Legal Counsel (Commercial)

About us

At Environment Bank, we’re working together to help restore natural habitats across England. With thousands of acres of new habitat creation already underway, our projects are delivering biodiversity gains and helping vital ecosystems to recover and flourish. 

Our diverse team includes ecologists, land managers, habitat specialists, geospatial analysts, planning advisors, account managers, digital creatives, legal experts, and more. 

From our habitat specialists to our sales and marketing teams, everyone at Environment Bank is a champion for our values, working towards our goal of reversing biodiversity loss. 

Environment Bank is a market-leading organisation in a sector that’s experiencing rapid growth. We’ve already built a highly skilled team of experts and we’re actively looking to expand our team in the coming months. 

We’re incredibly proud of all we achieved so far and we’re still growing. If you'd like to be part of a driven organisation that's making a real difference, find your next role with the team at Environment Bank. 

About the role

As Legal Counsel you will be working closely with the team on all legal aspects of our business. You will be instrumental in negotiating sales of biodiversity units and other products developed by our Emerging Nature Markets team from our nationwide portfolio of habitat banks. Although predominantly focusing on commercial contracts there will be opportunities to be involved in other parts of the legal requirements of the business.  

You will be a qualified solicitor or equivalent. The role would suit a newly qualified solicitor although applications from those with more experience are welcomed, in-house experience is beneficial but not essential.  

Although the role is primarily remote, the candidate should be able to travel to our London office for meetings with their supervisor and wider team. There will also be the requirement to occasionally meet at other locations.

We are also open to part-time applications.

Responsibilities

• Drafting and negotiating commercial contracts for the sale of biodiversity units.
• Become a key partner to the Sales team to ensure legal support throughout the sale process and allocation of biodiversity net gain units.
• Supporting the Sales team on responses to RFPs and RFI’s from larger clients, and other onboarding requirements.
• Supplier and contractor onboarding and negotiation of contracts.
• Work closely with our experienced commercial Legal Counsel and report effectively to the Head of Legal, Governance and Compliance on contract terms and any risks for the business.
• Reviewing ad-hoc contracts and flexing your skills to the requirements of the business at the time alongside the rest of the team.
• Being a point of escalation for issues arising on non-disclosure agreements.
• Focus on enhancing processes, continuously seeking opportunities for improvement and optimisation.
• Offer accurate and timely counsel to the organisation on various legal matters, providing valuable insights and guidance.

Requirements

• A qualified solicitor or legal executive in England and Wales, you are an enthusiastic junior lawyer with experience in commercial contracts. 
• Your experience means you will be able to quickly understand and unblock legal issues as they arise.
• Your keen eye for detail, paired with a proactive approach, ensures that no stone goes unturned, and every challenge is met head-on.
• Communication is your superpower, as you effortlessly navigate negotiations with external parties.
• Your excellent judgment and analytical skills are second nature, empowering you to make well-informed decisions in the face of uncertainty.
• Collaboration is at the heart of your work, as you seamlessly liaise with stakeholders at all levels, both internally and externally.
• Juggling multiple tasks is your forte, as you effortlessly prioritise and focus on the delivery of key projects and tasks.
• Your ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment is matched only by your unwavering commitment to excellence.

The PQE level above is only indicative, if you think you are the right person for the job please do apply.

EDI & Belonging

At the heart of Environment Bank are the people, who make it all possible. We employ individuals, who share the same passion to live our Environment Bank mission and values.

At Environment Bank we believe that fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace makes us more innovative, dynamic, and competitive. We welcome individuals from all backgrounds, ethnicities, cultures, and experiences. We are committed to creating an environment where everyone is valued and respected, free from discrimination based on race, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or expression, or any other legally protected status.

Benefits

As an organisation, we believe that work should be fulfilling, inspiring, and balanced, so we’re creating a space where our team can thrive, both personally and professionally – providing flexible working arrangements, mental wellbeing support, and more.  

We offer... 

• 🎁 Performance-based annual bonus up to 10% of salary 
  💸 Pension scheme with employer-matched contributions at 6% of salary 
• 🏖️ 30 days of annual leave, plus paid bank holidays, birthday, and wellbeing day 
  ➕ Option to purchase 5 additional days of annual leave after probation
• 🏡 Remote and hybrid flexible working options 
  💼 Regional and departmental team co-working days 
• 🌞 Expenses-paid whole company meet twice a year 
  🎗️ Team fundraising and charity events 
  🎓 Ongoing career development with training and mentoring 
• 🩺 Medical cash back scheme to cover everyday healthcare costs 
  ‍🧠 Employee assistance mental wellbeing support 
  ❤️‍🩹️ Enhanced sickness pay allowance