Senior Legal Counsel (Construction and M&A)
Full time, permanent

Location – London or Selby, hybrid

Closing date – 10 January 2025

Who we are:

We’re not just talking about making a difference, we’re making it happen. We generate dispatchable, renewable power and create stable energy in an uncertain world. Building on our proud heritage, we have ambition to become the global leader in sustainable biomass and carbon removals.

You’ll be joining our teams of practical doers, future thinkers and business champions. We’re enabling a zero carbon, lower cost energy future for all, and working hard to decarbonise the planet for generations to come.

About the role:

As Senior Legal Counsel you’ll be responsible for the provision of high-quality and timely legal advice across the Drax Group to ensure delivery of its strategy in compliance with relevant laws and regulations.

You’ll support and advise across all business areas and core services, presenting the opportunity for extremely varied work and enabling the development of a deep understanding of the business of the Drax Group as a whole. You’ll primarily support Drax’s UK businesses but there may also be opportunities to support the Pellet Operations business in North America and on other projects and matters overseas.

You’ll manage legal and contractual risks and lead the drafting, negotiation and execution of a wide range of contracts. You’ll manage the external legal budget to ensure external legal advice is delivered efficiently and represents value for money. You’ll also have line management responsibility for the Legal Counsel, Shared Services and you’ll make time to pro-actively develop them and other lawyers and trainees in the Legal team.

You’ll work with the other Senior Legal Counsel and Deputy General Counsel to foster a professional, collegiate and inclusive team environment where everyone feels a valued member of a winning team, with a worthwhile mission.

Who we’re looking for:

To be successful in this role you’ll be a solicitor or barrister qualified in a UK jurisdiction or alternative jurisdiction with UK advisory experience and have the ability to provide clear and accurate legal advice. You’ll have excellent technical, analytical and drafting skills as well as strong negotiating skills.

You’ll be able to work under pressure with limited supervision in a multi-disciplinary environment and maintain high levels of focused drive and energy, going above and beyond to get the job done within the timeframe. You’ll have excellent project management skills, attention to detail, an ability to see the “big picture” in a project and build strong working relationships with colleagues of varying personalities across a diverse range of areas.

You’ll need to be flexible and willing to advise across a wide range of, and take on new, developing or unfamiliar, practice areas.

Rewards and benefits:

As you help us to shape the future, we’ve shaped our rewards and benefits to help you thrive and support your lifestyle. If successful in this role you’ll get:

• A discretionary bonus based on company performance
• Private Healthcare with Vitality
• SAYE (Sharesave): discretionary scheme from time to time
• Personal accident cover
• Group personal pension plan where we’ll pay up to 10%
• Holiday 25 days plus bank holidays
• Reimbursement of the cost of your annual membership of one relevant and appropriate professional body

We’re committed to making a tangible impact on the climate challenge we all face. Drax is where your individual purpose can work alongside your career drive. We work as part of a team that shares a passion for doing what’s right for the future. With Drax you can shape your career and a future for generations to come.

Together, we make it happen.

At Drax, we’re committed to fostering an environment where everyone feels valued and respected, regardless of their role. To make this a reality, we actively work to better represent the communities we operate in, foster inclusion, and establish fair processes. Through these actions, we build the trust needed for all colleagues at Drax to contribute their perspectives and talents, no matter their background.

Talk to us about flexible working!

How to apply:

Think this role’s for you? Click the ‘apply now’ button to begin your Drax journey.

If you want to find out more about Drax, check out our Linked In page to see our latest news.

We understand that you may have some additional questions about the role. If you’d like to have a confidential chat to discuss the role in more detail, please email