Estates Manager

RESPONSIBILITIES

Role: Property Counsel
Headcount: 1
Non-Digital:
Contracting Authority: HS2
Contract Length: 4 months
Location:
The Podium
1 Eversholt Street
London
NW1 2DN

3 days in the office minimum

IR35:
Pay Rate to Candidate: £700 umbrella or £515.73 PAYE
Minimum Requirement: 1
Security Clearance: BPSS
CV Deadline: 09/07/26 at 3.00pm
Interview Process: Two stage – first virtual and second face to face
Client qualifies for GIS: NO

Please note if the CV deadline is amended (and it may if there are enough applicants) you will be given 1 hours’ notice before the role is halted/closed.
Please email me if you have any questions on:


The role of the Interim Property Counsel is to assist the Head Counsel – Land and Property to manage and provide a full range of advice to HS2 and key internal stakeholders in relation to property and compulsory purchase disputes in order to minimise exposure and risk whilst ensuring compliance with legislation and regulations, timely delivery of property requirements and value for money.

The Interim Property Counsel will be required to work under appropriate supervision of Head Counsel – Land and Property and in collaboration with other members of the in-house team and external law firms and counsel.

Responsibilities

• Advise with appropriate supervision on contentious land and property matters including landlord and tenant disputes, residential, commercial and agricultural possession, debt recovery, valuation disputes, trespass situations, access issues and title issues.
• Manage with appropriate supervision all property litigation matters including advice on strategy, case management, settlements, evidence, deadlines, disclosure, trial preparations, witness preparation, costs.
• Advise with appropriate supervision on Alternative Dispute Resolution policy and procedure and application in individual cases.
• Assist with the provision of high-quality legal support in connection with a range of other land and property matters including the HS2 discretionary property schemes (including application of the Equality Act), utilities, acquisitions and disposals, Act powers, settlement agreements, notices.
• When required, manage the provision of external legal support including responsibility for managing and monitoring cost, assisting with the setting of budget and timescales and managing quality.
• Assist with the drafting, updating and maintaining standard form template documentation in order to continuously improve performance and compliance, consistency across the business and effective working practices.
• Assist in the preparation of legal advice and other reports and briefings for staff across HS2, to maintain open communication and support decision making.
• Conduct research into and advise on relevant legislation, case law and procedures to ensure HS2 remains up to date and compliant and report to colleagues as necessary.
• In all cases providing advice in such a way so as to ensure that the business is not exposed to undue risk and that consistent standards are adhered to.
• Actively promote and embed Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in all your work, and support and comply with all organisational initiatives, policies and procedures on EDI.

Anisah Allen PMO

PSR1

08:28 AM

Continued

Skills:
• Ability to work within a multidisciplinary team in a high pressured, demanding environment, on wide ranging contentious property matters
• Ability to prepare property-related notices and court proceedings
• Ability to influence stakeholders at all levels of the organisation and externally, and to build effective working relationships
• Problem solving skills, including working without established precedent or procedure
• Ability to balance and prioritise numerous tasks, while maintaining attention to detail, and to deliver to deadlines.
• Advanced planning and organisational skills

Knowledge:
• Qualified solicitor or chartered legal executive with post-qualification experience in property litigation (indicated PQE of 3 to 10 years, but suitable candidates outside of that range will be considered).
• A working knowledge gained in house or in private practice dealing with government departments or other public bodies

Type of experience:
• Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team on a wide range of property issues
• Experience of advising on and managing contentious aspects of residential, commercial and agricultural tenancies
• Experience of conducting or assisting with conducting possession proceedings
• Experience of debt recovery work, including pre-action, claims and enforcement
• Experience of liaising with senior clients and stakeholders, government departments, utilities and/or transport undertakers, from either an in-house or private practice background