Senior Legal Counsel

Arup’s purpose, shared values and collaborative approach has set us apart for over 75 years, guiding how we shape a better world.

We are seeking a qualified lawyer to join our Legal team. This senior and strategic position will support both the UKIMEA and Europe Regions, delivering high-quality legal and commercial counsel in alignment with Arup’s global strategy and objectives. 

The Opportunity

The role is for a Senior Counsel responsible for providing strategic, commercial, and operational legal support. The role involves leading complex contract negotiations, managing legal risk and disputes, supporting governance and compliance and contributing to the development of legal policies and best practices. 

Operating at a senior level, the role involves:   

• Collaborating with senior leadership, project teams, Centres of Excellence, Ethics and compliance partners and external partners to ensure legal alignment with Arup’s strategy. 
• Playing a pivotal role in bringing together legal support across the emerging combined UKIMEA and Europe regions, ensuring consistency, collaboration, and strategic alignment.   
• Providing legal advice and guidance across the combined Regions, particularly in our growth markets.  

Candidates must be a qualified lawyer, with experience in-house or in private practice. Knowledge of professional services and the built environment is beneficial. Legal expertise should cover commercial contracts, disputes, construction law, compliance, insurance, privacy, and digital law. 

At Arup, you belong to an extraordinary collective – in which we encourage individuality to thrive. Our strength comes from how we respect, share and connect our diverse experiences, perspectives and ideas.

Is this role right for you?

• Lead legal input on contracts, bids, and complex project negotiations. 
• Advise on disputes, governance, compliance, and investigations.  
• Influence strategic direction and manage reputation risk. 
• Collaborate across the UKIMEA and Europe Regions, the Global Legal Team and key stakeholders  
• Collaborate with and provide strategic legal guidance to teams across the region on complex, significant matters that cut across relevant portfolios
• Lead contract negotiations on major/complex projects and ensure strategic risk management on key projects 
• Lead strategic approach to problems and disputes to minimise negative impact on Arup and where necessary personally leading the negotiations for settlement
• Build external stakeholder relationships, influencing project collaboration and industry initiatives and reform  
• Develop a network of external counsel and experts to secure the best advice and representation for Arup  
• Partner with business leaders to improve understanding of the key contractual and legal risks for individual projects  
• Provide bespoke training to project teams including lessons learned  
• Be knowledgeable on sustainability and our sustainability development goals 
• Willingness to travel to effectively deliver role  
• The role requires strong leadership, influence, and collaboration across business services, clients, and external partners. 
• Candidates must be a qualified lawyer, with significant experience in-house or in private practice. 

Knowledge and experience: 

• Deep understanding of commercial contracts, construction law, disputes, compliance, and regulatory frameworks. 
• Familiarity with professional services and the built environment (e.g. engineering, architecture, sustainability). 
• Knowledge of privacy, IP, tax, employment law, and corporate governance. 
• Ability to analyse complex legal issues and deliver clear, practical solutions. 
• Strong problem-solving skills with a strategic mindset. 
• Capable of identifying legal risks and proposing mitigation strategies. 
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills. 
• Skilled in negotiating and influencing stakeholders at all levels. 
• Able to convey legal concepts to non-legal audiences effectively. 
• People-focused leadership style with the ability to mentor junior staff. 
• Proven ability to work collaboratively across departments and regions. 
• Comfortable operating at senior levels with gravitas and credibility. 
• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail. 
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines. 
• Flexible and open to learning in a dynamic legal and business environment. 
• High ethical standards and commitment to doing what is right. 
• Trusted to handle sensitive and confidential information responsibly. 

What we offer you

At Arup, we care about each member’s success, so we can grow together.

Guided by our values, we provide an attractive total reward package that recognises the contribution of each of our members to our shared success. As well as competitive, fair and equitable pay, we offer a career in which all of our members can belong, grow and thrive – through benefits that support health and wellbeing, a wide range of learning opportunities and many possibilities to have an impact through the work they do.

We are owned in trust on behalf of our members, giving us the freedom, with personal responsibility, to set our own direction and choose work that aligns with our purpose and adds to Arup’s legacy. Our members collaborate on ambitious projects to deliver remarkable outcomes for our clients and communities. Profit Share is a key part of our reward, enabling members to share in the results of our collective efforts.

We also provide Private medical insurance, Life assurance, Accident insurance and Income protection cover. In addition, you’ll have access to flexible benefits to help you look after all aspects of your wellbeing and give you the freedom and flexibility to find the best solutions for you, your family, and your individual needs.

Different people, shared values

Arup is an equal opportunity employer that actively promotes and nurtures a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of age (within legal limits), gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, neurotype or mental health, race or ethnicity, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and whether you’re pregnant or on family leave. We are an open environment that embraces diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas – this drives our excellence.

Guided by our values and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we create and contribute to equitable spaces and systems, while cultivating a sense of belonging for all. Our internal employee networks support our inclusive culture: from race, ethnicity and cross-cultural working to gender equity and LGBTQ+ and disability inclusion – we aim to create a space for you to express yourself and make a positive difference. Discover more about life at Arup at www.arup.com/careers/your-life-at-arup

We are committed to making our recruitment process and workplaces accessible to all candidates. Please contact  at Simon.Duckworth@arup.com to let us know if you need any assistance or reasonable adjustments throughout your application or interview process, and/or to perform the essential functions of the role. We will do everything we can to support you.

Our Application Process

To understand what to expect next, please visit  https://www.arup.com/careers/arup-careers-uk-application-process

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