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Foot Asylum PLC is a company based out of Rochdale, England, United Kingdom.

Sales

Support

Operations

Administrative

United Kingdom

England, United Kingdom

Greater London

London Area, United Kingdom

Greater Glasgow Area

Scotland, United Kingdom

Glasgow City

Huddersfield

Greater Leeds Area

Manchester Area, United Kingdom

Paisley

Swansea

Footasylum

Footasylum is a leading UK-based retailer specialising in streetwear and sportswear, committed to delivering innovative and trend-setting products to our customers, with a strong focus on digital transformation and data-driven decision-making.

We are one of the leading omni-channel retailers across the UK, but more than that we are a brilliant place to work. We value you and your development. We have loads of examples of people moving upwards, across to other departments and given training to excel their personal and professional skills. Our aim is to create a fun environment, where your success is paramount to ours and you are given the right tools, support and platform to achieve your goals.

We recognise and value the importance of diversity to help make sure we have lots of different perspectives when we are building services to customers and the wider business. Diversity for us is also, importantly, about building happy teams full of people that want to learn and want to be inspired by each other and our different experiences and backgrounds.

## The role
We are looking for a General Counsel to be the senior legal leader for Footasylum, responsible for overseeing all legal, governance, and compliance across the business. Operating as a trusted advisor to the Executive Team and Board, the role supports Footasylum's commercial objectives while managing legal risk across retail operations, e‑commerce, supply chain, brand protection, and international growth. This role blends strategic counsel with hands‑on leadership in a fast‑paced, consumer‑focused retail environment.

## Responsibilities
We are looking for someone who embodies the Footasylum values - Collaboration, Communication & Challenge.

- You will lead corporate governance for Footasylum, ensuring compliance with statutory, regulatory, and shareholder requirements
- Act as principal legal advisor to the CEO, Executive Leadership Team and Board
- Identify, manage and mitigate legal and regulatory risk across the business
- Providing pragmatic, commercial legal advice aligned to Footasylum's growth and brand strategy
- Supporting major strategic initiatives including store expansion, partnerships, acquisitions, and international development
- Embedding legal insight early into business planning and decision‑making
- Overseeing Board processes, including resolutions, policies, and reporting
- Maintaining effective risk management frameworks and legal controls
- Leading legal support for UK and international retail operations, including store leases, property matters, and landlord negotiation
- Advising on consumer law, pricing, promotions, returns, and customer complaints
- Drafting, negotiating and managing high‑value commercial contracts (suppliers, distributors, logistics, technology, sponsorships)
- Supporting e‑commerce operations, digital platforms, and omnichannel trading
- Protecting and managing Footasylum's intellectual property, including trademarks, branding, and licensing
- Advising marketing and brand teams on advertising standards, influencer partnerships, sponsorships, and promotions
- Managing brand risk and reputational issues
- Ensuring compliance with data protection (GDPR), competition law, modern slavery, ESG and sustainability obligations
- Overseeing regulatory relationships and responses where required
- Monitoring legislative and regulatory developments impacting the retail and consumer landscape
- Leading developing and mentoring the in‑house legal team, including personally overseeing an SQE candidate completing their QWE and certifying such steps with the SRA
- Managing external legal advisers, controlling quality, cost, and risk
- Delivering efficient, scalable legal processes appropriate for a high‑growth retail business

## Skills & Experience Required

- Qualified solicitor (England & Wales) with significant post‑qualification experience (8 years minimum)
- Strong background in retail, consumer, fashion, or FMCG environments (in‑house or top‑tier private practice)
- Proven experience advising senior leadership and Boards
- Commercial, pragmatic mindset with the ability to balance risk and opportunity
- Expertise in commercial contracts, retail law, consumer law, and corporate governance
- Strong leadership, influencing, and communication skills
- Comfortable operating in a fast‑moving, brand‑driven environment

## Work Arrangement
This is not a remote role and the expectation is that you will be able to attend Head Office in a hybrid way, in Greater Manchester.

Chief People Officer

Tina Walker

FOOTASYLUM

Head of HR at FOOTASYLUM

Sarah Tarry

Head of HR

Head of Organisational Talent & Development

Cathy Milner

HR Manager

Senior Human Resources Advisor

Fractional General counsel

Fractional General Counsel

Chief Legal Officer

General Counsel

Director of Compliance

Shoes

Early Team

Born in late 2005, and now trading with over 66 high street stores, Footasylum is one of today’s leading retailers. The Footasylum team have a passion for streetwear and footwear, and a shared ethos that the products we sell are about a lifestyle choice, and not just functionality. With this in mind, we aim to move beyond the traditional experience of the high street, to offer a more quirky and unique retail experience.

We have a unique DNA, developing and encouraging an environment of creativity, innovation and fun.

We are trend leaders, narrators and innovators. 

Creativity is our greatest rebellion.


**Description**
Footasylum is a leading UK-based retailer specialising in streetwear and sportswear, committed to delivering innovative and trend-setting products to our customers, with a strong focus on digital transformation and data-driven decision-making.
  
  
**The role**
We are looking for a General Counsel to be the senior legal leader for Footasylum, responsible for overseeing all legal, governance, and compliance across the business. Operating as a trusted advisor to the Executive Team and Board, the role supports Footasylum’s commercial objectives while managing legal risk across retail operations, e‑commerce, supply chain, brand protection, and international growth. This role blends strategic counsel with hands‑on leadership in a fast‑paced, consumer‑focused retail environment.
  
  
**Responsibilities**
We are looking for someone who embodies the Footasylum values - Collaboration, Communication & Challenge.
  
  

- You will lead corporate governance for Footasylum, ensuring compliance with statutory, regulatory, and shareholder requirements
- Act as principal legal advisor to the CEO, Executive Leadership Team and Board
- Identify, manage and mitigate legal and regulatory risk across the business

Along with;
  
  

- Providing pragmatic, commercial legal advice aligned to Footasylum’s growth and brand strategy
- Supporting major strategic initiatives including store expansion, partnerships, acquisitions, and international development
- Embedding legal insight early into business planning and decision‑making
- Overseeing Board processes, including resolutions, policies, and reporting
- Maintaining effective risk management frameworks and legal controls
- Leading legal support for UK and international retail operations, including store leases, property matters, and landlord negotiation
- Advising on consumer law, pricing, promotions, returns, and customer complaints
- Drafting, negotiating and managing high‑value commercial contracts (suppliers, distributors, logistics, technology, sponsorships)
- Supporting e‑commerce operations, digital platforms, and omnichannel trading
- Protecting and managing Footasylum’s intellectual property, including trademarks, branding, and licensing
- Advising marketing and brand teams on advertising standards, influencer partnerships, sponsorships, and promotions
- Managing brand risk and reputational issues
- Ensuring compliance with data protection (GDPR), competition law, modern slavery, ESG and sustainability obligations
- Overseeing regulatory relationships and responses where required
- Monitoring legislative and regulatory developments impacting the retail and consumer landscape
- Leading developing and mentoring the in‑house legal team, including personally overseeing an SQE candidate completing their QWE and certifying such steps with the SRA
- Managing external legal advisers, controlling quality, cost, and risk
- Delivering efficient, scalable legal processes appropriate for a high‑growth retail business

**Skills & Experience Required**

- Qualified solicitor (England & Wales) with significant post‑qualification experience (8 years minimum)
- Strong background in retail, consumer, fashion, or FMCG environments (in‑house or top‑tier private practice)
- Proven experience advising senior leadership and Boards
- Commercial, pragmatic mindset with the ability to balance risk and opportunity
- Expertise in commercial contracts, retail law, consumer law, and corporate governance
- Strong leadership, influencing, and communication skills
- Comfortable operating in a fast‑moving, brand‑driven environment

**Why Footasylum?**
We are one of the leading omni-channel retailers across the UK, but more than that we are a brilliant place to work. We value you and your development. We have loads of examples of people moving upwards, across to other departments and given training to excel their personal and professional skills. Our aim is to create a fun environment, where your success is paramount to ours and you are given the right tools, support and platform to achieve your goals.
  
  
**Diversity**
We recognise and value the importance of diversity to help make sure we have lots of different perspectives when we are building services to customers and the wider business. This is great news for our business. Diversity for us is also, importantly, about building happy teams full of people that want to learn and want to be inspired by each other and our different experiences and backgrounds.
  
  
**Recruitment Process**
We review applications on an individual basis, and if we feel you would be a good fit we’ll invite you for a call or Teams video for an informal chat about the role, and to see if we’re a good fit for you.
  
  
We value open and honest conversations and collaboration, giving you a chance to learn about what we are doing in an informal and friendly environment. We want to know about you and why you feel that this is the opportunity for you. Please note, this is not a remote role and our expectation is that you will be able to attend Head Office in a hybrid way, in Greater Manchester.

Rochdale

Footasylum is seeking a Fractional General Counsel to oversee legal, governance, and compliance. The role involves advising the Executive Team, managing legal risks, and supporting strategic initiatives. It requires a qualified solicitor with significant experience in retail or consumer environments.

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