Senior Legal Counsel in Leeds

Equans is looking for a Senior Legal Counsel to join our team on a 12 month fixed term contract basis. This is a full-time role working 37.5 hours per week. On offer is a competitive salary, company vehicle or allowance, bonus and benefits package.

We are looking for an outstanding Legal Counsel – Dispute Resolution, to be part of the UK MBU legal team and to be responsible for providing focussed and strategic litigation and dispute resolution advice, with a focus on construction-related matters, to senior management and business stakeholders across both UK MBU Divisions.

This role includes one office day per week at either our Leeds or London hub

What will you deliver?

• Deliver commercially sensible and practical litigation and dispute resolution advice across the business with an aim of balancing legal risk, driving innovation, reducing external legal spend where appropriate and being viewed as integral to decision making throughout the UK MBU and its Divisions.
• Managing and resolving disputes of the UK MBU, on wide-ranging issues including, defects, delay and disruption, loss and expense and variations claims, payment disputes (including withholding and final account claims), adjudications under statute and ADR under contractual dispute resolution mechanisms.
• Provide training to the business on an ad hoc basis and in a more structured format as the business requires.
• Manage external legal counsel, optimising use of resources and negotiating cost effective fee arrangements.

What can we offer you?

On offer is a competitive salary, car or car allowance, bonus and benefits package, which includes;

• 25 days annual leave (+ public holidays)
• Life Cover equivalent to 3x times annual salary
• Employee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailers
• Gym membership discounts
• Cycle to work scheme
• Holiday purchase scheme
• 2 corporate social responsibility days per year
• Broad range of learning opportunities, such as professional qualifications, collective/individual training, and personalized support programmes
• Attractive Employee Referral Rewards Scheme
• Access to our growing employee networks including AccessAbility (representing those with physical and mental disabilities), Encompass (representing the LGBTQ+ community), RISE (representing people from ethnic backgrounds), WOMEN TOGETHER (representing women in Equans), Working Parents, and Young Professionals.
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program and access to mental wellbeing app

Who Are We Looking For

• Qualified solicitor with minimum 6 years PQE in litigation and alternative dispute resolution. Excellent knowledge of construction matters (e.g. the Construction Act and CDM Regulations) is essential, experience with (disputes involving) PFI contracts desirable.
• Strong commercial approach and proven technical ability to formulate advice succinctly and communicate it effectively orally or in writing.
• Excellent knowledge of the suite of construction contracts is imperative and a working knowledge of PFI contracts is desirable
• Able to develop excellent working relationships with senior management teams in all UK BU Divisions to inspire trust and respect in advice given.
• Capability to work across the UK MBU and its Divisions, at all levels, dealing with a varied workload and complex disputes, requiring timely commercial and legal advice within tight deadlines.

Who are we?

Equans is a world leader in energy services with nearly 100,000 employees working in more than 50 countries, with an annual turnover of over 17 billion euros.

In the UK & Ireland, Equans is a provider of technical, FM, regeneration and energy services – with specialist capabilities in smart buildings, green mobility, district & embedded energy and decentralised renewables.

Equans' 13,500 UK & Ireland employees combine these activities to help businesses, public sector organisations and government to embrace the energy transition towards net zero, and also the digital & industrial transitions that are redesigning the way we move, work and live.

Equans is a Bouygues group company.

As part our commitment to better reflect the markets within which we operate, we encourage applications from women, ethnically diverse individuals and people with disabilities, along with all candidates who identify with protected characteristic groups under the Equality Act 2010.

At Equans we're committed to delivering a culture where everyone's voice is heard and supported. We know the value a diverse workforce creates, delivering better results for our people, customers, and stakeholders. Diversity and inclusion is at the core of what we do, should you join Equans you'll find a welcoming and open workplace where you're supported and encouraged to be your true self at work.

You'll also have access to our growing employee networks including AccessAbility (representing those with physical and mental disabilities), Encompass (representing the LGBTQ+ community), RISE (representing people from ethnic backgrounds), WOMEN TOGETHER (representing women in Equans), Working Parents, Young Professionals, Veterans and Reservists Network (VaR).

For this role, you must have evidence of the right to work in the UK. Unfortunately, we are not able to offer a re-location package with this job role. Certain roles may require applicants to undergo a Disclosure check, as noted in the role requirements.

The Equans Resourcing Team supports this job advert. Agency involvement is not required. All related enquiries must come to the resourcing team not direct to Equans Managers.