Legal Counsel - 12 month contract in Reading

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a NQ to 3 PQE solicitor to join Wood’s award winning Eastern Hemisphere Legal team in the role of Legal Counsel. This is a 12 month fixed term contract position from October or November 2026 and is based in our Reading or Aberdeen office with hybrid working.

The Role

This role is responsible for the delivery of precise, commercial, timely and cost effective legal advice in respect of any matter which has potential or actual legal or reputational implications, supporting Wood’s legal needs across the UK, Europe, Middle East, Africa, CIS, and APAC regions to achieve their short and long term strategic priorities through the effective management of legal risk and cost. This is a truly international role within a high performing and collegiate team. The role can cover a broad spectrum of specialist areas of law on a multi-jurisdictional basis (including litigation/disputes, contract/project support including EPC/EPCm, joint ventures, employment law, real estate, company establishment, and compliance matters).

What we can offer

• Meaningful and interesting projects we support green hydrogen and fuel switching, as well as supporting local clients with energy transition.
• Flexible working arrangements that balance client, team and individual needs offering hybrid working arrangements.
• Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion; we are an organisation actively committed to diversity and inclusion across our business with employee networks committed to giving all employees a voice.
• Competitive salary with regular salary reviews to ensure we are rewarding at the right level in line with the market.
• Flexible benefits package; inclusive of 33 days annual leave (including public holidays), generous contributory pension scheme, private medical cover, 4x base salary life insurance; all of these and more that can be adapted to suit your own lifestyle.
• Commitment to continued professional development; development plans that are tailored to your individual needs and interests.
• Global connections; join experts around the world who are at the leading edge of our industry, shaping the standards of our profession.

Responsibilities

• Ensure the effective, timely and cost-effective delivery of legal advice, support, governance and compliance in the relevant geographic regions, including project management of external legal service provider engagement and related budgets.
• Support the UK, Europe, Middle East, Africa, CIS, and APAC Senior/Managing Counsel with complex legal analysis and problem solving, research, counsel and guidance, including effective communication of same.
• Inputs/prepares for litigation/disputes; works with outside counsel to develop the claim/defence, or leads disputes to resolution, including instruction and supervision of outside counsel.
• Maintains and inputs into matter and cost management databases.
• Develop understanding of legal risks and cost, including anticipating potential risk and developing risk mitigation strategies.
• Provide oversight of functional legal risk and management, proactively identifying and effectively managing legal risk and compliance.
• Successfully communicates and delivers strategic legal and compliance initiatives.
• Project management of strategic transactions and litigation/disputes.
• Manage current and new vendor relationships, identifying appropriate partners who can add value, with a focus on continuous improvement.
• Proactively shares knowledge and experience with other members of the legal team to assist in overall development and progression of the team.
• Legal training / knowledge sharing - contributing to internal training, guidance notes and templates.
• Supports the creation of a cohesive team and organisational culture based on values and excellence in delivery which fosters innovation and collaboration, continuous improvement and change.
• Works autonomously and proactively to deliver defined legal goals.

Qualifications

Expected:

• NQ to 3-year post qualification experience either in house or in a private practice environment.
• Strong commercial acumen and highly developed legal and analytical skills.
• Core legal analysis & drafting: ability to interpret, structure and communicate advice clearly, with sound issue-spotting and risk-based judgement.
• Commercial contracting fundamentals: core contractual concepts (scope, risk allocation, indemnities, limitation of liability, variations/claims, termination, dispute resolution).
• Disputes awareness: basic understanding of how claims and disputes progress (pre-action, ADR, arbitration/litigation) and how to support strategy development with internal stakeholders and external counsel.
• Privilege & confidentiality: understanding how to protect legal privilege and handle sensitive investigations / contentious matters appropriately (including disciplined written communications).
• Matter management discipline: matter scoping, status reporting, document management and basic cost awareness.
• Stakeholder management: presenting complex issues succinctly to non-lawyers; confidence to ask the right questions to get to a decision.
• Working as an effective team player in a fast-paced environment.

Desirable:

• Engineering/construction/projects work (contentious or non-contentious), including exposure to EPC/EPCm or comparable delivery models (or demonstrable interest in developing this specialty quickly).
• Claims, variations, delay/disruption concepts, and/or supporting dispute strategy, including working productively with external counsel.
• Employment/HR advisory exposure: handling sensitive documentation, or managing external counsel input.
• Multi-jurisdiction mindset: experience working across jurisdictions/time zones, or demonstrated ability to learn unfamiliar legal frameworks with supervision.
• Global/matrix environment: comfort working with multiple functions (commercial, procurement, HR, finance, projects) and aligning advice to business objectives.

Ability to:

• Develop specialist skills in different jurisdictions including developing all the preferred knowledge and experience above.
• Consistently deliver to stakeholders.
• Push the boundaries to create smarter legal solutions.
• Generate trust and credibility with audiences through continuous, open and consistent communication.
• Champion and drive innovation and change initiatives, focused on improving quality and effectiveness.
• Work effectively across different cultures, driving a global mind-set.
• Foster and contribute towards a customer-focused climate that delivers on expectations and strengthens relationships.
• Meet deadlines and always provide professional level of service.
• Measure performance of external counsel against budgets.
• Work collaboratively with and influence key business unit/service bundle/functional leadership teams.