East West Rail is a nationally significant railway project which aims to deliver much-needed transport connections for the vibrant communities between Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge. Together these communities contribute around £111 billion to the national economy each year.
EWR is one of the UK’s largest infrastructure projects, which the government committed to delivering in full in the Autumn 2024 Budget, and again in the 2025 Spending Review as part of its ambition to unlock the potential of the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor.
EWR is being championed by the Government as a key driver to economic growth leading to a potential £78 Billion boost to the UK economy: supporting new towns, housing, and regeneration.
Role Summary:
This role will provide specialist legal advice, guidance and direction on all aspects of land and property matters across the business.
The role will focus on ensuring that the legal aspects of land access, rights, and third-party interfaces are managed efficiently, consistently and in alignment with programme timelines. This includes supporting high-volume transactions, applying standardised approaches where appropriate, and exercising sound judgement on when to escalate risk.
Success in this role requires the ability to operate with a high degree of autonomy, balance legal risk with delivery objectives, and contribute to a legal function that is structured, responsive and aligned to the needs of a complex infrastructure programme.
Team Dimensions:
EWR Legal is a lean, collaborative and high performing- legal team embedded across the company. We operate a matrix structure, partnering with all teams across the programme. While your primary focus will be land and property, you will have exposure across a variety of practice areas, giving you a rare blend of depth and breadth. You will work directly with the Head of Legal. This is a hands-on role where your advice genuinely shapes outcomes.
You will be expected to operate with a high degree of autonomy, handling complex matters independently and exercising sound legal and commercial judgement in a fast-paced, high-profile infrastructure environment.
- Act as a trusted legal partner to land, environment and delivery teams and advise on all aspects of land and property matters, including compulsory purchase and blight acquisitions, disposals, leases, licences and easements and related compensation issues.
- Provide legal advice on the management of our growing property portfolio and support the legal aspects of land access and rights, enabling delivery teams to progress activities without unnecessary delay.
- Draft, negotiate and conclude both standardised and bespoke agreements, ensuring alignment with programme requirements and timelines.
- Identify, assess and manage land and property-related legal risks in a proportionate and delivery-focused manner.
- Escalate complex or high-risk matters appropriately, with clear articulation of risk and options.
- Provide clear, concise and commercially focused advice to support timely and informed decision-making.
- Instruct and manage external legal advisers where required, ensuring value for money, quality and alignment with internal objectives.
- Provide broader in-house legal support across the business as required, including advising on commercial, regulatory and governance matters, and contributing to the effective management of legal risk across the organisation.
- Build strong, trusted relationships with stakeholders across the organisation, providing clear, pragmatic and solution-focused advice.
-
Qualified as a Solicitor of the Courts of England & Wales, at least 3PQE.
- Experience advising on property, compulsory purchase or land access.
- Experience of infrastructure projects and/or advising in a public sector environment would be advantageous but not essential.
- Strong commercial acumen, with the ability to balance legal risk with delivery objectives in a high-pressure environment.
- Excellent analytical skills, with the ability to identify key legal risks quickly and develop pragmatic, defensible solutions.
- Ability to provide legal advice clearly, concisely and in plain English.
- Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build credibility and influence decision-making at all levels of the organisation.
- Effective planning and organisational skills in order to manage a large caseload.
- A collaborative approach to working within a multi-disciplinary team.
-
Competitive salary that reflects your skills and experience
- Up to 12% employer pension contribution to support your future
- 36 days annual leave (including bank holidays) plus the option to buy up to 2 extra days
- 2 volunteering days, a chance for you to give back to the community
- Enhanced family-friendly policies to support you and your loved ones
- Life assurance (4x your annual salary) for peace of mind
- Employee Assistance Programme for confidential support when you need it
- Access to Perkbox for a wide range of discounts and wellbeing benefits
- Recognition programme, including on-the-spot and annual awards
- Advanced learning and development opportunities to help you grow.
Diversity and Inclusion:
At East West Railway Company, we’re committed to building an inclusive railway for all. We believe that to do that, we must nurture a diverse team that represents the UK communities that we impact. Our approach is simple - to create an environment where everyone is welcome and able to be themselves. We celebrate diversity and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, encouraging applications from all backgrounds and experiences.
If you want to connect lives and unlock the future, then we’d love to hear from you.
East West Railway Company is a new and exciting venture at the forefront of the changing landscape of the rail industry, delivering substantial fast-paced improvement to modernise the railway.
