Legal Counsel - based in North of England in London

About DFT Operator

DFTO is the government’s public sector rail owning group. Its purpose is to bring all currently privately-owned train operators into public ownership in advance of the creation of Great British Railways in 2027 - and deliver improvements in the here and now by unifying and integrating train operations under common public ownership. DFTO has over 30,000 employees, runs over 8,500 services a day and delivers over 640 million customer journeys across its networks every year.

Major improvements are being delivered by DFTO train operators (TOCs) that are already under public ownership - these are LNER, Northern, TransPennine Express (TPE), Southeastern, South Western Railway (SWR), c2c, Greater Anglia and WM Trains. We work closely with the DfT but operate independently with our own governance and leadership teams. Our priority is ensuring efficient, dependable rail services for everyone.

Primary Purpose of Job: The Legal Counsel will support and liaise closely with the Regional General Counsel and Senior Legal Counsel, to provide legal support and advice across multiple DFTO TOCs (“TOC Group”) within the DFTO Group. The role will provide advice on commercial contracts and a wide range of compliance requirements, including those specific to the public sector.

Key Competencies:

• Competent contract drafting and negotiation skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a fast-paced, regulated environment.
• Keen interest in UK rail law and public law requirements.
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to interpret complex legal and commercial documents and explain the same in accessible terms.
• Consistently delivers on time, with excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple matters and stakeholders and prioritise competing demands.

Key Responsibilities:

• General legal support and risk management.
• Support the Regional General Counsel (TOCs) and the Senior Legal Counsel within the TOC Group, to provide high-quality legal advice and support to all DFTO TOCs in the TOC Group on a wide range of issues, to facilitate compliance with relevant legal and regulatory requirements.
• Research and prepare advice on a variety of legal matters, including consumer rights, railway regulations, public sector equality duty, procurement law, data protection, intellectual property and licensing, and competition law.
• Support in identifying and mitigating legal risks in contracts and operational matters.
• Draft, review, negotiate and advise on commercial contracts across all areas of the TOC businesses.
• Support contract management processes within each TOC and advise on contract enforcement.
• Actively participate in group-level legal initiatives, projects and reporting, including through close collaboration with other Legal Counsel.
• Actively engage and build strong relationships with TOC stakeholders, traveling to their locations to deliver training sessions and offer hands-on support.
• Work with the Senior Legal Counsel to review new legislation and assess its impact on the DFTO Group.
• Where agreed with a TOC, support in reviewing and escalating relevant County Court (small claims/money claims online) made against TOCs within the TOC Group and providing assistance as requested.
• Support litigation, arbitration and dispute resolution, liaising with external counsel where necessary.
• Maintain appropriate legal competency and knowledge, including by staying up-to-date with changes to legislation, particularly in relation to laws, rules and regulations that directly affect the business and the rail industry.

Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Technical Qualifications:

• Educated to degree level or higher.
• Solicitor admitted to practice in England & Wales with at least 3 years PQE with a reputable law firm/in house organisation.
• Experience in commercial contracts, regulatory compliance, or corporate law is preferred.
• Background in rail, other transport, or other regulated industries is desirable but not essential.
• Ability to explain complex legal and risk issues in accessible, plain English terms.
• Strong legal analytical skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• A strong team player, with a professional and collaborative approach, with the ability to build and maintain strong professional relationships across the businesses and with key external stakeholders.
• Ability to maintain a positive attitude and remain effective in dynamic environments, including through times of change.
• Ability to manage a varied workload and prioritise competing demands.

Vacancy Details:

• Duration: Permanent
• Location: Ideally Leeds but will consider anyone in the North of England.
• Salary: up to £76,000
• Closing date: 27th Aug 2026

DFTO Benefits:

• Annual Leave: Starting at 25 days and rising to an additional day per year of service completed within the first 5 completed years up to a maximum of 5 additional (30 days).
• DC Pension Scheme: 10% Employer contribution, 5% Employee contribution.
• Opportunities to learn and network across the wider industry.

Additional Information:

Disclaimer: Candidates applying for this position on a secondment basis must inform their line manager prior to submitting their application. This is to ensure transparency and facilitate any necessary discussions regarding workload and responsibilities.

About our people and the recruitment process - We're an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone! We encourage our colleagues to work flexibly, as we know traditional working patterns don't always fit. If you want to consider working flexibly, just let us know and we'll do our best to help and invest in your career with us, whilst you have a healthy work life balance.

Contact: If you have any questions or reasonable adjustments, please contact Amra.Hurley@dftoperator.co.uk. Please do not email any CV's to us, your application must be made by clicking the 'Apply' button.