Senior Legal Counsel (18 months)

Providing all business functions with routine legal advice that identifies the relevant issues, sets out the practical options, and supports colleagues to reach sound, well-informed commercial decisions.

Take ownership of legal matters from initial instruction through to implementation, applying judgment to progress work independently and to escalate material issues to the Legal Director and/or Chief Legal Officer where appropriate.

Drafting, negotiating and interpreting a broad range of legal documents, delivering advice suited to the request and ensuring that legal risks are well communicated, understood and appropriately managed, including:

procurement, maintenance and construction contracts;

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commercial services contracts;

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IT and software contracts;

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LMA-style financing agreements and related security documents;

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technical and consulting service agreements;

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intra-group arrangements;

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land arrangements including leases and wayleaves; and

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corporate governance arrangements.

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Work with project teams and senior management to deliver development, financing, operational and M&A initiatives, contributing legal judgment early and collaboratively to help shape viable, deliverable solutions.Support the provision of corporate secretarial services, including drafting board and shareholder resolutions, guiding colleagues on governance on requirements, and managing company filings with external company secretarial providers.

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Support the development of Legal Counsel through day-to-day supervision, review of work product and timely, constructive feedback. Share legal and commercial judgment, identify development opportunities, and help build confidence, capability and increasing independence within the legal team.

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Support the drafting and updating of departmental policies and procedures.

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Develop and maintain a thorough understanding of the business, corporate structure, governance and risk appetite.

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Help select and manage external counsel where required, including securing best value by agreeing scope and engagement terms, managing work in progress and not being afraid to challenge the advice where appropriate.

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Help to identify, support and initiate continuous improvement in the delivery of legal support, including through better processes, precedents, AI, and self-service tools.

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Responsibility for various administrative tasks e.g. payment of invoices and the saving and storing of documents within the online legal repository.