Entain is one of the world’s largest sports betting and gaming groups, operating both online and in the retail sector. With offices across five continents and licences in more than 20 countries, we operate some of the most well-known and iconic brands in the industry with more than 250 years of combined history – names such as Ladbrokes, partypoker, bwin and Coral.
Purpose of Role
M&A is intended to continue playing a key part in Entain’s plans for growth, with the business having completed ten M&A and other strategic transactions within the past 12 months.
The sports betting and gaming industry has seen much consolidation in recent years. Consequently, in addition to a focus on high value M&A in mature markets, Entain is also focused on identifying smaller M&A targets in frontier and emerging markets. The continued focus of tax and regulatory authorities on the sports betting and gaming industry has also seen the commercial and structural aspects of M&A transactions become more complex.
To address the increased and complex M&A needs of the business, Entain Legal added to its M&A capabilities in 2020, hiring a Group Legal Director – Corporate and M&A. The Corporate Legal team has recently expanded with the addition of two senior legal counsel positions focussed on supporting the business on M&A and other transactions of strategic importance. Entain Legal now wishes to add to this capability through hiring further resource.
What you'll be doing:
- Assisting with executing transactions across the capital structure, including acquisitions and disposals, joint ventures, and other strategic corporate transactions (the majority of which will be international and cross-border in nature).This will include:
- working with external counsel on all workstreams associated with transaction execution, and liaising with internal stakeholders from across group functions on the same (including the regulatory, finance, employment, tax, real estate and commercial teams);
- working closely with colleagues from across the business collaboratively and constructively to achieve commercial deal objectives;
- onegotiating and managing principal transaction documentation, in conjunction with senior team members where appropriate;
- leading legal due diligence and disclosure workstreams, and supporting with the evaluation of their findings and associated reporting matters (including to the board of Entain plc);
- supporting work required to satisfy conditions precedent to closing of transactions (including regulatory change in control and anti-trust conditions); and
- assisting in managing and refining the Legal & Compliance function’s post-deal integration efforts.
- Managing ancillary transaction and other corporate documentation, including NDAs and engagement letters (working with external counsel);
- Supporting the preparation of internal papers summarising proposed transactions (and key risks associated with the same) for review and approval by the board of Entain plc; and
- Supporting the business on other corporate initiatives as required (including group reorganisations, restructurings, intragroup financing arrangements and corporate governance matters).
Qualifications and Experience:
Essential:
- A UK-qualified lawyer with a transactional corporate background and 2-4 years' PQE at a City law firm or in a similar in-house environment;
- Strong academic record (minimum 2:1 class degree);
- Knowledge and experience of negotiating and executing Corporate/ M&A transactions, including experience in drafting all customary documentation;
- A willingness to engage with commercial proposals and discuss these with more senior team members to devise alternative approaches that add value/ reduce risk; and
- Able to effectively communicate with internal, cross-functional teams.
Desirable:
- In-house or secondment experience of managing external counsel and partnering with internal, cross-functional teams;
- Cross-border transactional experience; and
- Prior experience working for, or on behalf of, consumer-led, technology driven and/or regulated businesses.
Competencies / behaviours
- Strong commercial acumen and excellent legal analytical skills;
- A desire to learn about the sector and Entain's business, including its regulatory, compliance, operational, competitive, fiscal & tax, strategic, public affairs & social responsibility backdrop;
- Excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to forge and develop strong working relationships;
- A desire to build a "best in class" in-house Corporate Legal function; and
- Strong teamworking skills and an ability to uphold and drive Entain's success and the Legal function's core values.
