sales organisation through complex customer contracting, strategic partnerships, and commercial legal guidance; this role is also known in the market as Commercial Counsel, Corporate Counsel, Enterprise Sales Counsel, Commercial Contracts Counsel, Senior Commercial Counsel, or Legal Counsel, Enterprise Sales.

About the Role

Pearson is seeking an experienced Lead Specialist, Legal Counsel to join our legal team and support the Enterprise Sales organisation.

This role will serve as a practical, business-minded legal partner, helping to accelerate revenue while managing legal, commercial, intellectual property, AI, data privacy and operational risk. Working closely with Sales, Finance, Product, Security, Privacy, Operations and other cross-functional stakeholders, you will support complex enterprise transactions from initial opportunity through to contract execution and ongoing commercial support.

You will play a key role in enabling business growth while ensuring commercial agreements remain scalable, compliant and aligned with Pearson's broader strategic objectives.

What You'll Be Doing

Commercial Contracting & Negotiations

• Draft, review, revise and negotiate a broad range of commercial agreements, including:

  • Master Services Agreements (MSAs)

  • Subscription Agreements

  • Order Forms

  • Amendments and Renewals

  • Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs)

  • Professional Services Agreements

  • Reseller and Channel Agreements

  • Strategic Partnership Arrangements

• Support customer negotiations through direct participation in calls and commercial discussions.

• Develop negotiation positions and help resolve escalated legal or commercial issues.

• Advise on contract risk while balancing commercial objectives.

Legal Advisory

• Advise stakeholders on:

  • Intellectual Property

  • Warranties

  • Indemnities

  • Limitations of Liability

  • Service Commitments

  • Payment Terms

  • Termination Rights

  • Assignment Provisions

  • Data Privacy

  • AI-related contractual considerations

  • Regulatory and compliance obligations

• Translate complex legal concepts into clear, practical, business-focused guidance.

Process Improvement & Legal Operations

• Develop and maintain contract templates, playbooks, clause libraries and approval matrices.

• Improve contracting workflows and processes to increase scalability and efficiency.

• Support legal operations initiatives, including automation, intake processes, reporting and knowledge management.

• Monitor emerging legal and regulatory developments affecting enterprise sales, SaaS, AI and commercial contracting.

What We're Looking For

Essential

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school and active membership in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar, or equivalent legal qualification.

• Significant experience drafting and negotiating:

  • Commercial Technology Agreements

  • SaaS Agreements

  • Subscription Agreements

  • Licensing Agreements

  • Enterprise Customer Contracts

• Strong understanding of:

  • Enterprise Sales Cycles

  • Procurement Processes

  • Commercial Contracting

  • Complex B2B Negotiations

• Demonstrated ability to balance legal risk with commercial objectives.

• Strong commercial judgement and practical problem-solving capability.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to explain legal concepts effectively to non-legal stakeholders.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities within a fast-paced environment.

• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.

Preferred

• Previous in-house legal experience supporting:

  • Enterprise Sales

  • Technology Businesses

  • SaaS Organisations

  • Digital Learning Platforms

  • Commercial Contracting Functions

• Experience building or improving:

  • Contract Playbooks

  • Templates

  • Legal Workflows

  • Automation Processes

• Experience negotiating with large enterprise customers, strategic partners or public sector organisations.

• Experience supporting global teams and cross-border commercial activity.

Success in This Role Looks Like

• Enterprise customer agreements are negotiated efficiently while protecting Pearson's legal and commercial interests.

• Sales teams receive practical, timely and commercially focused legal advice.

• Contract turnaround times improve through scalable processes, templates and workflows.

• Stakeholders understand legal risks and receive clear recommendations for decision-making.

• Legal operations become more efficient through automation, knowledge sharing and standardisation.

• Pearson maintains a strong balance between commercial growth and effective risk management.

Why Join Pearson?

At Pearson, our mission is simple: to help people realise the life they imagine through learning.

You'll join a collaborative global organisation where legal is viewed as a strategic business partner. This role offers the opportunity to work on high-value enterprise transactions, influence commercial outcomes, support strategic growth initiatives and partner with senior stakeholders across the organisation while helping shape the future of Pearson's enterprise business.

Skills

Commercial Contracting | Enterprise Sales | SaaS Agreements | Technology Contracts | Licensing Agreements | Legal Negotiation | Contract Management | Commercial Law | Corporate Counsel | Intellectual Property | Data Privacy | AI Governance | Risk Management | Strategic Partnerships | Legal Operations | Contract Automation | Stakeholder Management | Cross-Functional Collaboration | Enterprise Software Transactions | Legal Playbooks