Future plc

Legal Counsel

Future plc$108K — $125K *
Legal & Accounting
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Authorization to provide in-house legal services in New York via NY Bar admission or Part 522 eligibility.
  • Proven experience as primary legal counsel in commercial matters.
  • Strong skills in drafting and negotiating various commercial agreements.
  • Experience advising sales and product teams throughout project lifecycles.
  • Ability to manage disputes and offer actionable legal recommendations.
  • Collaborative approach to explaining US legal requirements globally.
  • Knowledge in intellectual property, privacy, AI, and digital media.

Responsibilities

  • Provide practical, risk-based legal advice to support commercial decisions.
  • Communicate effectively and constructively address approaches when necessary.
  • Deliver strategic and hands-on legal solutions for diverse departmental needs.
  • Build strong working relationships across global locations and time zones.
  • Manage competing priorities while keeping stakeholders informed.
  • Enhance legal knowledge of Future's brands to operate as the primary US counsel.

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
  • 401k plan with company match.
  • Unlimited leave policy.
  • Performance-related bonuses sharing company profits.
  • Referral rewards for new employee hires.
  • Access to well-being support programs.
  • Option to purchase shares in the company through a Share Incentive Plan.
Full Job Description
Description

Reporting to the Head of Legal, you will be Future's primary lawyer in the US and part of a broader, primarily UK based Legal and Governance team supporting Future's businesses globally. You will have a broad remit encompassing transactional, advisory, contentious and corporate work across Future's digital, print, video, advertising, social, commerce and events activities, working independently with US stakeholders while collaborating closely with colleagues and specialist advisers across the Group. You will also support the General Counsel and Company Secretary on corporate transactions, entity management and governance matters affecting Future's US businesses and its UK-listed parent.

We are interested in the skills, judgement and experience needed to succeed in this role, however you acquired them. Your experience may have been gained in-house, in private practice, through secondments or in another relevant setting, and we welcome candidates with non-linear career paths.

What You'll Do

You will report into the Head of Legal
  • Provide practical, risk-based advice, distinguishing material risks from manageable issues to guide clear commercial choices.
  • Communicate clearly and directly, providing constructive feedback and addressing proposed approaches when necessary.
  • Combine strategic advice with hands-on delivery to build an efficient, user-friendly legal department across varied matters.
  • Build effective working relationships across different locations and time zones, acting as a team-oriented member of the global Legal team.
  • Organize competing demands effectively, keeping relevant stakeholders informed about priorities, progress, and emerging risks.
  • Proactively develop your knowledge of Future's brands and commercial models, operating autonomously as the primary lawyer advising the US business.


What You'll Bring
  • Authorization to provide in-house legal services in New York, either via NY Bar admission or Part 522 eligibility.
  • A professional background operating effectively as a primary legal counsel managing broad commercial matters.
  • Experience drafting and negotiating commercial agreements, including sales, licensing, technology, data, and strategic partnerships.
  • A background assisting sales and product teams to provide practical legal advice from concept through ongoing operation.
  • Experience managing disputes and instructing external advisors effectively while translating legal issues into clear, actionable recommendations.
  • A team-oriented approach to explaining US legal requirements globally and improving internal legal processes or playbooks.
  • Knowledge of intellectual property, privacy, AI, or digital platforms within a media, technology, or consumer-facing business.
  • Familiarity with digital advertising models, corporate transactions, governance, or routine US compliance matters.


What We Offer

  • Medical, dental, and vision coverage
  • 401k plus a company match
  • Uncapped leave
  • When we hit our targets, enjoy a share of our profits with a bonus
  • Refer a friend and get rewarded when they join Future
  • Well-being support with access to our Colleague Assistant Programs
  • Opportunity to purchase shares in Future with our Share Incentive Plan


The expected range for this role is $108,000 - $125,000. This is a hybrid role, working 2 days from the New York office.

Internal job family level Professional 3

#LI-Hybrid

About Future plc

Future plc is a British media company that specializes in publishing and digital media. The company was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Bath, England. Future plc publishes a wide range of magazines, including technology, gaming, music, and photography. The company also operates a number of websites and produces events and exhibitions. Future plc has a global reach, with offices in the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, and France. The company is committed to providing high-quality content to its readers and helping its customers to reach their target audiences.
Learn more about Future plc
Size
2,000 employees
Industry
Founded
2017

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