Legal Counsel (3 Month Fixed Term Contract)

Kwalee is a video game development and publishing company seeking a talented and pragmatic Legal Counsel for a 3-month fixed-term contract in Leamington Spa, England. The role involves providing legal advice on commercial contracts, intellectual property, regulatory compliance, and supporting the company's operations. The ideal candidate will have experience in commercial contracts, IP, data privacy, and consumer protection, with an interest in the video games industry.

Must Have

• Manage commercial contracts (drafting, reviewing, negotiating development, licensing, marketing, vendor agreements).
• Support corporate and M&A activities.
• Provide strategic advice on protecting company IP (copyright, trademark).
• Oversee IP portfolio with external legal teams.
• Advise on IP-related risks (copyright infringement, fair use).
• Draft and file takedown notices for clone games.
• Stay current with and advise on global regulations affecting video games (UK, EU, US).
• Provide legal guidance on Online Safety Act compliance (user-to-user services, content moderation, child safety).
• Ensure compliance with global data protection laws (GDPR, CCPA) regarding player data.
• Address legal issues related to consumer protection (in-game purchases, virtual currencies, loot boxes).
• Ensure advertising and marketing campaigns adhere to legal standards.
• Offer broad legal advice on employment law, real estate, and disputes.
• Manage external legal counsel and improve legal operations.

Good to Have

• Previous in-house experience in games, tech, or entertainment company.
• Previous experience in private practice at a firm with a strong video games practice.
• Experience in publishing and digital content licensing.
• Commercially minded with a willingness to find solutions.
• Experience with international commercial and regulatory issues.
• An interest in video games.

Perks & Benefits

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, earning an extra day for every year of service, up to 5 years.
• Flexible working with core hours and 'Work From Home' days.
• Private medical cover, life assurance, solid pension plan, and cover for dental and optical care.
• On-site gym.
• Unlimited free snacks and drinks.
• Steam codes for all game releases.
• Dog-friendly office.
• Leamington Spa office location with parking and electric charging stations.
• Exclusive Kwalee merch, fun seasonal events, and regular town halls.

Kwalee has been making the most fun games for the world’s players for over a decade. By joining our talented team, you’ll be part of a space where ideas flow freely, innovation flourishes, and team spirit stays strong.

We’ve found that when we’re all together, great things happen. With over 1 billion players already reached, your work will contribute to our shared mission of making the most fun games for the world's players.

We are seeking a talented and pragmatic Legal Counsel to join our in-house legal team. This is a dynamic, hands-on role where you will be a key business partner, providing legal advice on a wide range of issues that are core to Kwalee’s video game development and publishing operations. A key part of this role will be to oversee the operational side of the commercial contracts function, ensuring efficiency and consistency across the business.

The ideal candidate will have solid experience across commercial contracts, intellectual property, and experience of interpreting regulatory requirements and translating them into practical means of compliance. An understanding of the evolving regulatory landscape of the video games industry would be a significant advantage.

This is a temporary role based in our studio, where our daily in-office collaboration fuels creativity and innovation.

Responsibilities

• Commercial & Corporate Oversight: Manage the entire commercial contracts function, including drafting, reviewing, amending and negotiating a variety of agreements such as: development, licensing, marketing, and vendor contracts. You will also support corporate and M&A activities.
• Intellectual Property (IP) Strategy: Provide strategic advice on protecting company IP, specifically copyright and trademark, and oversee the IP portfolio by coordinating with external legal teams.
• IP Risk Management: Advise on potential IP-related risks such as copyright infringement and fair use, draft and file takedown notices for clone games and supervise paralegals / legal assistants on tasks like takedown notices for clone games and other administrative tasks.
• Global Regulatory Monitoring: Stay current with and advise on emerging global regulations affecting the video games industry, particularly in the UK, EU, and US.
• Online Safety Compliance: Provide legal guidance on compliance with laws like the UK Online Safety Act, focusing on user-to-user services, content moderation, and child safety.
• Data Privacy Compliance: Ensure the company complies with global data protection laws like GDPR and CCPA regarding player data.
• Consumer Protection: Address legal issues related to consumer protection, including in-game purchases, virtual currencies, and monetization models like loot boxes.
• Advertising & Marketing Compliance: Ensure all advertising and marketing campaigns adhere to legal standards and consumer protection laws.
• General Legal Counsel: Offer broad legal advice on various issues like employment law, real estate, and disputes, often with the support of external counsel.
• Legal Operations: Manage external legal counsel, overseeing their work and spending, and help improve legal operations by developing procedures and providing training to the business.

Required Skills

• A qualified lawyer with a minimum of 2-5 years of post-qualification experience (PQE) in a reputable law firm or an in-house legal team.
• Demonstrable experience in commercial contracts, intellectual property, and a working knowledge of data privacy and consumer protection laws.
• Strong drafting and negotiation skills with a keen eye for detail.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate complex legal concepts into clear, actionable business advice for non-legal teams.
• A genuine interest in the video games industry and a passion for technology and media.

Desirable Skills

• Previous in-house experience in a games, tech, or entertainment company, or previous experience in private practice at a firm with a strong video games practice.
• Experience in publishing and digital content licensing.
• Commercially minded with a willingness to find solutions.
• Experience with international commercial and regulatory issues.
• An interest in video games helps but is not essential!

Why Kwalee?

Generous Holiday: Start with 25 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays. You'll also earn an extra day for every year of service, up to 5 years!

Flexible Working: We offer core hours that allow you to work flexibly around your life, and a bank of 'Work From Home' days to use when you need them.

Health Cover: Private medical cover, life assurance, a solid pension plan, and cover for dental and optical care.

Recharge: Take advantage of our on-site gym and a supportive atmosphere that prioritises your wellbeing.

Free Food & Drink: Fuel your day with unlimited free snacks and drinks.

Gaming Goodies: Receive Steam codes for all our game releases!

Dog-Friendly Office: Bring your furry friend to our vibrant, fun office.

Office Location: Leamington Spa office location, with from parking and electric charging stations.

Merch & Events: Get exclusive Kwalee merch, enjoy fun seasonal events, and stay informed with regular town halls.

Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

At Kwalee, we take pride in being an equal opportunity employer, where we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential to driving creativity. We are committed to creating a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment where everyone can thrive.

Our culture is built on celebrating the diverse voices of our team members, fuelling innovation and strengthening our connection to our players. We are dedicated to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion across all areas of life, including age, disability, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.

We recognise the importance of self-development, career progression, and well-being in retaining our talented team. At Kwalee, we celebrate individuality and encourage everyone to bring their authentic selves to work.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.