Legal Counsel EMEA - Newcastle

RED are an expanding international M&E consultancy, with a proven track record in low energy design, focused on providing excellent design solutions to clients.

Through our market leading technical expertise, we enable the world’s digital infrastructure and develop the built environment whilst also helping clients realise ambitious plans for zero carbon-built environments. We cover the entire life cycle of any building project, with our broad capability offering saving our clients time, money, and effort. Our approach is centred around listening to our clients and interacting energetically with our fellow project stakeholders. We add value with our people, client service ethos, global delivery strategy, technical ability, and attitude.

We now seek a Legal Counsel to be based out of our Newcastle office.

Role Responsibilities

• Drafting, and assisting with the review and negotiation of suite of standard form (FIDIC, NEC, ACE) and bespoke consultancy agreements, NDA’s, framework agreements and professional appointments.  
• Proactively advising on and the identification of operational risk.  
• Advising on and assisting with the implementation of RED’s legal policies, processes, standard contracts (including continuing and proactive review and revision) and trainings. 
• Champion of RED’s ethics and compliance programme. 
• Assisting with disputes, including advice on and participation in ADR. 
• Advising on RED’s programme of insurance and liaison with insurers and brokers to ensure appropriateness of and adequacy of programme for RED’s global operations. 
• Assisting the Legal Team in supporting RED management’s governance process through robust legal risk identification, mitigation and  reporting. 
• Assisting with delivery of full programme of legal training to operational project teams. 

Role Requirements

• An English qualified solicitor with  2 year’s post qualification experience either in-house or with a well-regarded regional, national or City firm.  
• Consistently demonstrates autonomy, efficiency and resourcefulness in the execution of all task to meet deadlines.  
• Proven experience working with stakeholders of varying seniority across an organisation in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Non-contentious construction law background with working knowledge of internationally recognised construction agreements including suites of industry standard form agreements, in particular FIDIC, NEC and ACE.  
• Familiar with contentious elements of a project, in order to advise on and mitigate risk by having an appreciation of how a project may fall into delay and/or become distressed. 
• Good understanding of international working and business operations of a global consultancy. 
• Self-starter with high levels of initiative and motivation.  
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills including ability to engage effectively with people at all levels and locations (both internally and externally). 
• Highly competent drafting skills.  Requirement to routinely draft bespoke provisions to and amend standard form consultancy agreements and ancillary documentation. 
• Takes pride in all pieces of work and consistently provides clear, commercial, accurate and strategic advice capable of being submitted with minimal supervision and amendment.  
• Enthusiastic and proactive approach to contract negotiation (and problem solving).  
• Ability to bring creative and innovative ideas to improve existing ways of working, including execution of the same through promoting their usage within the business and training others on the same. 
• Ambitious with a commitment to continuous development. 
• Ability to work at a demanding pace and to remain calm under pressure. 
• Commitment to RED’s culture and values. 
• Excellent attention to detail. 

Benefits

RED offers a variety of benefits, including but not limited to:

• 23 days annual leave rising to 28 days annual leave over 5 years’ service
• Holiday purchase and buy back scheme
• Hybrid Working
• Contributory company pension scheme
• Healthcare Scheme via salary sacrifice (Company funded cover is dependant on level)
• Non-contractual bonus awards
• Training sponsorship
• Charity volunteering leave
• Wellness days/ initiatives.
• Salary commensurate with experience.
• Our people work in friendly teams with a collaborative approach and mentoring support from talented leaders.
• We offer a comprehensive benefits package and are an equal opportunities employer.

*This role will ideally suit those with the right to live & work in the UK without restrictions, as we are unable to offer sponsorship at the present time.