Legal Counsel (Property)

Legal Counsel (Property)

Location

London, GB

Department Name

OA Legal Eastern (118611) G4About Network Rail

Key Vacancy Information:

Job Title: Legal Counsel (Property)

Role Type: Full Time, Permanent

Location: London Stratford Place (please note, this role is also being advertised to be based at York or Derby)

Closing date: 24th October 2024

Salary: £55,596 to £69,496 per annum (plus Employee Healthcare & an Inner London Allowance of £3,270 per annum)

Annual Leave: 28 days + bank holidays

Hours: 35 per week

• Employees will be entitled to a 75% discount off leisure, this includes off peak and super off peak tickets*

About Network Rail:

Network Rail has played a key role in keeping the country moving during the coronavirus pandemic – and we will play an equally important part in rebuilding from it.

We get people where they need to be, whether they are commuting to work, visiting friends or family, or going for a night out.

We make millions of lives better every day and have a vital job in driving the economy and prosperity of the nation!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLZ7OYSoQVU

Over the coming years we will be building and improving crucial rail links between the country’s biggest cities, making our services faster, more comfortable and more reliable for the people who rely on us.

We’re also changing our organisation to put the passenger at the heart of everything we do, to make our people even prouder to work for us and to be recognised as a true leader in our industry.

In joining Network Rail, you’re not only joining an organisation with a vital role to play for the country, but also a team of more than 40,000 people, and a business dedicated to being one of Britain’s best employers.

Brief Description

As Legal Counsel (Property) you will provide high quality legal advice aligned to a region or regions within Network Rail. You will have regard to the need for management of corporate legal risk and delivery of legal services to the Company, especially but not exclusively in the areas of real estate and property litigation law. As a strategic business partner of the region you will support the business to achieve its strategic priorities and be integral to the delivery of these aims. With appropriate supervision, you will have a high degree of autonomy in the work you deliver and with the support of experienced colleagues, the Head of Legal and General Counsel for the Region. You will work closely with colleagues across the business, including in respect of frontline railway operations, nationally and politically significant infrastructure projects, major railway enhancements and industry initiatives. As part of a national legal community, you will work cooperatively and collaboratively with other members of the Legal team across the Regions and National functions and support matters on the agenda of the Board.

The role may suit someone with railway specific, or similar industry experience with an emphasis on health and safety; though that experience is not a requirement for the role.

About the role (External)

Key Accountabilities – 

1. Supporting and working alongside the Head of Legal (Regions) on complex and/or high value legal matters, with specific emphasis on real estate and property litigation matters.

2. Responsible for delivery of legal advice that is business focused, accurate and appropriate, so allowing the company to reduce its risk of exposure and achieve its commercial and business objectives.

3. Assisting the Head of Legal (Regions) on the development of both national and regional company policies and processes, and/or training in order to foster a holistic and effective approach to the legal management of Network Rail’s land asset management.

4. Participation in various cross regional project teams advising on legal aspects and problem solving in order to achieve commercial objectives.

5. Instruct and supervise external lawyers to support their areas of responsibility, when required.

6. Providing regular information and reports of work in progress to the Head of Legal (Regions), as required.

7. Contribute actively to a property legal national community of practice.

8. Participate in various executive meetings relevant to the Region and provide reports and information to the Head of Legal (Regions), as required.

Essential

• Qualified solicitor or barrister with previous experience.
• Property legal specialist
• Good private practice experience
• In-house experience (this includes for example a secondment) Evidence of being able to identify and minimise corporate legal risk
• Evidence of strong communication and interpersonal skills both verbally and in writing.
• Proactive and commercially minded
• Creative problem solver with can do attitude
• Works well under pressure, with the ability to prioritise and handle competing demands.

Desirable

• Experience in a regulated or public sector body environment
• Experience of planning processes, particularly in the area of obtaining or responding to the applications for new statutory powers for compulsory acquisition, for example, Transport and Works Act 1992 and Planning Act 2008.

How to apply (External)

External how to apply:

Network Rail welcomes applications regardless of age, disability, marital status (including civil partnerships), pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, transgender status, sex (or gender), employment status, trade union affiliation, or other irrelevant factor.

We are a Disability Confident Leader employer! We will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria.

We positively embrace flexible working, recognising that employees may wish to balance work with their family and home life.

Network Rail Benefits – To find out about what benefits we offer, click here

Network Rail is required to comply with UK Government standards when carrying out pre-employment checks for all new starters; this includes a basic criminal record check. In addition to the basic criminal record check, in accordance with the UK Government we are also required to verify your identity, right to work in the UK and previous three years employment history.

All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks. Click here for more information. Please ensure you have the appropriate Right to Work status when applying for this role.”

Keeping people safe on the railway is at the heart of everything we do, safe behaviour is therefore a requirement of working for Network Rail. You should be able to demonstrate your personal commitment to safety and awareness of our safety vision.

Network Rail can offer you a rewarding career with competitive pay and excellent benefits including a choice of contributory pension schemes, a generous annual leave package, a bonus scheme and an annual 75% subsidy on season tickets costing up to £3,333 (to a maximum amount of £2,500). You will also be entitled to 28 days annual leave

Salary: £55,596 to £69,496 per annum.

• Employees will be entitled to a 75% discount off leisure travel, this includes off peak and super off peak tickets*

Drugs & Alcohol test: All prospective candidates offered a conditional role will be required to undergo and pass a drugs and alcohol test. Your application will be rescinded if you record a positive test. All positive drugs and alcohol test results for prospective candidates will be securely held on Sentinel database and a 5 year suspension from applying for a safety critical role, a role which requires PTS certification or a Key Safety role on Network Rail Managed Infrastructure will be enforced.

Closing date 24th October 2024 Late applications will not be accepted. We retain the right to close the advert before the listed closing date based on application volumes.

Been referred by a friend? Please complete this form: Eastern Region Employee Referral Form (office.com)

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