Lead Counsel: Commercial Property

• Lead Counsel - Commercial Property
• England and Wales Qualified Solicitor
• Perm
• Theale | Hybrid
• You must be eligible to work in the UK without the need for sponsorship

We are seeking an experienced Lead Counsel - Commercial Property with ECC (Electronic Communications Code) experience to lead the transactional function within a busy Legal & Compliance team supporting a large-scale estates and infrastructure programme.

This is a senior role combining team leadership, hands-on legal delivery, and operational oversight, working closely with Estates teams, internal stakeholders, and external solicitors to deliver high-volume property transactions efficiently and at scale.

About the Role

You will lead a team of Transactional Property Counsel and Transactional Case Managers, ensuring consistent, high-quality delivery across a demanding and fast-paced portfolio of telecoms property work.

The role covers a broad range of transactions, including:

• Code Agreements (new sites, renewals, variations)
• Lease and licence negotiations
• Freehold acquisitions and disposals

You will also play a key role in improving how legal services are delivered by driving efficiency, standardisation, and continuous process improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, manage, and develop a transactional legal team
• Allocate workloads and oversee delivery against programme targets
• Provide technical guidance on complex and high-value matters
• Foster a high-performing and collaborative team culture

Transactional Delivery

• Personally manage a portfolio of complex and strategic transactions
• Support negotiations and resolution of legal and commercial issues
• Ensure transactions align with agreed heads of terms and internal risk frameworks

Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as a senior legal partner to Estates and delivery teams
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders, external solicitors, and site providers
• Provide clear, pragmatic legal advice to support delivery objectives

Process Improvement & Governance

• Drive standardisation of templates, playbooks, and legal processes
• Identify opportunities to improve cycle times, quality, and efficiency
• Strengthen governance and risk controls across transactions

Performance & Reporting

• Track key metrics including transaction volumes, timelines, and risks
• Provide regular updates to senior stakeholders
• Use data insights to support continuous improvement

About You

We are looking for an England and Wales qualified solicitor with strong commercial property experience and leadership capability in a high-volume environment.

You will bring:

• 5–10 years PQE in commercial conveyancing transactions, particularly relating to landlord and tenant matters as well as freehold acquisitions
• Familiarity with the Electronic Communications Code (2017)
• Strong background in commercial property law, including landlord & tenant work and freehold transactions
• Experience managing or supervising legal teams
• Confident negotiator with strong commercial judgement
• Ability to balance hands-on legal work with leadership responsibilities
• Strong organisational and stakeholder management skills

Desirable experience:

• Telecoms infrastructure or asset-based industries
• In-house legal experience within a commercial environment

Why Join?

This is a senior leadership opportunity where you can shape delivery, improve legal operations, and play a key role in enabling a major infrastructure programme.