Senior Property Lawyer

Join Our Team: Senior Property LawyerJoin our Legal division as a Senior Property Lawyer.Join us as a Senior Property Lawyer, leading the provision of in-house legal support for the Trust’s operational and commercial property activities. You will provide expert legal advice tailored to the Trust’s needs, ensuring the lawful and effective exercise of its statutory powers.Working Hours & TravelThis role follows 37 hours, Monday to Friday working pattern. The vacancy will be offered on a remote working basis, with a requirement to attend our main hub spaces as and when required.Role OverviewThis is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Property Lawyer to join us in a pivotal legal leadership role, providing expert property law advice across the Trust’s operational, commercial and infrastructure activities. As the Trust’s lead adviser on property matters, you will manage complex real estate transactions, support major development projects, oversee external legal providers, and lead the Transactional Property team. Working closely with senior stakeholders, you will deliver pragmatic, risk-based legal guidance, ensuring compliance with property and charity law while protecting the Trust’s interests and maximising commercial opportunities. We are seeking an experienced property lawyer with significant real estate expertise, strong leadership skills, and the ability to build effective relationships across a complex organisation.Key ResponsibilitiesAct as the Trust’s lead legal adviser on all aspects of property law.Work with the senior lawyer team to embed client-centred legal service across all internal teams.Provide strategic legal and risk management advice on all property matters, including specialist property law advice across the Trust’s operational and commercial property activities.Provide advice to the Trust in relation to infrastructure projects and development proposals with potential impact on the canal network, to ensure the protection of the network and to help maximise any commercial opportunities arising from such proposals.Provide legal advice on commercial property transactional matters, including landlord and tenant, development, utilities and infrastructure matters.Draft, review and negotiate commercial property documentation including contracts, transfers, agreements for lease, leases, overage provisions, options, and utilities agreements.Provide advice on compliance with the requirements of charity law and the Trust Settlement with DEFRA in the context of disposals of interest in land by the Trust, including making applications to the CharityCommission and the Secretary of State for consent to certain types of transactions.Supervision and regular review of the provision of legal services from the Trust’s panel of external property law firms.About YouQualified lawyer (10+ years PQE) or equivalent experience in property law gained in private practice, public sector or in-house environments. Substantial expertise in real estate law including landlord & tenant, acquisitions, development, easements, and infrastructure.Knowledge of charity law as it applies to the management and disposal of real property.Ability to provide pragmatic, commercial, risk-based advice and resolve complex property issues in an operational and commercial environment.Ability to work autonomously, manage a wide and varied caseload and meet tight deadlines. Strong experience supporting legal team leadership, including planning, financial tracking and performance reporting.Ability to build collaborative relationships across all levels and disciplines within the Trust and with external legal advisers and to participate effectively in meetings at a senior level within a complex organisation.Comply with Canal & River Trust Health & Safety policy and defined standards, report incidents, accidents and near misses. Assess risks and make adjustments to work methods where appropriate. Ensure all equipment (PPE, plant, materials etc.) is appropriate for the task. Consider your own and others’ behaviour.Be aware of your own responsibilities regarding safeguarding and support our commitment to providing safe environments and working practices that promote and protect the safety and welfare of children, young people and adults at risk at all times.Contact & ApplicationIf you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected]. We encourage early applications as we may close the vacancy once we receive enough suitable candidates.What We OfferIn addition to your annual base salary of £75,000. We also offer a competitive pension scheme, increasing holiday entitlement, and a range of employee benefits. For a full breakdown of our benefits, check out our brochure here: EVP - 1. Learn more: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/work-for-us/our-benefits #INDHP