Employment Counsel (12 Month FTC)

Hello! We're Teya.

Teya is a payment and software service provider, headquartered in London serving small, local businesses across Europe. Founded in 2019, we build easy to use, integrated tools that enable our members to accept payments and boost business performance.

At Teya we believe small, local businesses are the lifeblood of our communities.

We’re here because we don’t believe there’s a level playing field that gives small businesses with a fighting chance against the giants of the high street.

We’re here because we see banks and legacy service providers making things harder for them. We don’t think the best technology or the best service should be reserved for those with the biggest headquarters.

We’re here to fight for a future where small, local businesses can thrive, and to commit the same dedication they offer all of us.

Become a part of our story.

We’re looking for exceptional talent to join our mission. We offer a chance to create impact in a high-energy and connected culture, while benefiting from continuous learning opportunities, a supportive community which is proud to serve our mission, and comprehensive benefits.

Please note, this is a 12 month FTC

Your Mission

We are looking for an experienced Employment Counsel for a one-year maternity contract. The successful candidate will provide expert legal guidance on a wide range of employment law matters. This role involves advising on day-to-day workplace issues, employee relations, and compliance with employment legislation. The successful candidate will also offer strategic legal advice to business leaders on evolving employment trends, legal risks, and workforce management initiatives. This is a key advisory position requiring a strong understanding of labour laws and the ability to support business objectives through practical, solutions-focused counsel.

In this role, you will:

• Lead on day-to-day employment law matters, providing timely and pragmatic legal advice on issues such as dismissals, grievances, workplace investigations, recruitment, performance management, and other employee lifecycle matters.

• Manage employment disputes, including handling pre-litigation strategy, negotiating and advising on settlement agreements, and overseeing the defence of claims, including employment tribunal proceedings where applicable.

• Draft and review employment-related documentation, such as employment and consultancy agreements, HR policies, internal procedures, and training materials, ensuring they are legally sound and aligned with business needs.

• Advise on employment aspects of strategic business decisions, including employee transfers (TUPE), outsourcing arrangements, restructuring, and headcount reductions, working closely with HR and business leadership.

• Deliver training and legal updates to the People Team and wider business on employment law developments, policy changes, and best practices to enhance legal awareness and compliance.

• Manage external counsel relationships efficiently, ensuring advice is tailored, cost-effective, and aligned with internal expectations and budgets.

• Take a proactive role in process improvement, helping to identify and implement initiatives that enhance legal risk mitigation, promote compliance, and support overall operational efficiency.

• Provide support on legal matters outside the employment sphere, as required by evolving business needs, in coordination with the broader legal team.

Your Story

• UK-Qualified Solicitor with 4-6 years’ PQE

• You will be a qualified solicitor in England & Wales with a solid grounding in UK employment law, ideally gained through a combination of private practice and in-house experience. Your experience should demonstrate your ability to work independently and take ownership of complex legal matters while also collaborating effectively within a team setting.

• Experience Advising Fast-Paced, High-Growth Global Businesses
  You should have experience advising organisations undergoing rapid growth and change, where legal advice must be delivered at pace, with commercial awareness and sensitivity to evolving business priorities. Familiarity with cross-border employment issues and working within multinational structures will be advantageous.

• Proven Ability to Engage with Key Stakeholders
  Demonstrated experience in building trusted relationships with key stakeholders across HR, leadership, and other business functions. You must be confident in presenting legal advice in a clear, concise, and business-friendly manner, and comfortable influencing decision-making at all levels of the organisation.

• Ability to Manage a Varied and Dynamic Workload

• The role demands excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously. You’ll be expected to balance a broad range of tasks—from urgent employee relations queries to complex legal reviews—while maintaining a high standard of work and responsiveness.

• Adaptability to Support Broader Legal Areas as Needed
  While the role is focused on employment law, flexibility to provide ad hoc support on general commercial or corporate legal matters from time to time is essential. You should be a team player with a can-do attitude, ready to contribute to the wider goals of the legal function as required.

• Strong Skills in Drafting, Negotiation, Legal Analysis and Problem-Solving
  You must possess excellent legal drafting and negotiation skills, with the ability to distil complex legal issues into clear advice. A practical and proactive problem-solver, you will help identify risks early, recommend solutions, and enable the business to move forward with confidence.

The Perks

• Physical and mental health support through our partnership with GymPass giving free access to over 1,500 gyms in the UK, 1-1 therapy, meditation sessions, digital fitness and nutrition apps

• Cycle-to-Work Scheme

• Health and Life Insurance

• Pension Scheme

• 25 days of Annual Leave (+ Bank Holidays)

• Office snacks every day

• Friendly, comfortable and informal office environment in Central London

Teya is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, or background can thrive and do their best work. We believe that a diverse team leads to better ideas, stronger outcomes, and a more supportive workplace for all.

If you require any reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process whether for interviews, assessments, or other parts of the application—we encourage you to let us know. We are committed to ensuring that every candidate has a fair and accessible experience with us.