Legal Counsel - Employment in Leeds

Lanes Group is a leading service provider to the UK’s critical water and wastewater infrastructure networks, operating at scale across some of the most complex and demanding programmes in the country. Backed by one of the world’s leading investment firms and entering a significant investment cycle, we are building our legal function and looking for our first employment lawyer to join our in-house team working directly with the General Counsel.

Purpose of the role: We are seeking an experienced Employment Solicitor to join Lanes Group, supporting our operational business across the UK. This role will focus on delivering high-quality, pragmatic legal advice across employee relations (ER), TUPE and specialist employment matters, while also contributing to wider legal support across contracts and governance.

Working closely with HR, operational leaders and senior stakeholders, you will act as a trusted legal advisor, managing complex ER issues and ensuring decisions are legally sound, commercially balanced, and aligned with business objectives. You will also play a key role in strengthening internal legal capability, supporting consistency in ER processes, improving governance, and reducing reliance on external counsel.

Location: Open to candidates based in Yorkshire, Manchester or Lancashire.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide expert legal advice on a wide range of employee relations matters, including disciplinaries, grievances, absence management and complex casework.
• Support HR and management teams with end-to-end ER case handling, ensuring fair, consistent and legally compliant outcomes.
• Advise on and support TUPE transfers, restructures, and organisational change.
• Manage or support Employment Tribunal claims, working with external counsel where required.
• Provide guidance on employment law risk and best practice across the business.
• Support the development and review of policies, procedures, and governance frameworks.
• Deliver pragmatic, commercially focused advice to operational stakeholders.
• Contribute to training and upskilling managers on employment law and ER topics.
• Assist with wider legal work, including contracts, governance and general advisory support.
• Support reporting and insight on ER trends to help improve business outcomes.

Required: We are seeking candidates with around 3–6 years’ PQE; however, we will also consider applicants who can demonstrate the required level of experience.

• Strong and demonstrable Employee Relations experience.
• Solid experience handling complex ER casework and employment law advice.
• Experience supporting or advising on TUPE and organisational change.

Desirable:

• Previous in-house experience.
• Experience within a multi-site, operations or high volume environment.
• Experience across broader legal work (contracts, governance).

The Benefits:

• 24 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Flexible working.
• Free on-site parking.
• Company Pension.

Living the Company Values: By embedding our companies core values and purpose into each role, ensures that every employee, regardless of their role or level, understands how their individual development and contributions align with our purpose of ‘improving today for a better tomorrow’.

Your Contribution to the company:

• Strive to be always positive and constructive.
• Adhere to all company policies.
• Straight talking about the facts of the situation – open discussions are the best way to find solutions.
• Help others through communicating clearly.
• Deliver on commitments.
• Ensure that any ideas that may enhance the productivity or systems of the company are brought to the attention of Senior Management, or your colleagues.
• Deliver our Company Values understanding that by working together in unity we are ‘Stronger Together’.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion: At Lanes Group, we are dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered. We believe that our differences make us stronger and are committed to providing equal opportunities for all employees. We welcome and encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including those from underrepresented groups. Join us in our commitment to creating a more inclusive and diverse world.