Legal Counsel (Regions) - Milton Keynes in High Wycombe

Location: Milton Keynes, GB

Department Name: SC General Counsel Function (338290) G4

About Network Rail: Join Our Team at Network Rail! Are you ready to make a difference in people's lives? At Network Rail, we connect passengers and freight customers, ensuring safe and efficient transportation across the country. We’re an organisation where people truly matter, and when you join us, you matter to us and millions of others.

You will be part of the North West & Central Region (NW&C) which consists of three routes – North West, Central and West Coast South – and a regional team supporting Regional Major Programmes & Professional services. In the North West & Central Region, we’re proud to be building a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We know that inclusive teams make better decisions, drive innovation, and help us create a safer, more accessible railway for everyone. If you’re passionate about making a difference and believe you have the skills or potential to thrive in this role, we’d love to hear from you. We’re committed to creating an open, supportive environment where everyone feels they belong.

Your unique perspective and experience could be exactly what we need to keep Britain moving safely and sustainably. We’re also a Disability Confident Leader employer and we’ll try our best to adapt the process and offer a reasonable alternative to help support people with disabilities access, apply and interview for roles.

Brief Description: As Legal Counsel (Regions) you will provide high quality legal advice aligned to a region or regions within Network Rail. You will have regard to the need for management of corporate legal risk and delivery of legal services to the Company, advising across all areas of law which affect the regional business, with an emphasis on commercial and litigation law. Your day-to-day workload will include taking responsibility for advice on a wide range of matters including in the areas of commercial, health and safety, procurement, construction, employment, and public and regulatory law.

As a strategic business partner of the region you will support the business to achieve its strategic priorities and be integral to the delivery of these aims. You will have a high degree of autonomy in the work you deliver, with the support of experienced colleagues, the Head of Legal and General Counsel for the Region. You will work closely with colleagues across the business, including in respect of frontline railway operations, nationally and politically significant infrastructure projects, major railway enhancements and industry initiatives. As part of a national legal community, you will work cooperatively and collaboratively with other members of the legal team across the Regions and National functions and support matters on the agenda of the Board.

The role may suit someone with railway specific, or similar industry experience with an emphasis on providing pragmatic legal advice in an often fast paced environment.

Key Accountabilities:

• Supporting and working alongside the Head of Legal (Regions) and/or General Counsel (Regions) on complex and/or high value legal matters, whether complex alliance arrangements, joint ventures, procurement events, material litigation or the strategic response to major incidents including regulatory action.
• Responsible for delivery of legal advice that is business focused, accurate and appropriate, so allowing the company to reduce its risk of exposure and achieve its commercial and business objectives.
• Assisting the Head of Legal (Regions) and/or the General Counsel (Regions) on the development of appropriate company policies and processes, and/or training to the Region in the areas covered by the Regions legal team.
• Participation in various cross regional project teams advising on legal aspects and problem solving in order to achieve commercial objectives.
• Instructing and supervising external lawyers to support their areas of responsibility, when required.
• Providing regular information and reports of work in progress, trends and risks/opportunities to the Head of Legal (Regions) and/or General Counsel (Regions), as required.
• Contributing actively to a legal team community of practice committed to collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Participating and/or acting as legal representative in various Regional / executive meetings and providing reports and information to the Head of Legal (Regions), as required.

In order to be successful in this role, we would like you to have/to be:

• Qualified solicitor or barrister with previous experience, including current UK practicing certificate.
• Legal background to be gained across a number of legal areas whether commercial, corporate, competition, litigation, property or otherwise – but must have substantial commercial or litigation experience.
• Ability to identify and minimise corporate legal risk.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills both verbally and in writing.
• Proactive and commercially minded.
• Creative problem solver with can do attitude.
• Works well under pressure, with the ability to prioritise and handle competing demands.
• Basic financial/accounts understanding.

We would also like but it isn’t crucial to have/to be:

• In-house experience (this includes, for example, a secondment).
• Experience in a regulated or public sector body environment.

How To Apply:

Salary: £55,596 - £65,966

Closing date: Friday 5th December 2025. Late applications will not be accepted. We may close the advert early if we receive a large volume of applicants. As this is a role in a regional team, travel across NW&C is required. Candidates should be comfortable with frequent travel to client sites, regional offices, or other business locations as needed. Remote working opportunity! This role requires working in the office 3 days a week.

Network Rail Benefits:

• 28 days annual leave – with the opportunity to buy and/or sell up to 5 days.
• Access to a range of contributory pension schemes.
• The potential to top up your competitive salary with a bonus.
• A subsidy of up to 75% on rail and underground season tickets if you travel to work on the train.
• Privileged staff travel – Discretionary leisure travel discount of 75%.
• We can offer you a season ticket loan, annual season tickets are discounted.
• A 35-hour-per-week contract with flexible working options available to help support your work-life balance.
• Hybrid working where possible and enhanced family-friendly support.
• Take advantage of healthcare offers (including discounted healthcare club membership), discounted cycle hire, and online shopping sites.
• 5 days of paid volunteering leave.
• 2 weeks paid reserve leave for the Armed Forces community.

All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks.