Legal Counsel – Infrastructure (DCO, Planning & Property)

Overview

In this role, you provide practical, risk-based legal guidance to support East West Rail from development through delivery, focusing on planning, land rights, and compliance. You will influence decisions by translating complex issues for project teams and stakeholders, bridging legal advice with commercial goals. You’ll work within the NSIP framework, coordinating across functions to enable timely delivery while engaging landowners and public bodies. The role offers meaningful impact on a high-profile infrastructure programme and collaboration with specialist external advisers.

Pay / Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Up to 12% employer pension contribution
• 36 days annual leave (+2 buy)
• 2 volunteering days
• Enhanced family-friendly policies
• Life assurance (4x salary)

Responsibilities

• Provide practical, risk-based legal advice across DCO, planning, consents, land and property workstreams
• Advise on land matters including compulsory purchase, temporary possession, blight, Need to Sell (NTS), early acquisition, compensation and land access
• Advise on planning, environmental and other regulatory issues arising in connection with the programme
• Advise on the interaction between DCO powers, land rights, utilities, consenting and programme delivery
• Take ownership of complex matters, identifying legal risks and providing clear recommendations and practical routes forward for the EWR Project
• Work closely with delivery teams and other EWR Co functions so that legal issues and dependencies are identified and addressed early
• Assist on complex stakeholder and landowner matters where legal, public law, equality, governance or reputational considerations arise
• Instruct, manage and challenge external legal advisers, ensuring advice is proportionate, practical and represents value for money
• Contribute to the Legal team’s know-how by developing guidance, processes and ways of working that enable efficient programme delivery
• Act in line with EWR Co’s Ways of Working and contribute to a collaborative, high-performing team culture

Key requirements

• Qualification as a solicitor or barrister in England and Wales
• Background as a lawyer working on major infrastructure projects
• Experience across planning and consents, compulsory purchase, land acquisition, land access, environmental law and public law
• Legal judgement and confidence to own complex matters and provide clear recommendations
• Understanding of how legal issues interact with programme delivery, commercial considerations, stakeholders and project risks
• Ability to manage competing priorities and operate in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment
• Clear, pragmatic communication translating legal issues for non-lawyers and senior stakeholders
• Familiarity with instructing and managing external legal advisers with focus on quality and value for money
• Collaborative approach to teamwork to support delivery and continuity of legal services to the organisation

• Clear, pragmatic communication
• Collaborative teamwork
• Ability to manage ambiguity
• Planning and consents
• Compulsory purchase
• Land acquisition and land access

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