Legal Director

Why join us?

We are seeking a Legal Director to join our Regeneration, Development and Infrastructure team, focusing on utilities and infrastructure projects.

Our Regeneration Development and Infrastructure team specialises in large scale development, regeneration and infrastructure projects acting for national and local government as well as a number of public private partnerships. We combine vast experience across the many different strands of the Public Sector, working both on behalf of public bodies, quasi-public bodies and institutions, as well as with private sector suppliers and partners that rely on them.

Our team of real estate development lawyers work closely as part of a wider team with colleagues across the business to provide our clients with a full range of legal services in addition to core real estate including grant funding, planning and compulsory purchase, subsidy control, commercial and construction advice.

You will lead the team which focuses on the delivery of projects with a particular focus on major energy and utility clients, advising on property-related legal matters across energy, utilities, and infrastructure sectors.

We offer flexibility on location, allowing for the position to be based out of any one of our offices in Leeds, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle or Liverpool and offer a hybrid working arrangement.

Responsibilities

• Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating property agreements including leases, easements, wayleaves, licences, and land acquisition documents.
• Advising on land rights and title issues, including conducting due diligence and resolving title defects.
• Managing land access and property rights for infrastructure development and maintenance.
• Supporting land assembly for utility projects (e.g. grid upgrades, pipeline installations).
• Negotiating and securing access or third party rights and consents.
• Advising on infrastructure agreements and land access strategies for energy projects.
• Related legal project management to support the delivery of legal services to project mandates.
• Supervising and mentoring other team members.

What will help you succeed in this role?

Essential

• Qualified solicitor in England & Wales.
• Strong experience in commercial real estate law with utilities or infrastructure sector experience.
• Excellent drafting and negotiation skills.
• Ability to manage complex transactions and multiple stakeholders.
• Knowledge of statutory undertaker rights and land law.
• Experience working with public sector bodies or regulated industries.
• Ability to work across multi-disciplinary teams.
• Experience leading, supervising, and mentoring others.

What we offer?

We are committed to ensuring that each member of our team feels valued and duly rewarded during their time at DWF.

We are an equal opportunities employer that celebrates diversity, and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all. We aim to create a positive experience for all candidates and offer any adjustments or additional support needed. If you're excited about the opportunity but your experience doesn't align perfectly with all the requirements, please apply anyway. You may be the right candidate for the role or others across the wider team.

About Us
DWF is a leading global provider of integrated legal and business services. Our approach delivers efficiency, price certainty and transparency for our clients across the world without compromising on quality or service. Our purpose is to deliver positive outcomes with our colleagues, clients and communities and we foster a culture that places our colleagues at the centre of all that we do.