Location
London

Hours
Full Time

Salary
Competitive salary package

About the Role
Balfour Beatty has an exciting opportunity for a Legal Counsel to join our growing team in London. As a Legal Counsel, you will be a member of the corporate legal team, supporting the delivery of a proactive, commercially focused legal service to Balfour Beatty's procurement, supply chain and business operations across the Group. The role supports Strategic Business Units (SBUs), Business Units (BUs) and Enabling Functions by providing practical legal advice and assistance on a broad range of procurement, commercial and project-related matters.

Reporting to the Senior/Managing Counsel, you will work closely with procurement, commercial, operational and project teams, building strong working relationships with stakeholders across the business while developing your legal and commercial expertise. You will have the opportunity to support on a diverse range of matters, including strategic supplier arrangements, major infrastructure projects, technology and software contracts, consultancy appointments and other commercial agreements.

The role requires a commercially minded legal adviser who can identify and assess legal and commercial risks, provide pragmatic advice and support the negotiation of contracts and project documentation. Working with colleagues across the legal and wider business teams, you will help ensure that risks are appropriately managed while supporting the delivery of business objectives.

Key Responsibilities
- Support the UK business enabling functions and manage standard contracts with some derogations and precedents including contract reviews, negotiation, dispute management, and legal and compliance risk management.
- Adopt a risk-based, solutions-focused approach that supports competitive outcomes while protecting the BU’s strategic and commercial interests.
- Collaborate with commercial, operational and bid teams to shape client-facing positions, ensuring legal advice is practical, prioritised and aligned with the objective of winning and delivering work successfully.
- Under supervision, engage and manage agreed panel law firms to address specific legal issues.
- Support the development, delivery and implementation of UK legal and compliance policies, procedures and targets to mitigate risk and ensure legal and ethical compliance consistent with Balfour Beatty's values.
- Provide legal support for dispute management and resolution.
- Review and advise on bonds, parent company guarantees, NDAs and warranties in accordance with company policies.
- Liaise with commercial, treasury, company secretarial and Group Legal teams to procure bonds and guarantees.
- Assist in legal and compliance training delivery and continuous improvement of standard terms, conditions, policies, processes and systems.
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of legislation and ensure awareness of new or changing UK legislation.
- Ensure personal compliance with all regulations and company policies and support the Ethics & Compliance agenda.
- Maintain a relentless personal focus on Zero Harm.

Experience
- Newly qualified solicitor or barrister.
- Knowledge and experience of the construction/infrastructure industry or a comparable sector.
- Understanding of relevant legal and regulatory requirements related to government contracting, including procurement requirements (Defence Procurement Act / Single Source Contract Regulations) and contract terms.
- Familiarity with business drivers and client needs.
- Good technological capabilities and familiarity with AI tools.

About you
- High energy and impact with strong organisational skills.
- Self-starter confident in leading legal service provision into projects, able to prioritise own work and deliver independently to deadlines.
- Good commercial acumen and a valued contributor to strategic discussions.
- Demonstrates commercial judgement by balancing legal risk with commercial opportunity and distinguishing between critical and non-critical issues.
- Solutions-oriented, pragmatic and proactive approach to risk management and mitigation.
- Builds strong relationships within SBUs, SBU executive teams and wider enabling functions.

Qualifications
- Newly qualified solicitor or barrister status is essential.