Senior Legal Counsel

TN United Kingdom; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 100,000

Job description

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Here, you will have freedom to grow in a world of opportunity

We will give you the flexibility you need to do your best work with hybrid work options. Whether you’re working from an AECOM office, remote location or at a client site, you will be working in a dynamic environment where your integrity, entrepreneurial spirit and pioneering mindset are championed.

You will help us foster a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion – a safe and respectful workplace, where we invite everyone to bring their whole selves to work using their unique talents, backgrounds and expertise to create transformational outcomes for our clients.

We will encourage you to grow and develop your career with us through our technical and professional development programs and diverse career opportunities. We believe in leadership at all levels. No matter where you sit in the organization you can make a lasting impact on the projects you work on, the teams and committees you join and our business.

We offer competitive pay and benefits, well-being programs to support you and your family, and the development resources you need to advance your career.

When you join us, you will connect and collaborate with a global network of experts – planners, designers, engineers, scientists, consultants, program and construction managers – leading the change toward a more sustainable and equitable future. Join us and let’s get started.

Job Summary

We are currently recruiting for a Senior Legal Counsel to join our European Legal and Risk Management Team.

This role sits within the UK&I legal team, a group of 10 people who are pivotal to the success of AECOM in terms of delivery and growth. The legal team is an integral part of the decision-making process, ensuring compliance and seamless contracting arrangements with both clients and partners. The legal team also plays an instrumental part in supporting strategic decisions on growth opportunities and the direction of travel in project management.

As an experienced Solicitor you will report to the Senior Regional Legal Counsel in our Transportation Division. This role joins AECOM as part of an energetic and collegiate legal team that prides itself on building close working relationships with colleagues across the business.

The role will involve:

• Providing legal support to the Transportation Business and managing a varied portfolio of legal work relating to construction and engineering projects.
• Direct involvement with project teams to provide advice in relation to infrastructure projects of national importance. This role will involve providing legal advice and support during the pursuit, negotiation and delivery phases of contracts and complex infrastructure projects.
• Significant involvement in corporate governance and acting as a key stakeholder in making decisions on bidding.
• Advising, supporting and collaborating with commercial and other relevant functions during drafting and negotiation of complex, high-value, national and international consultancy agreements.
• Drafting and negotiating bespoke and standard form infrastructure contracts (with an emphasis on NEC contracts), consultant appointments, warranties/third party rights and other construction documentation on both UK and international projects.
• Providing project support on complex and major projects, including advice on variations, payment disputes, suspension, alleged defects, etc.
• Opportunities to provide training and to present to management and senior executives on key risk areas.
• Ensuring compliance with AECOM’s governance processes, including all corporate policies, best practices and information requirements in force and, where required, assisting in implementing them.
• Oversight of claims, which will include managing, instructing and overseeing external legal counsel and acting as primary interface between external lawyers and internal project managers.
• Assisting with the management of legal budgets on claims.
• Liaising with external contractors, consultants, statutory authorities.
• Working collectively with lawyers from across the national and international legal team – sharing best practice, ideas – collaborating, sharing workload, etc.

Minimum Requirements

We are looking for a UK-qualified lawyer from a recognized law firm or an in-house legal team, with experience of drafting and negotiating commercial contracts, preferably within the construction or infrastructure sector. You should also possess a good knowledge of standard form construction contracts, including NEC contracts.

The role requires good influencing skills, sound commercial judgment and a pro-active approach and you should feel confident in this aspect. Your role will involve daily interaction with senior level executives, as well as colleagues at all levels across the AECOM group. Being a self-starter is essential for this role, and you must be confident in your ability to grow close working relationships with key stakeholders across the business.

Preferred Qualifications

We are looking for candidates with a minimum of 5 years PQE in order to satisfy the requirements of the role, but all applicants with suitable experience will be considered.

You should have excellent communication skills and have experience of communicating across all levels within a business. You must be able to demonstrate the ability to handle a varied and busy workload and be prepared to explore and adopt innovative working methods in the pursuit of continuous improvement.

About AECOM

AECOM is the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. On projects spanning transportation, buildings, water, new energy and the environment, our public- and private-sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges. Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our unrivaled technical and digital expertise, a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion, and a commitment to environmental, social and governance priorities. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of $14.4 billion in fiscal year 2023. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to come at aecom.com and @AECOM.