Senior Regulatory Lawyer (Senior / Principal Associate) - Water Industry
Region: EMEA
Practice group: Core Teams
Office: Reading
Position type: Permanent
Summary
We are Eversheds Sutherland, a global law firm, with 5,000+ colleagues in more than 30 countries. We’re full service with deep niche and sector experience. Whatever challenge, wherever in the world, we’re equipped and ready to meet it. We live our values, we’re purposeful and purpose-led. So although the world is fast-moving and rapidly changing, we see it as a place where everyone can thrive. We’re ambitious for our clients, our communities – and for you.
What to expect
As a lawyer, you enjoy a variety of work: regional to international and across practice groups. With us, you grow your global mindset. You’re encouraged to put ideas into action and there’s always something new and different to get involved in.
The Eversheds Sutherland Managed Legal Service
MLS is a novel and fairly unique arrangement for the provision of legal services. In April 2018, Eversheds Sutherland won a multi-year managed legal services contract with a utilities client and took over the existing legal services team (On-Site Team) from the client’s former managed legal service provider. The team is involved in advising the client on a very wide range of day-to-day legal matters including competition, projects and planning, regulation, construction, real estate, commercial contracts, tax, disputes, energy, employment and health and safety.
The MLS On-Site Team
The On-Site Team currently consists of around 20 Solicitors and Paralegals and a small management team. The team is embedded within the client, sitting in the client’s head office in Reading alongside the client’s retained legal function. The On-Site Team is split into 6 practice teams:
* Property
* Commercial
* Litigation
* Construction
* Operations and Regulatory
* Competition
Role and key responsibilities
The Operations and Regulatory team (the “O&R team”) consists of 3 lawyers and we are looking to recruit a replacement for our Principal Regulatory Lawyer who will be leaving in August 2024. The role will report to the Head of Legal Service Delivery for MLS.
Key responsibilities include:
* Acting as subject matter expert for regulatory matters relating to water and waste, water fittings, water resources, street works, charges schemes and drought (including temporary usage bans).
* Liaising with subject matter experts in the MLS team or elsewhere within ES on environmental permitting, environmental protection, planning, property, competition law, construction, procurement and commercial.
* Managing your own caseload and reporting to the client and the Head of Legal Service Delivery on the progress of cases being handled by the O&R team.
* Supporting the other O&R team members with their caseload where required.
* Managing the lawyers within the O&R team, offering guidance on the conduct of cases and getting regular updates on the progress of these.
* Taking instructions from the client, gathering information and providing clear and concise legal advice in writing and in meetings.
* Attending meetings and negotiations as legal adviser with opposing parties.
* Identifying ways to add value and improve internal efficiencies, including process improvements.
* Actively contributing to the management of the wider MLS team, MLS operations and deliverables under the MLS contract with the client.
* Complying with all service level agreements (SLAs) and KPIs, including accurately recording time and meeting reporting obligations.
* Being responsible for the allocation, in line with relevant SLAs, of new O&R matters which are submitted through the client instruction portal.
* Drafting regulatory documents.
* Keeping up to date with all relevant legal, legislative, regulatory and industry developments relevant to the legal specialism.
* Designing and delivering regulatory law training to the client’s business and management teams.
* Undertaking a range of continuing professional development (CPD) activities ensuring efficient knowledge transfer across the legal team.
Skills and experience
* Qualified solicitor with at least 8 years’ post-qualification experience (PQE) of working within a regulated sector, ideally within the water and sewage sector.
* Experience of working in an in-house environment and of working with all levels of seniority within a business would be beneficial.
* Detailed knowledge and understanding of the legislation, licences, codes of practice, rules, guidance and case law that governs the operational running of a regulated utility company.
* Capable of working independently and managing a small and busy team.
* Organised and good at managing time effectively, using appropriate systems and processes.
* Good relationship builder with strong interpersonal skills and highly team-oriented.
What’s in it for you?
At Eversheds Sutherland, we provide benefits focused on looking after you: your development, your performance, your financial future and your health, as well as providing the opportunity to make a contribution to the world.
* We support flexible ways of working through our remote working policy and commitment to flexible, agile and hybrid ways of working.
* We support your health and performance through our dental, healthcare and wellness support.
* We support everything you are and all you bring through our powerful commitment to diversity and inclusion.
* We provide a platform for your career, whatever your ambitions, through our structured professional and personal training, mentoring and development programs.
Diversity and inclusion
At Eversheds Sutherland, “Inclusive” is a core business value. We want all our people to thrive at work and reach their full potential.
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