Senior Legal Counsel (Enforcement Team – Civil) in Leeds

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 23,000 employees, runs over 6,000 services a day and delivers over 450 million customer journeys across its networks every year. This accounts for 26% of total UK passenger journeys and 30% of passenger miles. 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 and Greater Anglia.

Primary Purpose of Job

This is a rare and exciting opportunity to shape something new. DFTO is setting up a new Enforcement Team, an industry first, which will be responsible for all prosecution activity across the DFTO Group. This is a significant change in strategic approach, and as DFTO’s Senior Legal Counsel, you will play a pivotal role in influencing DFTO enforcement strategy and policy, and assisting our leadership team to support confident, informed decision-making. Importantly, you will work alongside the Enforcement General Counsel to establish and help lead a new legal team—setting its vision, building capability, and creating a high-performing, future-focused legal function from the ground up. This role is ideal for a senior legal leader who thrives on impact, enjoys operating at a strategic level, and is motivated by building teams and shaping culture.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as a key legal and strategic adviser for all civil litigation matters referred to the Enforcement team relating to DFTO, and/or its TOCs, liaising closely with the General Counsel (Enforcement) and other lawyers in the team to develop strategy and facilitate a high quality and aligned approach to the provision of legal advice.
• Lead and oversee the preparation and management of complex civil cases, including contractual disputes, debt recovery, and property-related claims, achieving successful outcomes that protect organisational interests and revenue.
• Represent DFTO and TOCs in civil court proceedings, including complex and high-profile cases, providing robust advocacy and effective presentation, so that cases are effectively resolved, and the organisation’s interests are protected.
• Supervise, guide and develop more junior lawyers within the team, and Case Managers, providing oversight and guidance where appropriate, fostering a high-performance and collaborative culture.
• Build and cultivate relationships with stakeholders across the group (including DFTO and TOC leadership), as well as external holders (industry partners, regulators, enforcement agents and external counsel) to effectively manage cases and foster collaboration and alignment.
• Provide proactive, high level and strategic advice to executive leadership across DFTO and the TOCs, so that materially significant legal risks are identified early, mitigated effectively and executive decisions are informed.
• Oversee and lead the review and determination as to whether cases should proceed to litigation or be resolved by settlement and draft any associated correspondence, where appropriate, so that risks are managed, and cost-effective outcomes are achieved.

Key Competencies

• Qualified Solicitor or Barrister with authority to conduct litigation, admitted to practice in England & Wales, with proven experience (5 years+) working for a reputable law firm/chambers/in-house organisation.
• Significant post-qualification experience in civil litigation, including in complex and high-profile cases.
• Proven track record of leading case strategy and managing sensitive or high-value matters.
• Experience in mentoring and developing junior lawyers or legal teams.
• Experience in negotiating settlements and alternative dispute resolutions.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to explain complex legal and risk issues in accessible, plain English terms.
• 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 (including the DfT and Network Rail).
• Ability to manage a varied workload and prioritise competing demands.
• Ability to identify and minimise corporate legal risk and influence at a senior management level.
• Experience of working with or in a Railway and/or regulated industry desirable.

Vacancy Details

• Duration: Permanent
• Location: Hybrid – London Waterloo / Leeds
• Salary: up to £85,000
• Closing date: 13th February 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 jason.blakemore at dftoperator.co.uk. Please do not email any CVs to us, your application must be made by clicking the 'Apply' button.