Legal Counsel (Inc. Company Secretary) - 12 Month FTC

We have an exciting opportunity for Legal Counsel (Inc. Company Secretary) (Grade 12) to join the Legal and Company Secretarial team on a 12 month fixed-term contract (FTC).

Team Overview:

The legal and company secretarial team:

• Provides business critical advice relating to:
• Elexon’s industry roles including BSC Code Manager, EMRS, market facilitator
• The delivery of Elexon’s strategy (including developing appropriate governance for new industry roles)
• Management of legal risks
• Compliance including with the the BSC, regulatory obligations and compliance with applicable laws (including data protection laws)
• Is a key member of industry change process (including advising on modifications, CPs and issues; drafting legal text; contributing to industry workgroups)
• Is a key member of multi-disciplinary teams delivering the contracts and contributing to the smooth progress of the transactions that are key to delivering the company’s objectives
• Provides advice and support to the Board and the Executive Team in relation to corporate governance, including:
• Ensuring board meetings are well organised and minutes appropriately taken
• Ensuring appropriate levels of information are provided to the Board to support decision making
• Providing advice on corporate governance best practice to the Board and its Committees
• Ensuring compliance with the Corporate Governance Code

Job Purpose:

The main focus of this role will be on the company secretarial function. As part of this role, providing support to the company secretary, the Board and Executive Team to ensure high quality corporate governance and well administered Board and Committee meetings.

As legal counsel, the successful candidate will also be expected to work with colleagues to deliver the company’s objectives, and ensuring that Elexon remains compliant with legal obligations, transactions are clearly documented and that legal and commercial risks are appropriately managed.

Key Responsibilities:

• Company secretarial responsibilities including:
• Preparing draft minutes of board and committee meetings;
• Overseeing the organisation and forward planning of board and committee meetings
• Reviewing Elexon’s annual report and accounts with specific focus on corporate governance reporting
• Drafting board and committee papers relating to governance matters
• Managing the process and outcome of the annual vote to re-appoint Elexon’s directors
• Company secretarial support to Elexon subsidiaries
• Overseeing flow of information to directors
• Ensuring the company maintains the necessary insurances, overseeing the annual renewal process and liaising with insurance brokers
• Providing accurate, relevant, and timely advice on a variety of legal topics that relate to the Elexon, the BSC, other industry schemes, the industry’s regulatory framework
• Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating various commercial contracts and agreements
• Drafting and reviewing changes to industry documents, in particular the Balancing and Settlement Code
• Managing and mitigating legal risks by designing and implementing company policies and procedures, and ensuring these are kept up-to-date
• Supporting Elexon’s data protection compliance including managing data protection processes such as impact assessments, data subject rights and data breaches
• Ensuring compliance with all laws and regulations that apply to the business
• Promoting legal, compliance and risk management best practice throughout the company
• Staying up-to-date with changes to legislation, particularly in relation to laws, rules and regulations that directly affect Elexon and the electricity industry

Capabilities and competencies:

Critical:

• The applicant must be a legal practitioner with experience in some or all of the following corporate governance and administration, data protection, commercial contracts
• High quality drafting skills
• Ability to provide robust, pragmatic advice and the ability to offer solutions in addition to identifying issues
• Good judgement and a record of commercial awareness

Developmental / Desirable:

• Experience in technology and outsourcing contracts
• Knowledge and understanding of energy industry regulatory framework
• Knowledge and understanding of Balancing and Settlement Code
• Experience of drafting, reviewing and negotiating contracts
• Minute taking skills
• Qualified solicitor entitled to practice in England and Wales or equivalent jurisdiction

Elexon career path / Potential next role(s):

• Development of technical expertise in the BSC, industry governance, technology contracts and data privacy

In return, Elexon provides:

• £75,000
• 28 days annual holiday + Bank Holidays
• Discretionary annual incentive scheme
• Life assurance
• Pension
• Private medical (Bupa)
• Private dental (Bupa)

At Elexon, our employee wellbeing is particularly important to us, which is why we are proud to provide:

• Hybrid working - 2 days per week at our London office
• BUPA health check
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Eye care voucher scheme
• Subsidised gym membership
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Buying & selling holiday scheme
• Computing scheme
• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) days
• Season ticket loan

We believe a diverse and inclusive culture allows innovation and creativity to flourish. We are committed to continuously improving our culture for our colleagues and stakeholders. Through our hugely successful Diversity Forum, Mental Health First Aid network and regular programme of activities and events, we celebrate difference and recognise the value of employee wellbeing, which is a consistent outcome from annual employee surveys that we conduct. Likewise, as a community, we like to support each other, and all agree Elexon is a great place to work with a great workspace too!

At Elexon, we want to:

• Provide true equality of opportunity
• Attract and retain diverse talent
• Listen to all voices
• Be representative of the communities we work in
• Be a role model for Diversity and Inclusion in the industry

Elexon together, embracing differences, listening to all voices