Location
London

Hours
Full Time

Salary
Base salary: £50,119 to £58,963 per annum depending on skills and experience. In addition, a flexible benefits fund of 20% is paid on top of the base salary and is fully pensionable, along with a range of competitive benefits.

About the Role
As Legal Counsel, you will provide a full range of legal advice to HS2 Ltd and its business Directorates, including key internal stakeholders, to optimise contractual outcomes across various subjects such as supply chain, utilities, and local authorities. You will support HS2’s compliance with legislation and regulations related to its programme of work.

Your responsibilities will include assisting with high-quality legal support, drafting documents, and advising staff at all levels on commercial and contracts law matters. This includes procurement and negotiation of high-value, complex construction contracts, funding agreements, corporate law, intellectual property, finance, and technology issues to ensure the company is not exposed to undue risk and consistent business standards are maintained.

You will assist with statutory advice, contractual claims and dispute resolution, including supporting litigation or arbitration through external lawyers when appropriate. You will manage external legal support, including cost monitoring, budgeting, timescales, and quality control.

Additionally, you will contribute to preparing reports and briefings for senior management to support decision-making, liaising with senior lawyers and policy advisers across government departments.

You will actively promote and embed Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in all your work and support organisational initiatives, policies, and procedures on EDI.

HS2 Ltd expects all employees to behave consistently with its values of Safety, Leadership, Integrity, and Respect.

Experience
- Recent and relevant commercial legal experience in UK-based construction or infrastructure projects, or experience dealing with Government Departments, utilities, or transport projects, gained in-house or in private practice.
- Experience managing the provision of external legal advice within defined budgets and scopes.
- Experience with public sector procurement processes.
- Experience serving as the main point of contact to clients.
- Problem-solving experience, including working without established precedent or procedure.

About You
- Qualified solicitor or barrister with contracting or construction experience in a client and/or contractor environment.
- Specialised in contract law and/or procurement law, preferably with a focus on major projects.
- Ability to produce and present complex documents and reports to a variety of audiences, including internal stakeholders at various levels.
- Ability to prepare complex legal drafting without supervision.
- Ability to influence stakeholders at all levels internally and externally and build effective working relationships.
- Strong problem-solving skills.
- Ability to balance and prioritise numerous tasks while maintaining attention to detail and delivering to agreed deadlines.
- Advanced planning and organisational skills.
- Flexible approach with experience working within multidisciplinary teams on a wide range of commercial legal issues.

Qualifications
- Qualified solicitor or barrister status is essential.
- Right to Work in the UK is required at the time of application; HS2 Ltd does not provide sponsorship.
- Commitment to actively promote and embed Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in all work.