You will architect and execute the legal foundations of a sovereign, multi-jurisdictional manufacturing company operating across defence, aerospace, energy and advanced manufacturing.

You will own the legal infrastructure that enables:

Government, defence and wider industrial contracting

A global franchisor-franchisee factory model

Equity and debt financing across jurisdictions

Export-controlled manufacturing

International expansion (UK, US, Germany, France and beyond)

You will work directly with the CEO and leadership team to design legal systems that scale to dozens, hundreds and eventually thousands of factories. We don't view legal a cost centre. The best businesses are beautiful in every facet of their being.

Lead all equity and debt legal work: venture/growth/pre-IPO financings, option schemes (EMI & US equivalents), shareholder agreements, board governance, venture debt, equipment financing and franchisee loan frameworks.

Design and maintain the global corporate structure across UK, US, Germany, France and future markets, including subsidiary setup, cross-border structuring and governance consistency. Structure and negotiate UK MOD, US DoD and allied government contracts, including procurement compliance and flow-down clauses.

Structure and negotiate complex customer contracts (MSAs, framework agreements, long-term supply agreements), with strong IP, liability and risk allocation architecture.

Draft, evolve and enforce scalable franchise agreements (master, conversion, greenfield), including royalties, territory rights, performance standards and exit/buyback mechanisms.

Own regulatory compliance, including US state-level requirements and cross-border enforceability alongside export control, ITAR/EAR and UK/EU export compliance frameworks, including dual-use governance and controlled-data handling systems.

Advise on national security and foreign investment regulations (including NSIA and equivalents) and manage engagement with regulators where required.

Own international employment legal frameworks, equity-linked compensation, consultancy transitions, visas and HR risk management.

Coordinate and manage external counsel globally while building internal legal systems that enable rapid but controlled scale.

Build a team to help accelerate all of the above.

Qualified solicitor (England & Wales) or US attorney (additional EU qualification advantageous).

Experience in venture-backed, regulated or defence-adjacent industries.

Comfortable operating across financing, franchise, export control and cross-border commercial law.

Strong commercial judgment with the ability to balance risk and velocity.