Overview
A leading UK charity responsible for managing 2,000 miles of canals, rivers, docks, and reservoirs is seeking a Principal Property Litigation Lawyer to join their Legal team. This role involves providing expert legal advice and managing property-related disputes arising from the organization’s operational and investment property portfolio.
Responsibilities
- Lead the conduct of property law disputes across the operational estate, including issues related to title, trespass, boundary disputes, rights and easements, restrictive covenants, rights of support, and nuisance claims involving adjoining landowners, tenants, and other stakeholders.
- Contribute to managing legal risk on property disputes connected to engineering, estates, utilities, and business boating activities.
- Assist Senior Lawyers in providing strategic advice to Senior Managers and the Executive on litigation risks affecting the estate and assets, aligned with the wider estate and asset management strategy.
- Manage high-value disputes (both claimant and defendant) related to asset and infrastructure responsibilities, including retaining walls, embankments, bridges, harbours, flood defences, water resources, highways, and reservoirs, often involving other public and third sector infrastructure owners.
- Supervise a Property Litigation Lawyer and Paralegal, collaborate closely with the Claims Manager, and coordinate external legal support including Counsel.
- Work alongside the Senior Litigation Lawyer on property litigation matters involving boating and mooring disputes.
Requirements
- Qualified solicitor (or equivalent) with at least 10 years of property litigation experience gained in private practice or in-house.
- Proven ability to independently lead a substantial caseload of major property litigation.
- Experience leading strategic legal risk discussions at senior management levels.
- Experience supervising and coordinating legal and expert teams, including Counsel.
- Strong interpersonal skills to build collaborative relationships across all organizational levels and with external advisers.
- Commitment to health and safety policies, including reporting incidents and assessing risks, ensuring appropriate use of equipment such as PPE and plant.
Working Hours & Location
- Full-time, 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday.
- Remote working basis with occasional attendance required at main hub locations.
Compensation & Benefits
- Annual salary of £61,930.
- Competitive pension scheme.
- Increasing holiday entitlement.
- A range of additional employee benefits.
Additional Information
- The organization is committed to diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from all sectors of the community.
- Reasonable adjustments are available during the recruitment process for disabilities, neurodiversity, or health conditions.
- Part-time, flexible, and job share arrangements can be considered.
- A Guaranteed Interview Scheme is in place for disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria under the Equality Act 2010.
- The recruitment process may involve AI-assisted application analysis, but all hiring decisions are made by hiring managers.
Location
United Kingdom (remote with occasional hub attendance)