Legal Counsel - Corporate, Finance and M&A

Centrica; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Centrica is seeking an England & Wales-qualified lawyer to join its in-house Corporate, Finance and M&A team at Reading head office. The role involves supporting acquisitions, disposals, equity investments, and joint ventures, with drafting and negotiating related documents and handling pension matters.

You will work alongside senior lawyers on large strategic deals, while also managing smaller investments and day-to-day corporate work in a FTSE 100 environment that values wellbeing and

Qualifications

• Qualified lawyer in England & Wales with corporate and/or finance experience.
• Experience in in-house corporate/financing matters is preferred.
• Energy sector experience is advantageous but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Assist review, negotiation and drafting of transaction documents (SPAs, SHAs, disclosure letters, transition services agreements).
• Support M&A execution including due diligence, disclosures and signing/completion activities.
• Provide legal support to Centrica’s smaller investments and innovation activities.
• Advise on pensions governance, funding and security matters.
• Manage relationships with external counsel and assist budgeting/billing.

Skills

In-house experience

Corporate law

Finance law

Negotiation

Education

England & Wales qualified lawyer

Job description

Join us, be part of more.

We're so much more than an energy company. We're a family of brands revolutionising how we power the planet. We're energisers. One team of 21,000 colleagues that's energising a greener, fairer future by creating an energy system that doesn't rely on fossil fuels, whilst living our powerful commitment to igniting positive change in our communities. Here, you can find more purpose, more passion, and more potential. That's why working here is #MoreThanACareer. We do energy differently - we do it all. We make it, store it, move it, sell it, and mend it.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Legal Counsel - Corporate, Finance and M&A to join Centrica as part of its Legal, Regulatory, Ethics, Compliance and Secretariat (LRECS) function.

The Corporate, Finance and M&A Legal team plays a key role in supporting Centrica’s strategy by providing legal advice across:

• M&A transactions, joint ventures and investments within the energy generation, storage, trading and retail sectors.
• General corporate matters.
• The Group’s debt financing programme.
• The Group’s pension schemes.

The team comprises four lawyers and works closely with the Centrica Leadership Team and the Group M&A, Treasury and Pensions teams, as well as colleagues across the wider business and LRECS function.

Location: This role is full-time and will be based in our Reading head office (from Jan 2027). It can be performed either on-site or through hybrid working where team members are expected to attend the office at least two days per week.

About the role

This is an excellent opportunity to develop your corporate, finance and wider legal expertise within a supportive in-house environment. Working alongside experienced colleagues, you will gain exposure to complex strategic transactions while also taking ownership of a portfolio of smaller investments and matters.

Key responsibilities include:

• Supporting the Group M&A team and business units on acquisitions, disposals, equity investments and joint ventures, including by:
  • Assisting with the review, negotiation and drafting of transaction documentation, including share purchase agreements, subscription agreements, shareholders’ agreements, disclosure letters and transitional services agreements; and
  • Supporting transaction execution, including due diligence, disclosure processes and signing and completion activities.
• Providing legal support to Centrica’s portfolio of smaller innovation and investment activities.
• Supporting the Group Treasury team on bank facilities, bond issuances, trade finance facilities, FX and interest rate derivatives and related compliance matters.
• Advising on pensions-related matters, including governance, funding and security arrangements.
• Managing relationships with external counsel and supporting budget and billing processes.
• Contributing to continuous improvement initiatives, knowledge sharing and precedent development within the team.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues across Centrica and participating in the wider LRECS community, including on learning, wellbeing, volunteering and inclusion initiatives.

Here’s what we’re looking for:

• An England & Wales qualified lawyer with experience gained in corporate and/or finance teams in private practice or through corporate and/or finance work in-house.
  • Energy sector experience is advantageous but not essential.
  • Pensions experience is not essential.
• A strong desire to continue developing your corporate, finance and broader legal skills within an in-house environment.
• The ability to work collaboratively with senior lawyers on larger, more complex transactions whilst progressively taking ownership of your own matters and projects.
• Sound commercial judgement and a practical, solutions-focused approach to legal advice.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships with a broad range of stakeholders.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality work.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain legal issues clearly and concisely.
• A collaborative, proactive approach and flexibility to support transaction activity and business needs as required.

At Centrica, we are committed to investing in our people through a strong focus on wellbeing, inclusion, learning and development. This role offers an excellent opportunity for a lawyer at an early stage of their legal career to further develop their corporate and finance expertise in-house at a FTSE 100 listed company by working, alongside colleagues, on the some of the largest and most innovative corporate and finance transactions in the energy sector while also taking ownership of smaller investments and broadening their experience to pensions and other commercial matters.

We welcome applications from candidates who can demonstrate the skills, experience and potential required to succeed in the role.

Why should you apply?

We're not a perfect place - but we're a people place. Our priority is supporting all of the different realities our people face. Life is about so much more than work. We get it. That's why we've designed our total rewards to give you the flexibility to choose what you need, when you need it, making sure that you and your family are supported not only financially, but physically and emotionally too.

If you're full of energy, fired up about sustainability, and ready to craft not only a better tomorrow, but a better you, then come and find your purpose in a team where your voice matters, your growth is non-negotiable, and your ambitions are our priority.