Legal Counsel

Company description

Solarport is the UK’s leading solar infrastructure company; designing and engineering the infrastructure for the energy transition. We design, engineer, manufacture and install the high-quality infrastructure and solar carports that make large-scale clean energy possible. Our work underpins some of the most significant renewable energy projects in Britain and beyond.

We are, first and foremost, an engineering and design company, and proudly at the top of our game. Our in-house design and engineering capability is what sets us apart: we solve the hard structural and technical problems that others cannot, and we deliver infrastructure that performs, endures and scales.

Ours is a story of resilience and innovation. Founded just over a decade ago when solar subsidies fell off a cliff-edge, our founder spotted an opportunity where others saw the exit. Since then we have grown rapidly into a category-defining business, delivering multiple concurrent projects, from major client delivery and office/factory expansion to new product lines and continuous operational improvement. We have achieved remarkable growth whilst keeping our people at the heart of what we do. We have an industry-leading commitment to ESG, active committees and a Women's Forum, and a culture that is ambitious, collaborative and projects led. We are determined to set new standards in our industry, and we mean it.

The opportunity

This is a pivotal role for a commercially sharp, technically excellent lawyer who wants high-quality work in a business that is scaling fast. Working directly with our GC and Senior Legal Counsel, you will support on a varied commercial and project contract workload, including the multimillion-pound contracts that sit at the core of our project delivery.

You will not be a back-office gatekeeper, instead you will be embedded in the business, sitting alongside our engineering, design, sales and operations teams, providing real-time, pragmatic legal input on the decisions that make a difference. This is an opportunity to help shape a growing legal function, build the frameworks that will support the next phase of our growth, and see the direct impact of your work on infrastructure being built across the UK.

The role

Commercial contracts

• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating multimillion-pound supply, manufacturing, installation and framework agreements. Lead complex negotiations with major EPC clients, contractors and suppliers.
• Advise on the full contract lifecycle across our engineering, design and installation projects, from tender and bid support through to delivery, variations and completion.
• Support with the Development and maintenance of contract templates, playbooks and guidance that enable the business to move quickly and confidently on routine matters.

Embedded business partnering

• Work as an integrated, accessible partner across the business providing clear and practical legal advice in real time.
• Support business development, tenders and bids for major infrastructure projects.
• Identify, assess and communicate commercial and legal risk in a way the business can act on.
• Act as a trusted adviser and role model, contributing to a legal function that is a business enabler rather than a support function.

Governance, policy and compliance

• Support the GC and Senior Legal Counsel in developing and embedding legal policies, frameworks and compliance processes across the business.
• Contribute to our strong ESG, sustainability and governance agenda.
• Help build the infrastructure of the legal function itself, including templates, systems, training and guidance, as we scale.

About you

• Qualified solicitor in England and Wales.
• Projects and/or construction experience.
• Strong draftsperson.
• Demonstrable experience drafting and negotiating substantial commercial and project agreements, ideally including high-value contracts.
• Commercially astute and pragmatic.
• A natural relationship-builder who embeds as a business partner and communicates clearly with non-lawyers.
• Sound judgement, attention to detail and a solutions-focused mindset.

Why join Solarport

• Work in the renewables sector at the UK's leading solar infrastructure company, an engineering and design business at the top of its game.
• Support high-value, high-impact commercial and project contracts.
• Help shape a growing legal function.
• Competitive salary based on experience, plus discretionary annual bonus.
• Employer contributions to pension scheme.
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave.
• Two wellbeing days per year, in addition to your annual leave entitlement.
• Two volunteering days per year, in addition to your annual leave entitlement.
• Enhanced annual leave entitlement.
• Death in service cover.
• EV car scheme, via salary sacrifice.
• Cycle to work scheme, via salary sacrifice.
• Quarterly social events.
• Flexible and hybrid working, with access to our new central Bristol office.
• A market-leading commitment to ESG.
• Active committees (Charity, ESG, DEI and Social) and a Women's Forum.
• A culture of ambition, collaboration and growth.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter to opportunities@solarportsystems.com.

We are an equal opportunities employer.