Legal Advisor

Job Description

What if you could do the kind of work the world needs? At WSP, you can access our global scale, contribute to landmark projects and connect with the brightest minds in your field to do the best work of your life. You can embrace your curiosity in a culture that celebrates new ideas and diverse perspectives. You can experience a world of opportunity and the chance to shape a career as unique as you.

WSP is one of the world’s leading professional services firms providing strategic advisory, engineering and design services to clients. WSP UK is currently recruiting an experienced solicitor to support several of its highest growth markets, environmental services including mining and other earth related services.

About the Role

Within this role you will work closely with the Earth and Environment businesses to support the growth of these businesses, while managing the legal and commercial risks associated with working in these sectors. This will include supporting the management of contractual and commercial risk predominantly in relation to engineering consultancy contracts through the provision of commercially oriented and solution focussed legal advice. An ability to understand and be able to advise on a wide range of construction and engineering related matters, including major procurements and projects involving complex contracting arrangements and contractual issues, including joint ventures is key to this role. Experience of working in the environmental and/or earth services, including mining sectors would be advantageous.

The role requires a self-starter who is confident working with senior internal stakeholders as well as external parties including clients, sub-consultants and their representatives.

A Little More About Your Role

• Working closely with the Earth and Environment business teams to support the growth of the business line while embedding a culture of contractual and commercial risk management, mitigation and regulatory compliance
• Reviewing and negotiating contractual documentation relevant to the earth, mining and environment sectors, including consultancy agreements, project contracts, joint venture and teaming agreements, framework agreements, collateral warranties, deeds of novation, reliance letters, non-disclosure agreements, letters of intent, and sub-consultancy agreements
• Carrying out legal reviews with the aim of minimising any impact on WSP’s working capital and proactively seeking the timely conclusion of contract negotiations
• Ensuring that corporate governance is maintained in relation to contract reviews and approvals given to bid for work or enter into contracts
• Providing advice and guidance on the tender process and bid documentation to identify and address risk and promote competition
• Supporting and advising the business in the contract delivery phase to maximise revenue and minimise risk and support effective contract management
• Liaising with internal business disciplines, bid teams, commercial and operations directors and other support functions including the finance team
• Updating the business on relevant legal developments within the environmental and earth related space including from time to time delivering legal training
• Contributing to the organisation and dissemination of legal ‘know-how’ within the WSP UK Legal team and contributing to the provision of ‘lessons learned’ feed-back to the wider business
• A team player who works collaboratively with colleagues at all times.

There is an expectation that the successful candidate will familiarise themselves with WSP’s health and safety arrangements and guidance relevant to themselves and their activities and shall meet any specific duties for their role as detailed within GNHS020 – Competencies, Roles and Responsibilities. This document is available to all employees through our company intranet and is accessible from your first day with the company.

What We Will Be Looking For You To Demonstrate

The successful candidate will be a solicitor qualified in England & Wales, with relevant post qualification experience of reviewing and advising on a wide range of contractual matters within the engineering and construction sector. Experience of being in-house at an engineering consultancy or a contractor is preferable. Experience of complex contracting arrangements including joint ventures is also desirable. The successful candidate will have the experience and competence to work autonomously whilst feeding their knowledge and experience into the wider legal team.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or equivalent
• Qualified solicitor or barrister in England and Wales
• Excellent communication skills, written and oral
• The ability to work without supervision under pressure and meet deadlines
• A proactive approach with the ability to prioritise between competing business demands
• Strong inter-personal and collaborative skills

Benefits

Work-life balance At WSP, we understand that work is just one aspect of your life. It’s important to make time for you, your family, friends, interests and your community. Our hybrid working policy offers the flexibility to work from home two days a week, while also providing opportunities to collaborate in our modern offices across the UK.

Inclusivity & Belonging We welcome applicants with varied backgrounds and experiences. We enable rewarding careers by encouraging people to bring their whole and authentic selves to work so that our work represents the fullest spectrum of society. We celebrate integrity and treat people with respect, supporting each other and embracing a culture of inclusion and belonging at WSP. We have our employee resource groups bring together employees and allies with different backgrounds to promote our culture of inclusivity.

Health & Wellbeing We are committed to supporting our people, giving you the tools to make improvements to your health and wellbeing through our Thrive programme. Our Virtual GP service gives you access to an NHS or Irish Medical Council GP at a time and place that suits you – giving you peace of mind and quick access to medical advice when you need it most. We also provide reasonable workplace adjustments for those in need. Additionally, you can benefit from the Gymflex scheme, which offers up to 40% off annual gym memberships through our WSP flexible benefits program, as well as a comprehensive menopause support package.

Flex your time To enhance work-life balance, WSP offers the \”WSP My Hour\”, allowing you to take one hour each day for personal activities, with the flexibility to make up the time earlier or later that day. We also provide part-time and flexible working arrangements, the option to purchase additional leave, and the ability to use your bank holiday entitlement to suit you.

Your development We understand the importance of development and training to you. That’s why we foster a supportive environment that invests in your growth, whether through training, mentoring, or Chartership.

Equality, Diversity, & Inclusion

Here at WSP we positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy or maternity/paternity. As a Disability Confident leader, we will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria, please let us know if you require any workplace adjustments in support of your application.

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