Senior Legal Counsel

Help Shape the UK’s Energy Future. Senior Legal Counsel Opportunity with the Civil Works Alliance (CWA), Supporting Sizewell C.

As part of the CWA (Civil Works Alliance), you will support the building of Sizewell C. Sizewell C will be a 3.2-gigawatt power station generating low-carbon electricity for around 6 million homes and will play a key role in our energy future, supplying reliable, clean electricity for at least 60 years. This role will be within the CWA Wide Section.

What will you do?

As a Senior Legal Counsel, you will provide strategic legal support, guidance, and management to the Sizewell C Civil Works Alliance on contractual matters throughout all phases of the civil works programme of the Sizewell C project. This role requires experience in construction law, ideally in high-value energy/infrastructure projects, and familiarity with NEC contracts and U.K. laws and regulations. You will work closely with the CWA’s Lead Legal Counsel, internal teams, project & partners stakeholders, and external advisors to mitigate risks, ensure compliance, and protect the Civil Works Alliance’s interests.

Principal Accountabilities, Activities and Decisions

• Contractual Advisory & Compliance
  • Assist with drafting, reviewing and negotiating contracts, subcontracts, consultant appointments and NDAs in line with project requirements and goals.
  • Work closely with members of the Procurement and Commercial teams to put in place required contracts and subcontracts within required project timescales and to help achieve project goals.
  • Ensure compliance with applicable laws, industry regulations, and project-specific requirements.
  • Advise project teams on legal issues, potential risks, and mitigations.
  • Assist in developing the CWA’s suite of contracts (based on NEC contracts) to be used when procuring works/service from the supply chain.
  • Helping to create processes, policies and documentation to help embed key contractual requirements into the day-to-day operations of the Civil Works Alliance.
• Risk Management & Dispute Resolution
  • Identify potential legal risks and develop strategies to mitigate them.
  • Internally manage disputes, claims, and litigation that may arise during the project. Liaison with external counsel as appropriate.
  • Serve as a point of contact for dispute resolution processes, collaborating with external counsel as necessary.
• Stakeholder Collaboration
  • Collaborate with internal departments (e.g., Finance, Procurement, Commercial) to ensure legal alignment with business objectives.
  • Work with external stakeholders, including clients, subcontractors, and government agencies, to manage contractual relationships effectively.
• Documentation & Record Management
  • Oversee the preparation, documentation, and storage of all legal agreements and correspondences.
  • Maintain accurate records to ensure easy retrieval for audits, dispute resolution, and compliance checks.
• Regulatory Monitoring & Policy Development
  • Monitor U.K. construction and contract law developments and ensure project compliance.
  • Help to develop and implement internal policies and guidelines to enhance legal compliance and risk management practices.
• Training & Guidance
  • Provide training and resources to project teams on contractual rights, obligations, and compliance requirements.
  • Serve as a legal point of reference, offering guidance to ensure team alignment with contractual terms and legal standards.

What are we looking for?

Knowledge & Skills

• Expertise in U.K. construction law, including knowledge of industry-standard contracts (in particular NEC4 contracts).
• Knowledge of contracts used in offshore projects (e.g. marine installation) desired, but not essential.
• Strong negotiation and contract management skills.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Proficient in risk management.
• Ability to work independently and handle complex legal matters effectively.
• Attention to Detail: Accurate in contract drafting and reviewing to ensure compliance and protect the organization’s interests.
• Communication Skills: Clear and concise communication to explain complex legal issues to non-legal team members and stakeholders.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to align legal advice with the Civil Works Alliance’s long-term objectives.
• Resilience & Adaptability: Able to work in a fast-paced environment with evolving project demands and challenges.
• Team player and relationship manager across multiple stakeholders with a strong work ethic.
• Commercial awareness.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with ability to operate in a range of environments.
• Excellent organisational, planning and time management skills.
• MS Office – Word, Excel, Outlook, Power Point to a high standard.

Qualifications & Experience

• Qualified solicitor (England & Wales or equivalent) with 7+ years’ PQE in construction and major projects, gained either in-house or at a leading private practice (ideally with secondment experience).
• Experience of working on high-value energy/infrastructure projects desired, but not essential.

What we will offer you?

The CWA is a single delivery organisation made up of the client (Sizewell C) and three parent companies - Balfour Beatty, Bouygues and Laing O'Rourke - which offer industry leading packages including market leading salaries, generous annual leave entitlements, pension scheme and other flexible benefits.

About Us

The CWA celebrates the creativity and innovation that comes from a diverse workforce, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds — especially those from under-represented communities. Our project is built on five core values: Humility, Positivity, Respect, Solidarity, and Clarity. By joining us, you’ll be encouraged to bring your whole self to work, speak up, and share your ideas. We encourage applications from all suitably qualified candidates, regardless of gender, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.

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