Legal Counsel - Property
2 days ago
Birmingham
Legal Counsel - Property Build Britain’s Future | Leave a Legacy HS2 is Britain’s new high-speed railway, transforming connectivity between London, the Midlands and the North. As one of Europe’s largest infrastructure projects, we’re creating thousands of jobs, supporting economic growth, and building a legacy that will serve the nation for generations. We’re seeking a qualified solicitor to join our specialist property team, focusing on utilities and statutory undertaker work. This isn’t your typical property role, you’ll be at the intersection of law, infrastructure, and large-scale project delivery. What You’ll Be Doing: • Drafting and negotiating easements, wayleaves, and leases with statutory undertakers including gas, water, electricity and telecommunications companies, • Managing your own diverse caseload of complex property matters across fields, industrial parks, and railway land, • Handling legal agreements and processes for utilities and telecoms, protecting HS2’s interests while facilitating railway construction, • Developing and maintaining standard template documentation to ensure consistency and compliance, • Working collaboratively with internal stakeholders including land and property teams, utilities teams, and third-party agreements teams, • Managing external legal support where required, including budget oversight and quality control Why This Role is Different: • Variety and complexity: Broad and stimulating caseload, • Meaningful impact: Leave a genuine legacy, • Real relationships: Develop closer client relationships, • Supportive team: Work alongside smart, capable colleagues, • Evolving challenges: As the project matures, your work evolves What We’re Looking For • Qualified solicitor with property law experience, • Ability to manage your own caseload independently with minimal supervision, • Strong drafting skills and attention to detail, • Excellent negotiation and influencing skills at all levels, • Resilience for complex stakeholder negotiations, • Ability to balance multiple priorities while meeting deadlines Competitive Package: up to £65,514 • Salary: £46,406 - £54,595 per annum + enhanced pension, • 20% Flex Fund on top of base salary, • Flex fund can be used as additional salary or for benefits, • Optional benefits include gym membership, private healthcare, and more, • Enhanced pension: HS2 contributes 10% when you contribute 5%, • Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs) available Work-Life Balance: • Hybrid working - 3 days per week in our Birmingham office, • Flexible approach to support work-life integration Career Development: • Long-term career stability - at least a decade of work ahead, • Broad experience across multiple utility sectors and property types, • Work alongside specialist colleagues in a supportive team, • Professional development opportunities as the project evolves We value people who are: • Pragmatic problem-solvers who can work without established precedent, • Collaborative team players who build effective relationships, • Adaptable professionals who embrace evolving challenges, • Motivated by meaningful work and leaving a positive legacy Job Security & Future This isn’t a short-term contract role. With at least a decade of work ahead as we complete Phase One, transition to GB Railways, and manage the operational railway, you’ll have genuine long-term career stability. The work will continue to evolve and develop as the project matures, offering ongoing professional challenges and growth. Ready to Build Britain’s Future? If you’re a qualified property solicitor looking for more than just another legal role - if you want to work on something meaningful, gain unique expertise across utilities sectors, and leave a lasting legacy - we want to hear from you.