Legal Counsel

Jointly owned by EDF Group and Dalkia, we are a leading technical services group operating nationwide in the UK. Housing key expertise under one roof, we provide specialist technical services in technical facilities management, mechanical and electrical engineering, energy performance contracting and systems integration and digital services.

We leverage the strength of our Group, without losing the personability of a smaller business. We’re a people-first culture. In fact, our customers tell us that we build the best people and customer relationships in the business.

With an annual turnover of c.£600m, over 4,000 employees and a diverse and inclusive ethos, we’re proud to attract great talent, nurturing and inducting our people who embed the Dalkia UK DNA and apply an innovative mindset across all customer engagements.

Job Purpose

To assist the Group Secretary and Legal Affairs Director and two Senior Legal Counsel to provide a pro-active, preventive and commercially relevant legal service to the Group Executive Board and all five business divisions (Engineering, Facilities, Energy Services, Scotland and Capula).

Job Overview

Reporting to the Group Secretary and Legal Affairs Director, the role holder will provide high quality, effective, pragmatic, solutions orientated legal advice to the business – with a focus on non-contentious construction law advice. This will include working with the Group Secretary and Legal Affairs Director and Senior Legal Counsel to advise on and assist the business divisions in the negotiation of high value contracts.

The role holder will work with the team to advise the business on pragmatic strategies to resolve and manage potential disputes, as well as insurance and latent defects claims.

The successful candidate will collaborate within the legal team to provide training and precedent tools and materials to the commercial teams within the relevant business divisions to assist with their contract reviews.

Operating Environment

The Legal, Risk and Compliance function in Dalkia UK Group is a small, highly responsive team providing high quality, effective, pragmatic, solutions focussed legal advice to the business. The success of the activities depend on working closely with a network of key colleagues within the five business divisions, so the role holder will need to have the skills and enthusiasm to build and maintain these relationships.

Principal Accountabilities

• To work closely with the Group Secretary and Legal Affairs Director and two Senior Legal Counsel to provide high quality, effective, pragmatic, solutions orientated legal advice to the business – with a focus on non-contentious construction law advice. This will include advising on and assisting in the negotiation of high value contracts, in both the contractor and sub-contractor space. This will include standard form (NEC and JCT in particular) and bespoke contracts.
• To support the applicable business divisions in proactively identifying potential disputes or claims and anticipating and providing strategic advice to avoid such disputes or claims.
• To be a point of reference on construction law matters within the business for business stakeholders, ensuring that the Group Secretary and Legal Affairs Director is kept up to date on key matters and challenges; building relations with stakeholders within the business divisions and broader EDF business, in particular developing trusted relationships in areas of expertise.
• To promote key legislative changes that may impact the business divisions and share the same across the team and business divisions as appropriate. Support in running training sessions and promote knowledge sharing across the team and business divisions. Developing and rolling out, with the team, appropriate precedent tools and materials to the commercial teams within the relevant business divisions to assist with their commercial contract reviews and negotiations.

Knowledge & Skills

• Relevant post qualification experience as a solicitor admitted in England and Wales.
• Experience of delivering a pro-active business focused service that anticipates risks and prevents problems. Demonstrates well rounded legal knowledge and some experience in the construction sector, as well as commercial acumen. Experience of advising on common standard form contracts (NEC and JCT etc). Has a broad understanding of corporate risk areas.
• Able to work under pressure to meet deadlines and manage work priorities accordingly. Flexible approach with a willingness to develop knowledge and skills in different areas of law.
• Organised and methodical approach and able to use MS Word, MS Excel and MS PowerPoint to an intermediate level.
• Strong commercial acumen that can identify risk, mitigations and suitable options for the business, balancing risk and reward.
• Good communication, coaching and presentation skills, with the ability to tailor the communications style to suit a variety of audiences. Able to establish credibility and build relationships within business.
• Team player and ability to provide guidance on prioritisation, planning, organising workloads.

Note: this job description is not an exhaustive list of the responsibilities and activities that the job holder may be required to undertake

Measures of success

• Proactive, effective and efficient management of legal issues including the drafting, negotiation and management of construction and commercial contracts.
• Actively sought out in field of expertise, promoting compliance and creative/solutions focussed thinking in relation to matters in this field, also taking ownership for development of others in this area of expertise.
• Establishment of effective relations with key business stakeholders, external law firms and EDF Group and Dalkia Legal teams

Company benefits:

• We pay for professional memberships relevant to your role and invest in our people’s professional development
• Pension Scheme
• Private Health Insurance
• 4 x Salary Life Assurance
• 25 Days Holiday (increasing on service) PLUS Bank holidays
• Cycle to work scheme
• An electric vehicle scheme – where we help you lease an electric vehicle for a fixed monthly cost.

Application Deadline: Friday 29 November 2024