Legal Counsel

Thames Water; Reading; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A large water and wastewater company in the UK is hiring a Legal Counsel for a 2-year fixed-term contract. This hybrid role involves providing legal advice, managing external law firms, and ensuring DCO applications are robust. The ideal candidate will have at least 4–5 years of PQE in planning law, with a competitive salary of £70,000–£80,000 depending on experience, and excellent benefits including 26 days' leave and a contributory pension.

Benefits

Car allowance

Annual bonus

Private medical health care

Benefits hub with additional wellbeing offers

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in consenting major infrastructure projects.
• Experience in project delivery and working with external law firms.
• Able to manage issues in the short and medium term.

Responsibilities

• Providing legal advice to Thames Water on consenting matters.
• Managing legal services from external law firms.
• Collaborating on legal robustness of DCO applications.

Skills

Planning lawyer with at least 4–5 PQE

Experience with Development Consent Order process

Highly developed communication and influencing skills

Project management skills

Job description

Overview

Our Strategic Resource Operations (SRO) team is hiring a Legal Counsel on a 2-year fixed-term contract. The team is responsible for developing major infrastructure projects to improve resilience to drought, minimise interruptions to water supplies in the south-east, and protect the environment. Projects include a new reservoir and a water recycling scheme to be delivered by Development Consent Orders (DCO).

What you’ll be doing

• Directly providing legal advice to Thames Water in relation to consenting and other related matters.
• Managing legal services from Thames Water’s external law firms where necessary, ensuring they are correctly instructed and supported by Thames Water.
• Collaborating with the SRO portfolio, particularly the Senior Legal Counsel and the Engagement, Land and Consents SRO team, to ensure the DCO applications are legally robust and defendable.

This is a hybrid role with a base location of Reading or London. Some travel in and around London will be required.

Salary

£70,000–£80,000 per annum.

Essential criteria

• Planning lawyer with at least 4–5 PQE, with extensive experience in consenting major infrastructure projects.
• Experience of the Development Consent Order process and the Town and Country Planning process.
• Experience in project delivery and working with external law firms.
• Highly developed communication and influencing skills (written and verbal).
• Project management skills, able to multitask and work flexibly to manage conflicting priorities.
• Able to manage issues in the short and medium term and relate to longer-term goals.

Desirable extras

• Commercial law experience in negotiating a wide range of commercial agreements and contracts.
• In-house experience.
• Knowledge of the Environmental Information Regulations.

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary (£70,000–£80,000 per annum) depending on experience.
• Car allowance.
• Annual bonus.
• Contributory pension – Defined Contribution, up to 12% with employee contributions.
• Performance-related pay plan linked to company targets.
• 26 days’ annual leave (rising to 30 with length of service) plus bank holidays.
• Private medical health care.
• Personal medical assessments (open to all once a year).
• Benefits hub with additional wellbeing offers.

Additional information

Who we are: Thames Water is the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, serving over 16 million customers. We strive to build a better future for customers, communities, people, and the planet.

Working at Thames Water: A unique, rewarding, and diverse place to work with opportunities, flexible working arrangements, and excellent benefits.

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from everyone and offer support during the recruitment process. If you need assistance, we’re here to help.

Disclaimer: We may close the advert earlier than the advertised date due to high application volume. Please apply promptly to avoid disappointment.