Associate

Associate

Operations & Regulatory Team

Reading, Permanent

We are Eversheds Sutherland, a global law firm, with 5,000+ colleagues in more than 30 countries. We’re full service with deep niche and sector experience. Whatever challenge, wherever in the world, we’re equipped and ready to meet it. We live our values, we’re purposeful and purpose-led. So although the world is fast-moving and rapidly changing, we see it as a place where everyone can thrive. We’re ambitious for our clients, our communities – and for you. Whether you’re starting out on your career or well established, whether you’re a lawyer or in business services. If you’re looking for what’s next, we are too.

What to expect

As a lawyer, you enjoy a variety of work: regional to international and across practice groups. With us, you grow your global mindset. You’re encouraged to put ideas into action and there’s always something new and different to get involved in. We see the fast-moving world as a place where we can all thrive and succeed. We’re excited for what’s next, so with us, you can be too.

Our team

MLS is a novel and pretty unique arrangement for the provision of legal services. Eversheds Sutherland is servicing a multi-year managed legal services contract with a utilities client. The team is involved in advising the client on a very wide range of day-to-day legal matters including competition, projects and planning, regulation, construction, real estate, commercial contracts, tax, disputes, energy, employment and health and safety.

The MLS On-Site Team

The On-Site Team currently consists of around 20 solicitors, barristers and paralegals and a small management team. The team is embedded within the client, sitting in the client’s head office in central Reading alongside the client’s retained legal function. The On-Site Team is split into 6 practice teams:

• Property
• Commercial
• Litigation
• Construction
• Operations and Regulatory
• Competition

Role and key responsibilities

The Operations and Regulatory team (the “O&R team”) currently consists of 2 lawyers (Principal Associate and Senior Associate/Barrister) and we are looking to recruit a Regulatory Lawyer to complete the team. The role will report to the Principal of the O&R team. The team works 2-3 days in the office per week and the rest of the time remotely.

Key responsibilities include:

• Advising on regulatory matters relating to water and waste such as water fittings, water resources, street works, charges schemes and statutory works powers.
• Liaising with subject matter experts in the MLS team or elsewhere within ES on environmental permitting, environmental protection, planning, property, competition law, construction, procurement and commercial.
• Being responsible for your own caseload and reporting to the client under the supervision and management of the O&R Principal.
• Supporting the other O&R team members with their caseload where required.
• Taking instructions from the client, gathering information and providing clear and concise legal advice in writing and in meetings.
• Identifying ways to add value and improve internal efficiencies, including process improvements.
• Contributing to the effective operations of the wider MLS team, MLS operations and deliverables under the MLS contract with the client.
• Complying with all service level agreements (SLAs) and KPIs, including accurately recording time and meeting reporting obligations.
• Being responsible for the allocation, in line with relevant SLAs, of new O&R matters which are submitted through the client instruction portal.
• Drafting regulatory documents.
• Keeping up to date with all relevant legal, legislative, regulatory and industry developments relevant to the legal specialism, informing and updating the team, and providing proactive updates to facilitate the client’s operational activities.
• Designing and delivering regulatory law training to the client’s business and management teams.
• Undertaking a range of continuing professional development (CPD) activities ensuring efficient knowledge transfer across the legal team.

Skills and experience

We are looking for:

• Qualified solicitor or barrister with 3+ years’ post-qualification experience (PQE) of working within a regulated sector. We are keen to hear from candidates who are bright, keen and able to pick up new skills quickly, so even if you do not quite meet the minimum PQE (or equivalent experience), please do not let that put you off applying. Knowledge of the water industry or wider utility sector would be useful but is not essential.
• In-house experience useful (but not essential).
• Knowledge and understanding of the legislation, licences, codes of practice, rules, guidance and case law that governs the operational running of a regulated utility company, including, but not limited to:
• Water Industry Act 1991 and historic legislation relating to the regulation of the water industry;
• New Roads and Street Works Act 1991;
• Environmental Protection Acts / Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016;
• Water Resources Act 1991;
• Agreements and codes governing arrangements between wholesalers and retailers and agreements between undertakers for bulk services; and
• Rules governing charges and charges schemes.

If you have worked in a different sector and do not have specific knowledge of the above, it would be important for you to demonstrate an ability to acquire knowledge of the above quickly and comprehensively.

• An awareness and understanding of general aspects of securitisation, consumer law and competition law.
• Ability to use appropriate, professional and client-friendly language – both written and spoken.
• Ability to work alone with confidence and self-discipline, taking ownership of tasks when instructed by the Principal and able to demonstrate sound judgment and decision-making skills.
• Capable of working on a number of different matters at any one time and adapting to changes in work load capacity.
• Willing to participate in legal discussions with the O&R team members and demonstrate ability to learn from peers.
• Willing to learn a complicated and dynamic business, understand the client, its customers and the regulatory regime in which the business operates.
• Eagerness to build expertise in new areas of law or technical understanding.
• Experience of drafting, reviewing and discussing key legal documents.
• Good relationship builder with strong interpersonal and communication skills and highly team-oriented.
• Flexible working “can do” attitude, adaptability to change and ability to respond to competing deadlines.
• Organised and good at managing time effectively, using appropriate systems and processes.

What’s in it for you?

At Eversheds Sutherland, we provide benefits focused on looking after you: your development, your performance, your financial future and your health, as well as providing the opportunity to make a contribution to the world.

Other things you can expect from us:

• we’re fair, transparent and equitable
• we reward alignment to our values, going above and beyond and your individual performance
• we support flexible ways of working through our remote working policy and commitment to flexible, agile and hybrid ways of working
• we support your health and performance through our dental, healthcare and wellness support
• we support everything you are and all you bring through our powerful commitment to diversity and inclusion
• we provide a platform for your career, whatever your ambitions through our structured professional and personal training, mentoring and development programs
• we provide experience and opportunity through international and cross-function exposure
• we provide an opportunity to give back through our pro bono work and community engagement
• we help you plan ahead through retirement planning, insurance and assurance

Diversity and inclusion

At Eversheds Sutherland, being “inclusive” is a core business value. We bring together different skillsets, global mindsets and approaches. We foster diversity of thought and the freedom to put ideas into action. We have an inherent respect for the individual. We have a strong belief in collaboration and teamwork. Sharing ideas, asking questions, solving challenges and meeting our clients’ goals: together.

We want all our people to thrive at work and reach their full potential and we work hard to continue to build a diverse and inclusive culture, monitor and report on our progress and impact, and develop our approach. This is reflected in our policies, systems and processes, and in our work with diversity membership organisations.

Many of our people work flexibly in some way and we are open to considering how we can accommodate flexible working arrangements alongside role requirements. If this is important to you, please talk to us about it during the recruitment process.