Commercial Transportation Associate

Overview

This role primarily involves working with commercial contracts, together with advising on regulation specifically within the rail and bus sectors. As a result, the role will be within the award winning and top ranked rail and bus team at Stephenson Harwood, predominantly reporting to partners Tammy Samuel, Darren Fodey and Richard Hughes and Of Counsel Caroline Hooton.

The past few years have been highly successful for the Stephenson Harwood rail and bus team, which has seen the client base significantly grow and the team expanding accordingly.

Responsibilities

• Analysing the risks arising from proposed contractual arrangements and advising on the best ways of addressing those risks
• Understanding the client\’s preferred outcomes and developing potential solutions within relevant frameworks
• Clear, concise and unambiguous drafting of documentation
• Conducting legal research using internal and external knowledge management resources
• Preparing commercially-tailored notes of advice and analysis
• Considering and analysing existing contractual arrangements and risks
• Analysing statutory provisions and any regulatory guidance and applying it to the client\’s situation
• Assisting in the preparation of legal articles
• Liaising with clients
• Communicating clearly with colleagues and clients on each of the responsibilities described above
• Developing own informal internal and external network of contacts
• Building excellent working relationships with clients and peers within the firm
• Attending business development and profile-raising events (client events, Future Talent activities)
• We regularly offer secondments to our clients on either a full or part time basis and we see this as an essential part of the role. Willingness to work with our clients in this way is important to us and we see as a benefit to our associates in developing their client skills.
• Most of our roles are hybrid, meaning that colleagues benefit from working in our office and remotely. We are happy to discuss this and other flexible working arrangements with you as part of the application and interview process.

Qualifications and Experience

• Qualified lawyer with relevant experience in commercial contracts is essential, with past exposure to rail (either from a projects or rail finance team) desirable (full training will be offered)
• A keen interest in the rail and/or bus industry is essential; an interest in projects and infrastructure more generally would also be a plus
• Experience of dealing with franchises and concessions (in rail and/or bus) would be ideal as would experience in procurement and working within public procurement frameworks (Public Contracts Regulations/Utilities Contracts Regulations/Procurement Act) more generally
• Background in a firm with an excellent reputation in commercial contracts (which may include rail/bus projects or rail finance)
• A willingness to turn your hand to a variety of different transactions, including working in overseas jurisdictions
• Ability to manage own workload and lead a transaction with partner support, including delegating to more junior lawyers
• Accuracy and attention to detail
• Excellent verbal and numerical communication skills
• Ability to acquire, consolidate and apply fundamental and up-to-date knowledge of the law and regulatory practices
• Cooperative and collaborative in approach and able to develop excellent working relationships at all levels and roles
• Organised and able to work to strict deadlines with the ability to prioritise realistically
• Manages and records time promptly and accurately
• Resilient with the ability to handle setbacks, pressure and competing demands
• Ability to operate professionally and proactively at all times
• Exhibits an understanding of the Firm\’s position in the market and how it distinguishes its services from its competitors

Practice Areas and Experience

• Rail franchising and concessions (advising private and public sector operators and owning groups, and Transport for London) – recent experience includes advising Transport for London on re-procurement of Elizabeth Line and London Overground concessions, Arriva on National Rail Contracts and concessions (including Cross Country and Chiltern and nationalisation); Transport UK on its National Rail Contracts and related renationalisation; Trenitalia UK on entry into the UK franchising market and related operations; Northern Trains Limited (NTL) on various issues
• Bus franchising and concessions (advising private sector operators and owning groups) – recent experience includes advising bidders in relation to Manchester bus franchising and related procurement processes in Liverpool and Leeds
• Rolling stock – advising manufacturers on bids for new rolling stock contracts and maintenance; advising operators and financiers on rolling stock arrangements; examples include CAF, Contact with LNER, Wales and Borders, Docklands Light Railway and related bids; financing matters for West Midlands fleets
• Regulation – advising on rail and bus sector regulation, track and station access, regulatory arrangements and related issues, including TfL regulatory regime and renationalisation-related matters
• Infrastructure – structuring, real estate, construction and regulatory aspects of infrastructure development; advisory work in depot facilities, electrification and related projects
• Rolling stock and depot financing – financing of new rolling stock and depots

We are currently expanding our business internationally with focus on Europe (notably France) and the Middle East. The rail and bus team is part of the Real Estate and Projects department at Stephenson Harwood. While this role has a focus on rail and bus work, there will also be opportunities to work in the projects and infrastructure practice from time to time. Stephenson Harwood is an international law firm and we are committed to creating positive partnerships with our clients. We represent listed and private companies, institutions and individuals, building lasting relationships to help them succeed in a complex and ever-changing world. We focus on five core sectors: Energy Transition, Life Sciences and Healthcare, Private Capital and Funds, Technology, and Transportation and Trade. With more than 1,400 people, including 210+ partners, across eight offices in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, we combine deep legal capabilities and broad commercial expertise. We have also forged close ties with high quality law firms around the world, blending local knowledge with global savvy for clients in over 100 countries. We understand the power of diversity in delivering high-calibre advice to our clients. We actively encourage applications from underrepresented demographics.

We will offer you a place where you can be yourself and where there are no limits on what you can achieve. With us, you can take ownership of your career and have honest conversations throughout. You would join an ambitious firm with a clear strategy for profitable growth where you can get early responsibility and early involvement in growing the business. Here you can expect a competitive and fair reward as well as recognition based on all-round performance. This forms part of our internal promise to you, The Deal, between the firm and its employees.