Date: 16 Jul 2026
Location:
Oxford, GB, OX4 4DQ
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Company: Nominet
Contract Type: Permanent
Location: Hybrid, with a minimum of 20% in the Oxford office per month
About Us:
We’re Nominet – a world-leading domain name registry operating at the heart of the UK internet. While we're best known for running .UK domains, our DNS expertise also underpins critical internet infrastructure that government services, including the NHS, rely on.
As a public benefit company, our work has a positive impact on society. We’ve donated millions to projects that use technology to improve people’s lives and have committed to delivering £60m worth of support over the next three years.
The Role:
This is a broad in-house Legal Counsel role within a small. team. Most legal work is handled internally, with external law firms used for contentious matters and specialist advice where needed.
You will advise across a varied legal remit, including corporate governance, commercial contracts, disputes, regulatory change, data protection, internet infrastructure, and government framework contracts. The role is mainly focused on UK law, with some exposure to European regulation from time to time.
This role suits someone who can work independently, explain legal issues clearly, and help teams make practical decisions in a complex infrastructure environment.
What You'll Be Doing:
Advise on Companies Act 2006 compliance, corporate governance, directors’ duties, and constitutional matters.
Monitor and advise on regulatory developments affecting internet infrastructure, telecommunications, and digital services.
Support the implementation of new legislative requirements.
Support the management of disputes and claims, including settlement negotiations, use of external counsel where needed, domain suspension queries, and domain dispute resolution escalations.
Advise on Nominet’s terms of business and policies, including the Terms and Conditions of Domain Name Registration, UK Registry-Registrar Agreement, criminal practices policy, data release policy, DRS policy, and other published policies.
Draft, negotiate, and advise on commercial agreements, including technology services contracts, vendor arrangements, procurement agreements, and government framework contracts.
Support strategic business projects by providing clear legal advice and practical options.
Advise on legal matters including NIS, the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, UK GDPR, Data Protection Act 2018, international data transfers, DPIAs, controller-processor arrangements, intellectual property, and other legal issues as they arise.
Support legal process improvement projects, legal training, and guidance for business teams.
Help build legal awareness and practical risk management across the organisation.
Provide clear, reliable legal support across Nominet’s business.
About You:
Qualified solicitor with proven post-qualification experience.
Experience with government contracts or government framework agreements.
Experience supporting disputes in the County Court.
Able to explain complex legal concepts clearly to non-legal stakeholders.
Able to work with business teams to explain legal risk, recommend practical options, and support accountable decisions.
Able to work independently, prioritise competing legal demands, and keep work moving through time-sensitive work.
Able to build effective working relationships across teams.
Experience working in-house, ideally in technology, telecommunications, infrastructure, or a related sector.
Strong attention to detail.
Commercially aware and practical in your advice.
Willing to use legal sector AI tools where they improve quality, efficiency, or consistency
What to expect next:
1st stage: Introduction call with a member of the TA team (30-45 mins)
2nd stage: Hiring manager interview (30 mins)
3rd stage: Onsite assessment & interview (120 mins)
Working at Nominet:Our Values:
We Make Things Happen
We Pull Together
We Bring A Positive Mindset
We Keep It Simple
Our people make things happen, but our values are our compass as a company, guiding our day-to-day work and building our culture. They reflect that we're strongest when we're proactive and pull together, while underlining the importance of a "glass half full" mindset and aiming to keep things simple for success.
What We Offer:
Early Finish Friday – 34-hour working week with full-time pay (finish at midday on Friday)
30 days annual leave plus bank holidays, with the option to buy an additional 5 days
Bupa private healthcare + Employee Assistance Programme
Pension scheme matched to 7%
Electric vehicle scheme with on-site charging points
Rewards platform with discounts at hundreds of retailers and restaurants
Medicash discounts on routine healthcare including optical and dental
Company and individual performance-based annual bonus
Diversity Statement:
We're passionate about creating a workplace where every individual is valued, respected, and empowered. Somewhere we can benefit from all forms of diversity and discover the true value in our differences. If there are any adjustments we could make to the recruitment and selection process to support you, please let us know.
Security Statement:
Nominet is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of the internet and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment by participating in the relevant security and screening processes. All roles working for Nominet will be subject to a Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) check. Some roles, due to the nature of their work, will require additional security clearance.
Please note Nominet is unable to provide visa sponsorship or relocation support for this position.
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