Lead Specialist, Legal Counsel

About the role

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

Responsibilities

• 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

Requirements

• 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