Employment Legal Advisor

Location: dmg media Headquarters – London
Position: Permanent/ 3 days in the office

Job Introduction

We are looking for a part time Employment legal Advisor to provide high-level, commercially focused legal advice on all employment-related matters within a fast-paced media environment. This role involves managing complex talent and production workforce structures, ensuring compliance with evolving UK legislation, and mitigating risks associated with IR35, TUPE, and new 2026 workplace rights.

Main Responsibilities

Contingent Workforce & IR35 Management:

• Oversee the Status Determination Statement (SDS) process for the company’s extensive pool of freelancers, presenters, and production crew.

• Advise on off-payroll working rules and manage HMRC compliance for personal service companies (PSCs) and intermediaries.

Structural Change & TUPE:

• Lead on the employment aspects of media acquisitions, outsourcing, and insourcing, including handling complex TUPE transfers and information/consultation obligations.

• Navigate "two-tier" Code of Practice requirements for staff transferred from the public sector (effective October 2026).

Regulatory Compliance & 2026 Reforms:

• Advise on new day-one rights for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) and family leave (effective April 2026).

• Implement "all reasonable steps" protocols to comply with the expanded Duty to Prevent Sexual Harassment (effective October 2026).

• Manage compliance with new zero-hours and "low hours" worker protections, ensuring the right to a guaranteed hours contract where applicable.

Employee Relations & Litigation:

• Manage high-value Employment Tribunal claims, noting the extended 2026 limitation period of six months.

• Advise on senior executive exits and high-profile discrimination matters often unique to the media sector.

Policy & Contractual Frameworks:

• Draft and update employment contracts, including post-termination restrictions, and review non-compete clauses in light of 2026 reform consultations.

• Maintain the staff handbook to reflect changes in flexible working "by default" and new AI-related workplace policies.

Person Specification

• Legal Qualification: Qualified Solicitor in England and Wales with 10+ years PQE.

• Specialist Knowledge: Deep technical expertise in TUPE, IR35/off-payroll rules, and the Employment Rights Act 2025.

• Industry Experience: Prior experience in the media sector is highly desirable to understand specific employment and talent engagement models.

• Commercial Acumen: Ability to provide pragmatic advice that balances legal risk with the operational needs of high-pressure production schedules.

• EDI Focus: Strong understanding of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) regulatory expectations for 2026.

Package Description

Our benefits package increases the longer you’ve been with us. Here’s what to expect:

• 25 days’ holiday (increasing by 1 per year up to a total of 30)

• Pension plan and life cover

• Discounts on online shopping, dining cards and vouchers, and access to our Employee Assistance Programme

• Onsite gym, subsidised canteen and onsite nurse and GP clinics

Plus much more...

About dmg media

dmg media maintains an unwavering commitment to uncovering the stories that matter most. Its brands Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday, MailOnline, Mail+, Metro, The i Paper and New Scientist reach more than 9 million people daily in the UK.

Globally, dmg media’s brands reach 160 million unique browsers every month across its domains and apps.

Its global newsroom of journalists, formidable story-getting power, and breadth of content formats, delivers highly engaging, trusted content to loyal and new audiences, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Mail brand reaches three in five Brits every month and is officially the best-read, most recognised, most engaged newsbrand in the country. It is the largest news publisher on TikTok with over 21 million total followers and nearly 30 billion views in the past year.

www.dmgmedia.co.uk

Our Commitment

We are committed to increasing diversity and maintaining an inclusive workplace culture. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of their ethnicity, race, gender, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability.

We are Disability Confident Committed. Please let us know if you require any recruitment documentation in other formats or if you require reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process. Please be assured that any such information will be held separately to your recruitment application and will not be considered as part of the selection process.