Legal Counsel (Construction)

Hemiko are seeking to recruit a Legal Counsel to support the delivery of our portfolio of large-scale district heating schemes.

This exciting new role is ideal for a construction lawyer with a minimum of circa 4 years of post-qualification experience and a strong interest in infrastructure and clean / renewable energy projects.

The successful candidate will work with stakeholders across the business and will support on all construction related legal matters and will be responsible for providing effective and timely advice to project teams.

The successful candidate has the opportunity to be part of a business that is looking to scale its operations, with genuine opportunities for progression as the organisation expands. The successful candidate will work closely with our General Counsel, C-suite and other senior colleagues across the business, gaining an understanding of commercial aspects of project delivery to supplement their legal skills.

We appreciate that no one’s circumstances are the same and having the flexibility in working environments work is essential to our wellbeing. If this is significant to you let us know when you apply, and we will discuss how this could work in your role.

Hemiko strives to be an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from anyone regardless of ethnic origin, gender, gender expression, disability, age, trade union activity, marital status, religious belief, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic background.

We are Armed Forces friendly. We welcome applications from ex-Armed Forces personnel, reservists, armed forces veterans, cadet instructors and military spouses/partners.

About Hemiko

Hemiko is a leading UK heat networks investor and developer.

We are a fast-growing, dynamic business, backed by CVC DIF and looking to invest in and deliver over £1bn of heat network projects by 2030. We are at the forefront of a growing sector, delivering major infrastructure projects that will decarbonise heating for towns and cities.

We recognise that the decarbonisation of heating and the built environment is one of the most complex areas of decarbonisation, however, heat networks in towns and cities are 40% cheaper than the alternative heat decarbonisation pathway - this is where we are focused and where we will be deploying our investment and our resource.

We are an innovative, intelligence led, company, looking to attract people who think around a problem and past an issue. We want to be at the front end of commercial and technical innovation and are looking for team members to come on that journey.

Hemiko is absolutely committed to an honest and collaborative approach to all our work, always looking for better ways to do things. We put communities and people at the heart of what we do.

We are a friendly, approachable business in the very rapidly growing low carbon energy sector, which provides significant opportunities for career flexibility and development.

The Role

Hemiko is seeking a Legal Counsel with strong construction law capability to support the delivery of its portfolio of large-scale district heating and heat network projects across the UK.

The role is principally aimed at a construction lawyer who can advise across the full lifecycle of major projects, with a particular emphasis on procurement, contracting, delivery and operational issues. The successful candidate will be a trusted adviser to project, commercial and operational teams on construction-related legal matters, while also supporting wider business issues where relevant, including M&A, regulatory matters and strategic transactions.

The role offers a significant opportunity for the successful candidate to develop their career in a collaborative environment working directly with the General Counsel and C-suite. Access to key commercial decision makers allows the legal counsel to have real input into the strategy of the business, gaining important commercial experience to supplement their core legal skills.

The fast-growing nature of the business provides a genuine opportunity for progression as the organisation expands, with the successful candidate having the chance to be part of building and leading a first-class in-house legal team to support wider business needs.

In addition, this is a unique opportunity to be at the forefront of shaping the UK district market as a whole. Hemiko is a market leader in a nascent and rapidly evolving industry, responsible for developing and delivering some of the most exciting and high-profile projects in the sector.

Key Responsibilities:

The Legal Counsel will support the General Counsel on legal and contractual matters across the business, with a primary focus on construction, project delivery and project-facing risk. The role is likely to include the following responsibilities.

• Leading or supporting the drafting, review and negotiation of key construction and project agreements across Hemiko’s heat network portfolio, including NEC-based contracts and associated delivery documentation.
• Advising commercial, delivery and operational teams on the interpretation, administration and risk management of construction contracts through procurement, delivery, completion and operational phases.
• Providing clear, pragmatic advice on construction-related legal issues, including contract strategy, change control, delay, defects, payment, interface risk, claims and dispute avoidance.
• Supporting tender and procurement activity by advising on legal risk, bid governance, contractual departures and appropriate escalation routes.
• Developing and maintaining Hemiko’s construction contract templates, playbooks and precedent documentation, with particular emphasis on NEC and other relevant forms.
• Co-ordinating external legal advisers where specialist input is required and managing that support so advice is timely, commercially focused and proportionate.
• Tracking legal developments relevant to heat networks and the energy sector, and brief stakeholders accordingly.
• Attending project and governance meetings, preparing legal summaries and approvals papers where required.
• Provide guidance / advice on disputes or team queries as they arise.
• Helping to improve the efficiency of legal service delivery through better processes, training, knowledge sharing and appropriate use of technology.

Candidate Profile and Key Attributes

We are looking for a commercially minded construction lawyer who is confident operating in a fast-paced project environment and building strong relationships with non-legal stakeholders. The right candidate will combine sound technical judgement with a pragmatic approach, be comfortable handling a varied workload with appropriate supervision, and be motivated by the opportunity to support complex infrastructure projects in a growing business.

Essential Experience and Skills:

• Qualified solicitor in England & Wales with circa 4 years’ PQE or more, although candidates with stronger or broader relevant experience will also be considered.
• Strong construction law experience, ideally gained in-house or in private practice supporting developers, contractors, utilities, infrastructure sponsors or major projects.
• Excellent working knowledge of NEC contracts, with the ability to advise confidently on procurement, drafting, negotiation, administration and contract risk across the project lifecycle.
• Strong communicator with the ability to explain legal issues clearly.
• Proactive and able to work autonomously and manage a varied workload.
• Ability to approach new issues strategically and identify pragmatic solutions or where further specialist advice or support is required.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.
• Confident in identifying and analysing risk and providing commercially-focussed advice to key stakeholders.

Desirable Experience:

Experience in some or all of the areas below would be advantageous, but we are open to candidates from a range of strong construction backgrounds who can broaden their skillset in role.

• Experience advising on energy, utilities, district heating, civil engineering or other major infrastructure projects.
• Experience with other standard forms such as JCT, FIDIC, or professional appointments, alongside strong NEC capability.
• Familiarity with public procurement, concessions, public sector delivery models or grant-funded infrastructure projects.
• Experience supporting development, land, interface or project structuring matters relevant to infrastructure delivery.
• Experience of claims, disputes or contentious construction matters, whether in formal proceedings or through strategic dispute avoidance.

• Understanding of regulatory regimes relevant to heat networks, utilities or decarbonisation infrastructure.
• Experience working with investors, lenders or joint venture partners on project-related legal and commercial issues.

Remuneration and Info

• Competitive salary (depending on experience)
• Discretionary bonus based on individual and business performance.
• 25 days annual leave (plus public holidays), with option to buy or sell up to 5 additional days.
• Pension scheme and private health insurance.
• Cycle to work and electric car lease schemes.
• Flexible hybrid working and a supportive, inclusive workplace.
• Opportunity for home-working if preferred.
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities.

Application

This is a high-impact role in a dynamic and innovative clean energy business. If you are a construction lawyer looking to apply your expertise to complex energy infrastructure projects and play a visible role in the energy transition, we would love to hear from you.

To apply, please complete the online application form on BambooHR. For an informal discussion, contact Chris Haines, General Counsel: chris.haines@hemiko.com