Mark Richardson
Derby,United Kingdom
Summary
Accomplished legal and compliance expert with extensive experience in designing scalable Legal & GRC operating models for growing organisations. Demonstrates proficiency in NHS and public-sector procurement contracting, data protection, GDPR, and AI governance. Offers board-level advisory on regulatory, reputational, and commercial issues while excelling in enterprise risk management and crisis response. Skilled in high-performance team leadership, talent development, and legal operations modernisation. Possesses acute commercial awareness with a strong foundation in commercial and contract law. Worked extensively supporting with the development of digital-health compliance frameworks and enhancing organisational resilience through innovative legal and risk management strategies.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
2001
2001
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Head of Legal
Sciensus Pharma Services Limited
London/Burton-on-Trent
2020.01 - 2026.01
- Lead team of nine covering legal, regulatory, GRC disciplines.
- Advise Board, CEO and Exec on high-stakes commercial, regulatory and reputational decisions.
- Own NHS procurement and tender strategy, developing scalable contracting models and frameworks.
- Manage UK & EU legal affairs, including pharma regulatory compliance and international public-sector agreements (Italy, France, Norway).
- Implemented AI-powered CLM platform, standardising templates, workflows and contract governance. Migration of 4000+ legacy agreements, whilst rolling out self service platform for business users to access standard templates.
- Established enterprise risk registers, escalation pathways, and cross-functional GRC governance.
- Represent organisation at governance boards ensuring compliance with CQC, GDP, MHRA, GPhC, ICO and NHS standards.
- Lead corporate litigation, insured claims and external counsel panels; optimise legal budget and delivery. Successfully achieved
Global Risk & Legal Leadership
Molson Coors Brewing Company
Denver, Colorado
2014.01 - 2020.01
- Directed ERM programme, global risk registers and executive reporting across 3 continents.
- Chaired global crisis-management steering committee overseeing 35+ international sites.
- Led global insurance programmes, claims management and broker engagement.
- Negotiated complex, multi-jurisdictional procurement contracts including $1bn p.a. global packaging agreement.
- Developed European contract playbooks, templates and compliance frameworks.
- Quickly learned and applied new skills to daily tasks, improving efficiency and productivity.
Senior Legal Counsel
Office Depot International
Leicester
2008.01 - 2014.01
- Led EMEA multi-regional commercial contracts and public procurement tenders.
- Advised on IT, data protection, marketing compliance and supply-chain agreements.
- Managed litigation, property portfolio legal issues and external counsel relationships.
- Supported company secretary function on governance and compliance matters.
Legal Counsel
Derbyshire Home Loans Ltd
2006.01 - 2008.01
- Advised on commercial contracts, regulatory compliance and disputes.
- Supported mortgage product governance, documentation updates and project delivery.
Solicitor
Private Practice — Nelsons Solicitors & Putsman Solicitors
2001.01 - 2006.01
- Property litigation, commercial litigation and contentious probate.
- Advised portfolio clients on high-value disputes, possession, forfeiture and dilapidations.
Education
Qualified Solicitor
College of Law
Chester1999
LLB (Hons) 2:1 - Law
University of Huddersfield
A Levels - Classical Studies, History, English, General Studies
Loughborough Grammar School
Skills
- Designing scalable Legal & GRC operating models for growing organisations
- NHS & public-sector procurement contracting, frameworks & due-diligence
- Data protection, GDPR, DPIAs, privacy-by-design in clinical/tech environments
- AI governance, clinical-risk alignment & digital-health compliance
- Board-level advisory across regulatory, reputational & commercial issues
- Enterprise risk management, crisis response & organisational resilience
- High-performance team leadership, talent development & legal ops modernisation
- International law and multi-jurisdictional contract negotiation
- Financial reporting compliance and internal audit procedure experience
- Litigation and conflict management
- Regulatory compliance expertise and demonstrable history of developing supporting policy and training
- Legal technology and case management integration
Timeline
Head of Legal
Sciensus Pharma Services Limited
2020.01 - 2026.01
Global Risk & Legal Leadership
Molson Coors Brewing Company
2014.01 - 2020.01
Senior Legal Counsel
Office Depot International
2008.01 - 2014.01
Legal Counsel
Derbyshire Home Loans Ltd
2006.01 - 2008.01
Solicitor
Private Practice — Nelsons Solicitors & Putsman Solicitors
2001.01 - 2006.01
Qualified Solicitor
College of Law
LLB (Hons) 2:1 - Law
University of Huddersfield
A Levels - Classical Studies, History, English, General Studies
Loughborough Grammar School