Senior Legal Counsel

Shape the Future with the National Wealth Fund

At the National Wealth Fund, our mission is to swiftly and effectively mobilise trusted sector insights and investment expertise to unlock billions in private finance for projects across the United Kingdom. Providing £27.8bn of capital and an expanded mandate, we are ready to help the market invest with confidence, continue to drive forward the Government's growth ambitions.

We are looking for skilled and results oriented individuals who are motivated to help us build the National Wealth Fund into an industry-leading institution.

Job Purpose

Location: Hybrid working with a minimum of 3 days per week in the Leeds office. 

Salary: Competitive

Deadline to Apply: 20th October 2025. Early submission is encouraged, and applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.

As a Senior Legal Counsel, you will provide leadership and legal expertise for debt, equity and/or fund transactions as well as key legal risks

Key Responsibilities

• Contribute to the development, implementation, and review of the legal risk management framework for a designated area of legal risk, including controls and identify opportunities for improvement to manage the risk appetite for the Fund in key areas of legal risk.
• Act as the subject matter expert on existing and emerging legal requirements affecting designated business activities, (e.g. general lending, asset finance, project finance, equity, employment, public law etc) to ensure they are within the legal risk appetite.  
• Review of complex, bespoke infrastructure transactions with the Fund providing debt, equity or guarantees advice and partner with key stakeholders to provide independent solutions.  
• Act as a trusted partner with key stakeholders across the Fund to identify, assess and mitigate legal risks and determine appropriate controls and resources.  
• Work with General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel alongside specialist external legal panels, private sector, government and other public sector organisations to support delivering NWF objectives, increase awareness and raise NWF’s profile.
• Monitor, challenge and report on designated legal risks with senior internal stakeholders and Investment and Engagement Committees, to protect the Fund from legal challenge and ensure compliance with legal and governance requirements.
• Manage litigation or claims made against the Fund for designated activities, representing the Fund’s position with external parties, to drive an outcome that is in line with the Fund’s risk appetite whilst ensuring that legal and governance requirements are satisfied.
• Lead designated legal projects and work in matrix teams to deliver joint outputs that ensure that management of legal risk is embedded across all designated activities.
• Engage, manage and monitor the performance of legal suppliers to ensure the delivery of the business objectives and commercial considerations.
• Working with the banking and other NWF teams to create and develop the Fund’s precedent documentation.
• Develop and deliver specialist legal training and guidance, working with the Learning & Development Team where appropriate, to raise awareness and capability across the Fund to enable the effective management of legal risks.
• Supervise the work of junior paralegals to ensure accurate provision of legal advice across the Fund.

Knowledge, skills and experience

Experience:

• Significant PQE experience
• Experience of having worked in-house as a solicitor or barrister would be an advantage
• Experience of supervising junior legal colleagues
• Essential - deep experience in one or more of the following areas: general lending; equity; corporate M&A, asset finance, project finance, debt restructuring
• Desirable – deep experience in one or more of the following areas: regulatory compliance, claims and recovery work, employment law, public and private law litigation, public law matters, public procurement, personal data and freedom of information work

Knowledge:

• Qualified to practice law in England & Wales as a solicitor or as a barrister
• Expertise in the areas listed above in Experience section

Skills:

• Possess strong analytical skills combined with the ability to communicate complex information in a simplified manner.
• Possess strong presentation skills; demonstrate ability to present to committees and senior management.
• Excellent communication, listening, and writing skills.
• Strong attention to detail and well organised; ability to prioritize, multi-task and work well under pressure.
• Self-motivated and works well independently; capable of taking initiative without prompting.
• Strong problem-solving techniques, including the ability to identify, research and resolve unfamiliar issues.
• The ability to clearly communicate issues and influence outcomes with a high level of confidence and credibility, some of which may be complex in nature

A career with us offers a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact and work on cutting-edge technologies that will drive the UK’s future. We value diversity in our people and inclusion is at the heart of what we do.

We offer competitive benefits and unique learning opportunities from combining both private and public sector skills and experience. Please note, referencing and background checks are carried out for all roles here at the National Wealth Fund.