Legal Counsel

DP World; Thurrock; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

DP World seeks a proactive Senior Legal Counsel to support UK port operations, including London Gateway and Southampton, plus Logistics Park and CNS. The role reports to the VP of Legal and offers hands-on responsibility with autonomy in a fast-paced, operational environment.

Hybrid, based at London Gateway or Southampton with regular travel between sites. You will draft and negotiate a wide range of commercial, property, construction, and SaaS agreements, support TUPE and data protection

Qualifications

• 4–6 years' PQE with qualified solicitor status in England & Wales.
• Solid experience in general commercial and corporate contracting.
• Confident drafting, negotiating, and advising on complex commercial agreements.
• Commercially minded, pragmatic and proactive with strong problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide commercial, timely, and solution-focused legal advice to senior stakeholders.
• Draft, review, negotiate, and advise on commercial, property, construction, logistics, technology, and SaaS agreements.
• Support procurement and tender activity, including public procurement matters.
• Interpret contractual and regulatory obligations and ensure compliance across the business.
• Identify legal risks and provide pragmatic recommendations to business leadership.

Skills

Commercial contracting

Due diligence

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder management

Drafting & negotiation

Education

Qualified solicitor of England & Wales

Job description

DP World is seeking a proactive Senior Legal Counsel to support our UK port operations at London Gateway and Southampton, as well as the Logistics Park and CNS (Community Network Systems). Reporting to the VP of Legal, this role will provide high-quality, commercially focused legal advice across a broad range of matters, with occasional support to our UK Contract Logistics business. This is a wide-ranging, hands‑on role offering real responsibility and autonomy. You'll work closely with senior stakeholders across the business, building trusted relationships and delivering clear, pragmatic legal guidance in a fast-paced, growing, and operationally complex environment. NOTE: This is a full-time hybrid position based at London Gateway in Stanford‑le‑Hope - Essex or based at Southampton (but regular travel between the sites will be required).

How You Will Contribute

• Act as a trusted legal partner, delivering commercial, timely, and solution-focused advice to senior stakeholders.
• Draft, review, negotiate, and advise on a wide range of commercial, property, construction, logistics, technology, and SaaS agreements.
• Support large‑scale procurement and tender activity, including matters subject to public procurement regulations.
• Interpret and manage contractual, statutory, and regulatory obligations, ensuring compliance across the business.
• Identify legal risks linked to transactions, projects, and strategic initiatives, providing clear, pragmatic recommendations.
• Support RFPs, bids, and contracts with TUPE considerations, working closely with internal teams.
• Manage and coordinate external legal advisers, ensuring clear instructions and effective control of legal spend.
• Support compliance with UK GDPR and Data Protection legislation, including DPIAs, data processing agreements, and governance forums.
• Maintain robust processes for the execution and governance of legal agreements.
• Monitor legal and regulatory developments, providing updates and training where appropriate.
• Attend management forums as required, providing legal insight and updates to the business.

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor of England & Wales with a strong academic background and 4-6 years' PQE.
• Solid experience in general commercial and corporate contracting.
• Confident drafting, negotiating, and advising on complex commercial agreements.
• Commercially minded, pragmatic, and proactive with strong problem‑solving skills.
• Excellent analytical ability, attention to detail, and critical thinking.
• Strong communicator with the ability to explain legal risk clearly and concisely to non‑legal stakeholders.
• Experience (or exposure) to due diligence, risk analysis, and regulatory compliance.
• Desirable exposure to ports, shipping, logistics, commercial property, construction, TUPE, SaaS/digital platforms, energy, or public procurement, though not essential.
• Collaborative, resilient, and client‑focused, with a genuine desire to support colleagues.
• Highly professional, discreet, and trusted to handle confidential matters.

Requirements of Candidates

• Must hold the right to work in the UK
• Must meet the medical fitness requirements for the role (if applicable)
• Must not have any unspent criminal convictions (DBS checks are carried out)

About DP World

Trade is the lifeblood of the global economy, creating opportunities and improving the quality of life for people around the world. DP World exists to make the world's trade flow better, changing what's possible for the customers and communities we serve globally. With a dedicated, diverse and professional team of more than 103,000 employees spanning 75 countries on six continents, DP World is pushing trade further and faster towards a seamless supply chain that's fit for the future. We're rapidly transforming and integrating our businesses-Ports and Terminals, Marine Services, Logistics and Technology-and uniting our global infrastructure with local expertise to create stronger, more efficient end-to-end supply chain solutions that can change the way the world trades.

DP World offers exciting and challenging roles within a growing international organisation. We strive to hire and develop the right people, locally and globally, stimulating personal growth and self‑development within an informal atmosphere. We offer a market competitive compensation package.